City Signed Mike Summerbee OTD 20/08/65

If I remember correctly he said City had more of the ball, should have won and all Sky were doing was repeating Rooney’s goal. Sky then put up a dodgy stat that United had a lot more possession. A quick google of that match today shows that is not true, a further google search for that part of the outburst can’t be found (if anyone can find it post it please); I wonder why it is so hard to find footage of Sky rebutting Summerbee’s facts with lies???
Can’t remember what he said exactly, but it was on the lines of “one day soon we’ll come here & destroy them” you could see the hatred he had for them in his voice, & like I said earlier he wasn’t wrong!!!
 
I first encountered 'Buzzer' that awful, rain soaked day in 1965 when 8015 of us witnessed his Swindon side playing us off the park, our lowest ever ebb until we lost at York in the Third Division many years later.

Then he signed for us with Colin Bell, and later Francis Lee, and we were off up the league, some of the greatest times ever to be a City supporter!

Some time around 1971 there was a Sunday Times poll of all the First Division teams' players asking 'Who are the hardest players in the professional game today?'

All the usual suspects were mentioned (from Nobby Stiles at the Red Filth to Peter Storey at Arsenal to Johnny Morrissey at Everton to the entire Leeds team..)

The 'Top Four' included Jack Charlton, Norman 'Bites Yer Legs' Hunter (both Leeds) and Ron 'Chopper' Harris (Chelsea), all defenders. The only attacker voted into the 'Top Four' by his fellow professionals was Mike Summerbee.

He was fearless, hard as nails. But he was also an incredibly skilful and gifted winger who converted seamlessly to the centre-forward role during the 1967-68 title winning campaign.

I remember how one game at Stamford Bridge, he and 'Chopper' Harris were going at each other all afternoon. After he caught 'Chopper' with a late rake of the studs down his shinpad, 'Buzzer' tapped him on the shoulder and as Harris turned around with clenched fists, 'Buzzer' said (words to the effect of) 'I say Chopper.. do you know you've got a ladder in your tights?'

We all owe Mike Summerbee so much for his contribution to our club, both on and off the field for 60 years. A great player, a great servant, a great man.
I wonder how many are still with us from that Swindon attendance, I’m one.
 
I've got his signed photo on my wall
I've got a brilliant pic of buzzer and me taken at the plough Dublin circa 1995 iirc
He was on our plane over there to celebrate The Dublin branch 20th ( ?) anniversary do
Guest of honour (( buzzer not me )

What a night that was.....ended up doing a massive conga all round the huge function room
About 80 people long which went in and out of both the men and women's toilets
It was completely wild and spontaneous.... Mike and his wife were fully involved.

One of the best City nights out I've ever had

Dublin branch are celebrating another anniversary this October iirc......
 
Some years ago, someone posted a story of Buzzer turning Terry Paine inside out at Southampton.

It was after the 1966 World Cup, would love to read the details again.
 
Mike Summerbee demonstrating the built in record player of his new Volvo.
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Division One,White Hart Lane,Tottenham Hotspur v City,Mike Summerbee grabs hold of Tottenham Hotspur's Dave Mackay.
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City with the FA Charity Shield,Football League Championship Trophy (Division 1) and the FA Cup.Back row (left-right): George Heslop, Alan Oakes, Mike Doyle, Ken Mulhearn, Tommy Booth, Harry Dowd, Stan Bowles, Arthur Mann, Glyn Pardoe, Tony Coleman. Front row: David Connor, Bobby Owen, Colin Bell, Tony Book, Francis Lee, Mike Summerbee and Neil Young.
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City League Cup Winners 1970,train journey home Mike Summerbee with his wife Tina trying the cup on for size.
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Edit: @AliBobbyJ
 
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He came down from Swindon town
Sha la Summerbee Sha la Summerbee

Who the fknell is he…..

