Summerbee prank on Mercer?

[Citizen of Legoland]

Probably just set in his ways.

I think there’s mortar it than we know.

 

[blue44]

I think there’s mortar it than we know.

His spirit was never level.

 

[fitzy blue]

His spirit was never level.

Maybe Laserblue could have helped out there.

 

[fitzy blue]

Bloke I know posted this on one of the “Fans Memories” Facebook groups. Can’t find anything anywhere to corroborate it. Views? I’m not aware of Joe ever having had a heart attack.

“Been threatening to tell this for some time, but have been trying to discover whether it’s true or not. The guy I THOUGHT told me it says he didn’t - so I’ll chuck it out there and maybe someone else can confirm it - otherwise it might just have to remain an urban myth (started by me lol).

So Franny Lee, Mike Sumerbee and Colin Bell were a very tight-knit group of Senior Pros at Man City - and they loved Joe Mercer, but they also loved playing jokes on him apparently.

The story I heard was that the boys plus one other (who I can’t recall) were familiar with his route home from training, and they shot off quickly to get ahead of him. They parked their car part-way up a slope resting against a tree, then opened the doors, hung out of the car as if injured/dead, covered in tomato sauce. Joe drives by and has a heart attack as a large part of his senior squad lie injured, possibly dead in a car wreck .

If someone can confirm this story I’d be very grateful. If someone can debunk it because they know Franny or Mike - I’ll happily stop telling it. Wish I could remember who it was that told me it - it was someone with a City connection, but not the one I thought.”

Can't imagine many people could confirm this story other than Mike Summerbee and Francis Lee. It must have been some sight if true.

 

[stan bowles]

The immediate post match 1969 Cup Final footage shows Mercer in a mock throttling greeting with Buzzer on the Wembley turf - makes you realise the mutual respect and admiration they had for each other and that Joe kind of knew Mike was a bit of a rascal at times but no less lovable for it.

 

[ColinBellsjockstrap]

I saw Summerbee about five or six years ago when he was the guest speaker of a club I'm a memeber of. He told the tale about Harry Dowd making more money doing "foreigners" on a Saturday than playing football. Apparently Joe Mercer said to Harry in the team talk before an Arsenal game, words to the effect that, if Harry could be bothered Arsenal are the ones in red and white:-)

It was actually Malcolm Allison. He said Harry was more interested in plumbing than football. He joked in a team talk he said "Right Harry, we are playing Arsenal on Saturday, and they play in red and white."