George Summerbee
{{Short description|English footballer (1914–1955)}}
{{one source|date=May 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2023}}
{{Use British English|date=April 2016}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = George Summerbee
| image =
| full_name = George Michael Summerbee
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1914|10|22|df=y}}
| birth_place = Winchester, England
| death_date = {{death date and age|1955|4|19|1914|10|22|df=y}}
| death_place = Cirencester, England
| position = Wing-half
| youthyears1 =
| youthclubs1 = Basingstoke Town
| years1 = 1934–1935
| clubs1 = Aldershot
| caps1 = 19
| goals1 = 0
| years2 = 1935–1946
| clubs2 = Preston North End
| caps2 = 3
| goals2 = 0
| years3 =
| clubs3 = → Portsmouth (guest)
| caps3 =
| goals3 =
| years4 = 1946–1947
| clubs4 = Chester
| caps4 = 9
| goals4 = 0
| years5 = 1947–1950
| clubs5 = Barrow
| caps5 = 122
| years6 = 1950–1952
| clubs6 = Cheltenham Town
| goals5 = 0
| manageryears1 = 1950–1952
| managerclubs1 = Cheltenham Town
}}
George Summerbee (22 October 1914 – 19 April 1955) was an English professional footballer who played as a wing-half in The Football League for four clubs. He was father of Mike Summerbee and grandfather of Nicky Summerbee, who both played for Manchester City.
Career
Summerbee was born in Winchester, England. He began his professional career with Aldershot, who he joined from non-league side Basingstoke Town in May 1934. While at Aldershot he played alongside his brother Gordon.{{cite book | author=Colin Shindler | title=Fathers, Sons and Football| year=2001| pages= 13–16 |isbn=0-7472-3218-0}} In January 1935 George joined Football League First Division side Preston North End for £650.{{cite book | author=Colin Shindler | title=Fathers, Sons and Football| year=2001| pages= 18 |isbn=0-7472-3218-0}} In 11 years at Deepdale, Summerbee made just three Football League appearances. During this spell he also spent several years during the Second World War guesting for Portsmouth, where he made 149 competitive appearances while working at a nearby aircraft factory.{{cite book | author=Colin Shindler | title=Fathers, Sons and Football| year=2001| pages= 61–65 |isbn=0-7472-3218-0}}
He joined Football League Division Three North side Chester in May 1946 for £600,{{cite book | author=Colin Shindler | title=Fathers, Sons and Football| year=2001| pages= 81 |isbn=0-7472-3218-0}} where again he struggled to earn a regular first-team place, and he moved to Barrow. He made more than 100 league appearances in three years at Holker Street, with his final Football League outing being against Lincoln City in May 1950.
Summerbee then joined non-league side Cheltenham Town as player-manager in 1950,{{Cite news | work = Gloucestershire Echo| title = Ex-Preston Player New Town Manager | date = 29 June 1950 | access-date = 1 June 2022 | page=6| via = British Newspaper Archive| url = https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/CL3243041337/BNCN}} but he left in 1952 after his contract was not renewed.{{cite book | author=Colin Shindler | title=Fathers, Sons and Football| year=2001| pages= 111–112|isbn=0-7472-3218-0}}
Death
Three years after leaving Cheltenham, Summerbee died from Addison's disease in Cirencester, after a spell scouting for Bristol City.{{cite book | author=Colin Shindler | title=Fathers, Sons and Football| year=2001| pages= 117–123|isbn=0-7472-3218-0}}
His life story is featured alongside the other footballing members of his family in Fathers, Sons and Football (Colin Shindler, Headline Book Publishing, 2001).
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20090213215858/http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/fa-cup-countdown-winning-in-the-name-of-the-father-521426.html The Independent article on football families, featuring the Summerbees]
{{Cheltenham Town F.C. managers}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Summerbee, George}}
Category:Footballers from Winchester
Category:English men's footballers
Category:Men's association football midfielders
Category:English Football League players
Category:Basingstoke Town F.C. players
Category:Aldershot F.C. players
Category:Preston North End F.C. players
Category:Chester City F.C. players
Category:Barrow A.F.C. players
Category:Portsmouth F.C. wartime guest players
Category:Cheltenham Town F.C. players
Category:English football managers
Category:Cheltenham Town F.C. managers
Category:Deaths from Addison's disease