The greatest centre forward in history
Nited 1 and City 3
Thought it was
Picked him up from Swindon town
Sha la Summerbee
Never knew he was England bound
Sha la Summerbee

Rags would sing who the fuck is he

I used to sing
Won the league with Bell and Lee
 
Seeing him and hearing the sound of him racing down the wing ,usually with the the fullback going a*** over t** ,is a vision and sound that still brings a lump to my throat.
Thank you Buzzer.
 
9th April 2005:Part Of The Mike Summerbee Interview With Gary James Published In The City Programme.

“Escape To Victory”.How did you get involved in the filming of that movie?

It was Bobby Moore who got me involved.We’d known each other since I was 16,and we both had a similar outlook.The makers of the film had got several Ipswich Town players involved, plus Pele and of course Bobby. They needed another familiar British Player and Bobby suggested me.He called me and said: “How do you fancy being in a movie with Michael Caine?” And that was it.Within three weeks I was on my way to Budapest for filming.l had no idea at the time that this would become one of those films still being shown and talked about twenty odd years later,but it has become a cult movie with websites dedicated to lt.It’s the sort of film that many other people would have wanted to be in.I know for a fact that Rod Stewart wanted to be in it.

Why do you think the film is remembered so affectionately?
The film is like a Boys’ Own adventure. It’s got drama,excitement,and is a traditional film.lt doesn’t rely on bad language,sex,or extreme violence,and it really does appeal to everyone.Don’t forget it also contains some great actors, everyone remembers Stallone and Caine but look at the other cast members as well,and then there are some very well known footballers including Pele.I loved making the film and one of the great aspects for me was that when we came to the football scenes we were told to go out and play the game.John Huston,a great director,wanted it to look as realistic as possible and so we played a real game.Pele’s wonderful overhead kick goal was natural and was done only once.We didn’t take ages setting up.It was done for real and only in one take. John Huston had cameras everywhere and tried to make sure everything that took place on the pitch was filmed from every angle.

You have a speaking part in the film, did you know about that before you accepted?
We were told to let the actors act and they were told to let the footballers play.That way we all did what we were good at.Then when it came to the dressing room scenes Michael Caine said to Huston that it didn’t feel right for only the actors to talk and he said that a couple of us should speak.When it came to half time,I congratulated a couple of players on their play,that was natural not planned,and that stayed in,and then other lines were given to us.It felt strange,but when you watch the film it makes much more sense to have us speaking.

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If I remember correctly he said City had more of the ball, should have won and all Sky were doing was repeating Rooney’s goal. Sky then put up a dodgy stat that United had a lot more possession. A quick google of that match today shows that is not true, a further google search for that part of the outburst can’t be found (if anyone can find it post it please); I wonder why it is so hard to find footage of Sky rebutting Summerbee’s facts with lies???
 
Some great photos above but there are some things you can never unsee and that pic of him in Blackpool's Derby Baths has become one of them.
:-)
 
Proper hard lad. My first derby 6 weeks before the vermin got relegated was at Maine Road. Buzzer dished out a suspected broken arm with some first half Kung Fu kick on Mick Martin. Then Sir Michael of Doyle was sent off for trying to smack Macari. Two proper tough cookies, luckily for the rag shite Franny was injured or they would have got more straighteners.
 
I worked for the Ship Canal company at head office in King Street late 1969 to 1972ly
What an era to be working in Manchester City ce
Wow.
Incidentally as an out of town blue, King Street was one of the 1st city centre street names I became familiar with in the late 80s...can't remember now but lots of banks and pubs I
 
60 Years Ago Today City Signed City Legend Mike Summerbee.



452 Apps
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City Hall of Fame
Order of the British Empire

Busy ****
 
Some years ago, someone posted a story of Buzzer turning Terry Paine inside out at Southampton.

It was after the 1966 World Cup, would love to read the details again.
Wasn't Terry Paine also a winger tho...
And at one point saints record appearance holder...
 

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