Nicky Summerbee

Nicholas Summerbee (born 26 August 1971) is an English former professional footballer, sports television pundit and commentator.

Nicky Summerbee
Personal information
Full name Nicholas Summerbee
Date of birth (1971-08-26) 26 August 1971
Place of birth Altrincham, England
Playing position(s) Midfielder
Youth career
1989–1994 Swindon Town
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1989–1994 Swindon Town 112 (6)
1994–1997 Manchester City 131 (6)
1997–2001 Sunderland 94 (7)
2001 Bolton Wanderers 9 (1)
2001 Manchester City 0 (0)
2001–2002 Nottingham Forest 17 (2)
2002–2003 Leicester City 29 (0)
2003–2006 Bradford City 68 (4)
2005 → Swindon Town (loan) 1 (0)
2005 → Tranmere Rovers (loan) 6 (0)
2006 Tamworth 4 (0)
Total 471 (26)
National team
1993 England U21 3 (1)
1994 England B 1 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

He notably played in the Premier League for Swindon Town, Manchester City and Sunderland, as well as in the Football League for Bolton Wanderers, Nottingham Forest, Leicester City, Bradford City and Tranmere Rovers before finishing his career with Non-league Tamworth. He was capped by both the England U21 and England B sides.

Club career

Swindon Town

Born in Altrincham, he had trials at Manchester United, Leicester City, and Norwich City, before joining Swindon Town; where his father, former England international Mike Summerbee, had connections. Summerbee played 112 games in seven years for the Robins, scoring six goals and helping them get promoted to the Premier League in 1993 before Manchester City paid £1.3million for his services a year later.

Manchester City

Summerbee joined Manchester City in 1994. His father Mike had become a household name at the club being part of the successful City team of the late 1960s and early 1970s and also being part of the star trio of Mike Summerbee, Francis Lee and Colin Bell. Summerbee joined the team at a time when manager Brian Horton also brought in Peter Beagrie, Uwe Rosler and Paul Walsh. In his first season Manchester City finished towards the bottom end of the Premiership table. Then chairman Francis Lee replaced manager Brian Horton with Alan Ball who failed to manage the team to increased success. The team were relegated to the first division. In the summer of 1997 he was offered a trial by the French club Bordeaux.[1] In November 1997, Summerbee joined Sunderland in a £1million-rated swap deal involving Craig Russell.

Sunderland

Summerbee made his Sunderland debut on 15 November 1997, against Portsmouth at Fratton Park, as a second-half substitute for Martin Smith. With trademark un-tucked shirt and orange edged boots, Summerbee capped his debut by notching the final goal in a 4–1 victory, scoring with a satisfying low drive. He played out the rest of the season on the right hand side of midfield and enjoyed some of the finest moments of his career after Sunderland won promotion to the Premiership in 1999.

During that season, an injured Summerbee enjoyed a well-publicised liaison with TV presenter, Melanie Sykes. However, it came at a cost. He lost his place in the team following his capital night out with Mel and a 4–1 defeat at Arsenal. Whilst he returned after one match, Summerbee was substituted in both of his next two games and was relegated to the bench for the next four. He returned triumphantly to the starting eleven by scoring his first goal of the season against Everton. Sadly, it turned out to be his last as a Sunderland player. After this goal, Summerbee was in and out of the side. He finished the season on a high note though, starting in – and starring in – the final three games.

Summerbee was left in the wilderness by boss Peter Reid the following season. He sat on the sidelines for six months until he was given a game for the reserves against Newcastle United. He was clearly unfit and unhappy, he lashed out at Newcastle United defender Andy Griffin and was immediately substituted before he could be sent off.

Later career

Free transfers and quick stays at the likes of Bolton Wanderers (where he scored once against Crystal Palace),[2] Leicester City and Nottingham Forest were followed by a two and a half-year stay at Bradford City, which included loan spells at Swindon Town and Tranmere Rovers.

Summerbee latterly played for Conference National side Tamworth, but was released at the end of the 2005–06 season.

International career

On 10 May 1994, Summerbee won an England 'B' cap in a match against Northern Ireland 'B' at Hillsborough.

Personal life

He is the son of Manchester City cult hero Mike Summerbee. His grandfather, George Summerbee, and great uncle, Gordon Summerbee, had also been professional footballers.

Media career

Since retirement Summerbee has worked as a Radio co-commentator for BBC Radio Five, as well as being a local pundit for Manchester City games.

Honours
Sunderland
  • Football League Division 1 winner: 1998–99
Individual
  • Sunderland Solid Gold XI[3]
gollark: Done, if by "gollark" you mean "I", "me" you mean "gollark", and "give" you mean "I give", and "I" you mean "you".
gollark: Oh, that.
gollark: Entry #2?
gollark: What game?
gollark: We can check this.

References
  1. "Football: Manchester City winger Nicky Summerbee offered trials by French club Bordeaux". The Independent. 29 June 1997. Retrieved 27 January 2017.
  2. "Crystal Palace 0–2 Bolton". BBC. 16 April 2001. Retrieved 10 February 2010.
  3. "Solid Gold XI". Sunderland AFC. 5 March 2011. Retrieved 2 July 2011.
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