Summerbee George Image 2 Preston North End 1938

Description

Winchester born wing half George Summerbee began his football career with Winchester City in 1931 joining Basingstoke Town in 1932, from where he joined Third Division (South) Aldershot. He made his Football League debut against Exeter City in December 1933 and turned professional in May 1934, scoring once in 23 appearances during 1934-35, playing alongside his brother Gordon, before being signed by First Division Preston North End in January 1935 for £650.

At Deepdale he had to wait until April 1938 to make his first team debut, and although he played both sides of the Second World War for The Lilywhites, during which he also guested for Portsmouth, he only made a total of four first team appearances before joining Chester for £600 in May 1946.

Again he struggled to earn a regular first-team place at Sealand Road, , making 9 appearances in 1946-47, and he moved to Barrow in June 1947. He was an ever present in his first two seasons at Holker Street and made 129 appearances in three years for The Cumbrians, with his final Football League outing being against Lincoln City in May 1950. Summerbee then joined non-league side Cheltenham Town as player-manager, but he left in 1952 after his contract was not renewed. He later scouted for Bristol City.

His older brother Gordon played League football for a number of seasons for Aldershot prior to the Second World War. He was father of Mike Summerbee and grandfather of Nicky Summerbee, who both played for Manchester City among several other clubs with considerable success, Mike winning eight caps for England.