Man City unveil statue of club greats Mike Summerbee, Colin Bell and Francis Lee
Manchester City have unveiled a new statue of former players Colin Bell, Francis Lee and Mike Summerbee outside the Etihad Stadium (Martin Rickett/PA)
Manchester City have unveiled a statue of club greats Mike Summerbee, Colin Bell and Francis Lee outside the Etihad Stadium.
The permanent bronze tribute on the west side of the ground captures the three players in dynamic poses characteristic of their styles of play.
Summerbee, Bell and Lee were the central figures in the City side that won the First Division title in 1968, the FA Cup the following year and both the European Cup Winners’ Cup and League Cup in 1970.
The names of all 29 players who featured during this trophy-winning era are also inscribed on a bronze plate on the statue’s plinth.
Mike Summerbee is a Manchester City great (Mike Egerton/PA)
It is the latest in a series of tributes the club have made to honour past players, including the commissioning of statues of Vincent Kompany, David Silva and Sergio Aguero, in recent years.
Summerbee, 80, who scored 67 goals in 449 appearances for City and remains an ambassador for the club, said: “This is a truly special moment for me and my family. I joined Manchester City in 1965 and it is the best decision I could have possibly made.
“Fifty years later I am still here, still treated with such respect. I feel incredibly lucky to be recognised in this way, amongst friends whose contribution to our history this club never forgets, despite the amazing success we have enjoyed in recent years.
“It is an honour to be part of this extraordinary club.”
Vincent Kompany has a statue at the Etihad Stadium (Nick Potts/PA)
Lee, who scored 148 goals in 330 appearances for City and later had a spell as chairman at Maine Road, died
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