Manchester City have unveiled a statue which is dedicated to club legends Colin Bell, Francis Lee and Mike Summerbee. But some may be wondering – who are they? Read on to find out all you need to know about Bell, Lee and Summerbee.
Man City Reveal New Statue
City Forever 🩵
Today we unveil a permanent tribute to legendary trio Colin Bell, Francis Lee, and Mike Summerbee outside the Etihad Stadium, commemorating their combined 30 years of football service to the Club.
— Manchester City (@ManCity) November 28, 2023
Who Are Bell, Lee and Summerbee? The Manchester City Legends Given A Statue
The statue revealed on Tuesday (28th Nov 2023) is a permanent tribute to three of City’s most iconic players, who played a key part in the club’s success of the late 1960s and early 1970s.
Bell, Lee and Summerbee made a combined 1,280 appearances scoring 368 goals together for City. They helped the side win the league title in 1967-68, FA Cup in 1969 and the League Cup and European Cup Winners’ Cup in 1970.
The names of all 29 players who featured for City during this successful era are also engraved on a bronze plate on the statue’s plinth.
But who are Bell, Lee and Summerbee? See below a fact file on each player.
Colin Bell
- Date of birth: 26 February, 1946 – Hesleden
- Date of death: 5 January, 2021 (ages 74)
- Position: Midfielder
- Teams played for: Bury (82), Manchester City (394), San Jose Earthquakes (5), England (48)
Francis Lee
- Date of birth: 29 April, 1944 – Westhoughton
- Date of death: 2 October, 2023
- Position: Striker
- Teams played for: Bolton Wanderers (189), Manchester City (249), Derby County (62), England (27)
Mike Summerbee
- Date of birth: 15 December, 1942
- Positions: Winger/Striker
- Teams played for: Swindon Town (218), Manchester City (357), Burnley (51), Blackpool (3), Stockport County (87), England (8)
City chairman Khaldoon Al Mulbarak said the following: “This statue honours three players who are unquestionably City legends and have deservedly earned a special place in the history of the club and the hearts of the whole City family.
“The artist’s decision to feature the three men in motion on a single plinth, as well as include the names of their teammates, gives us the opportunity to acknowledge a trophy-winning era of City football history that has, and will, resonate for generations to come.”
Fans attending Tuesday night’s Champions League game against RB Leipzig will be able to view the statue for the first time. City also host Tottenham on Sunday in the Premier League, another chance for fans to see the masterpiece.
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