My Maine Memories: Mike Summerbee | OneFootball

We are getting set to celebrate ‘Maine Road 100’ this coming week.

As part of our coverage of the milestone landmark – 100 years since the first game at our old ground – we are speaking to a selection of former players about their recollections of playing there.

Mike Summerbee, a giant of the 1960s and 1970s, is first up.

And what better day to chat to him - on this day in 1965, he joined Manchester City from Swindon Town and the rest they say is history as he became part of the iconic 'Holy Trinity' alongside Colin Bell and Francis Lee.

Maine game…

That’s a hard one having played so many games at Maine Road!

I think the one that really stands out, however, was the 4-1 win over Tottenham – ‘the Ballet on Ice’.

It is probably my favourite because of the conditions and the way we played on the day.

Maine team-mate…

Impossible! I played with so many fantastic players, I can’t just choose one.

Francis Lee, Colin Bell, Neil Young, Glyn Pardoe, Alan Oakes, Mike Doyle… the list goes on and it was an absolute privilege to play with each and every one of them.

Maine kit…

The classic sky blue shirt and white shorts I played in for most of my time at City.

I love the red and black striped shirts, but it felt odd playing in the 1969 FA Cup final in those colours because they were AC Milan’s – I’m not sure who Leicester thought they were playing that day!

Maine goal…

I scored the winner against Manchester United once – I think we won 2-1 but I can’t recall the year.

Any winner against United is special!

Maine support…

The support we had at Maine Road was superb.

I think Maine Road was the biggest ground outside Wembley when it was first constructed and there were times it regularly held 70,000.

The capacity had come down to about 53,000 or so during my playing days but to play on the wing in front of a swaying Kippax packed with 20,000 or more was incredible.

Maine manager…

That’s easy. Joe Mercer.

Joe was like a father to me and he was the man who brought me to Manchester City from Swindon Town.

A wonderful man to work under and one of the nicest men I ever met in football. A true gentleman.

Maine season…

The year we won the Division One title, so 1967/68.

Nobody thought we could do it, but we did and it all came down to the last day when we beat Newcastle United away and Manchester United lost to Sunderland.

Maine opposition…

I’d have to say any Manchester derby was special.

The opposition, the atmosphere and, more often than not in that era, the result!

So, Manchester United were my favourite opponents.

Maine opponent…

Mike Pejic of Stoke City – a left-back who also played for Everton.

He was quick, dogged and tough and never easy to play against.