November 27, (THEWILL) – Manchester City Football Club have unveiled a new bronze statue outside the Etihad Stadium commemorating three of the team’s most legendary players – Mike Summerbee, Colin Bell, and Francis Lee. The imposing 4.5 metre-tall tribute, revealed on Tuesday, immortalises the key figures from City’s successful 1960s era in iconic poses, representing their distinguished playing styles.
The statue site on the stadium’s west side places the club icons prominently amongst current fans on matchdays. Their names are inscribed alongside the other 29 team members from 1968-1970 when City secured the First Division title, FA Cup, European Cup Winners’ Cup, and Football League Cup under the management of Joe Mercer and Malcolm Allison.
Summebee, Bell and Lee were centrepieces of these trophy-winning Man City squads that brought unprecedented silverware hauls to the club pre-dating the current dynasty under owner Sheikh Mansour. This prestige was revived in recent years as exhibited through similar player statue commissions for contemporary heroes Vincent Kompany, David Silva and Sergio Agüero.
The honouring of past Man City legends coincides with Ambassador Summerbee’s ongoing 80th birthday celebrations this year. The winger netted 67 goals in 449 total appearances between 1965 and 1975, later remaining an active presence through decades of ambassadorial duties. Bell and Lee have both sadly passed in 2021 and 2022 respectively, leaving lasting legacies as perennial fan favourites.
British sculptor, David Williams-Ellis, designed the emotive four-metre-wide player tribute that further elevates Man City’s commemorations of integral figures from generations past that defined the club’s storied identity. The statue adds another symbolic focal point and site of pilgrimage for City supporters outside their cherished home grounds.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
