Summerbee was presented with ‘The Maurice Watkins CBE Lifetime Contribution Award’ at the prestigious event held at Manchester Deansgate Hotel this evening.
The annual show celebrates outstanding achievements in football across the region.
He said: “I am very proud of what I have done in my life and career, but I’m proud of the people who’ve supported me.
“Tina’s been brilliant, my wife, but my family, my son, everybody, they’ve all done well. You know, and my children, my nieces and everybody, they’ve all been supportive.”
The 83-year-old, who made 452 appearances and scored 68 goals in a 10-year decade of glory at the Club, is widely acknowledged as one of the greatest figures in City’s history.
He enjoyed an illustrious 20-year career and it was with the Blues that he had the biggest influence.
‘Buzzer’ as he’s fondly known won a plethora of honours in the English game - the Second Division title in 1966, the First Division title in 1968, the FA Cup in 1969, the Charity Shield in 1968 and 1972 as well as the League Cup in 1970.
He also triumphed in the 1970 European Cup Winners’s Cup as well as winning eight caps for England.
Since retiring, the former winger has continued to make a huge contribution to City in his role as Club Ambassador.
He was honoured with an OBE in 2022 as part of the Birthday Honours of the late Queen Elizabeth II before receiving the award from His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales at Windsor Castle in 2023.
And in that same year, City unveiled a permanent tribute to Summerbee alongside fellow star teammates Colin Bell and Francis Lee outside the Etihad Stadium, commemorating their combined 30 years of football service to the Club.
The bronze artwork of the men on a single plinth celebrates the role of Summerbee, Bell and Lee in City’s success of the late 1960s and early 1970s.
The Maurice Watkins CBE Lifetime Contribution Award is one of the highest individual honours presented at the annual Northwest Football Awards.
It is named in honour of Maurice Watkins CBE (1941–2021), a highly respected sports lawyer, long-serving Manchester United director, former Barnsley chairman, and dedicated charity leader who served as a founding judge for the Northwest Football Awards for 14 years.
Following his passing in August 2021, the lifetime achievement category was named in his memory to celebrate figures who have left an indelible mark on football.
The Lifetime Contribution Award specifically honours an individual whose career, dedication, and leadership have created an extraordinary and lasting legacy within the football community, spanning achievements as a player, manager, administrator, or community champion.
Summerbee follows in the footsteps of the likes of Dennis Law CBE, Alex Williams MBE, Brian Kidd, Joe Royle, Jimmy Armfield CBE, Sir Tom Finney, Sir Bobby Charlton, Sir Alex Ferguson, Sir Kenny Dalglish, Ian Rush MBE and Ian St John in landing the award.
Congratulations to Mike from everyone at Manchester City.
