Manchester City: Ex Blue swaps Didsbury for Doha
His name is one which is as big as it gets in the hallways at Manchester City. Arriving at a completely different Manchester City to the one his Father knew, Nicky Summerbee had the weight of the name on his shoulders.
Expectations that a Summerbee would, once again, be flying down the wing like his Father. But the 1990’s Manchester City was miles away from the one from the 1970’s. Instead of Mercer and Allison, you had Brian Horton and then Alan Ball.
Of course the history from that era has been done numerous times before. You may want to listen to the interview I had done with Jim Whitley to hear more about that time in City’s history. Basically, City were relegated to the second tier of English football before Summerbee eventually left for Sunderland.
Playing his last game at home to Stoke in a 1-0 defeat, City were relegated again. The lowest point in their history. His next game at Maine Road, was a 1-0 victory with his new side, Sunderland. Eventually he would be released by Tamworth at the end of the 2005-06 season, and retired from football.
Doing the occasional Radio 5 commentary and pundit for Manchester City, he decided to move to Qatar. Now, aged 46, it was Manchester United star, Lee Sharpe, who first put the thought in his head.
Moving six years ago, Nicky now has his like in the blistering hot sunshine of Doha. Although he says he misses a home cooked Sunday roast, he wouldn’t give up the lifestyle he now currently enjoys. His wife and three children have settled well and why would you want to trade wearing flip-flops and shorts.
That is what he enjoys currently, so why would you want to swap that for wellies and waterproofs! Enjoying his role with Al Kass, covering the local football scene, it’s been almost six years since his move. When the World Cup heads to his neck of the woods in 2022, he will be well positioned to provide coverage.