A bronze statue paying tribute to Manchester City legends Colin Bell, Francis Lee and Mike Summerbee has been unveiled outdoors the Etihad Stadium.
The Leading League champions have been keen to honour the trio for their put together 30 several years of service to the club all through the 1960s and 1970s.
Now, ahead of Tuesday night’s Champions League clash versus RB Leipzig, the bronze statue, which sits on a single plinth has been unveiled.
‘This is a truly exclusive instant for me and my spouse and children,’ Mike Summerbee claimed.
‘I joined Manchester Town in 1965 and it is the best final decision I could have possibly designed. 50 years later on, I am nonetheless below, however handled with these kinds of respect.
Francis Lee (left) and Mike Summerbee (appropriate) have been honoured with a tribute by Gentleman Town
Colin Bell was also immortalised with the permanent tribute exterior the Etihad Stadium
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‘I come to feel very blessed to be recognised in this way, among buddies whose contribution to our record this Club under no circumstances forgets, even with the incredible results we have loved in the latest years. It is an honour to be portion of this extraordinary club.’
Talking on behalf of his late father Colin, Jon Bell explained: ‘This Soccer Club meant so significantly to my father. He gave so a great deal to Manchester Metropolis, not just during his taking part in vocation but beyond it into his later on lifetime.
‘His bond with this club’s supporters was really remarkable and that he will be remembered in this way endlessly is some thing that our full spouse and children is extremely touched by and will take terrific satisfaction in.’
As very well as paying homage to the famed trio, Town have also decided on to rejoice all those people who experienced a hand in those people two many years – the place they gained a 1st Division title, an FA Cup, a League Cup and a European Cup Winners’ Cup – of wealthy results.
To do so, the names of all 29 gamers who contributed across that trophy-winning time period are inscribed on the bronze plate that sits atop the statue’s plinth.
Manchester City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak hand-picked a entire world-renowned sculptor
‘My father loved the most profitable time period of his occupation at Manchester Metropolis and to see that legacy immortalised in this way is so meaningful to his whole household,’ Jonny Lee, talking on behalf of his late father Francis, reported.
‘We only mentioned goodbye to him in current weeks and it was crucial to us that the club was at the centre of that. The supporters gave him the most beautiful deliver-off and to stick to that up with these a long term tribute is anything he could have hoped for.’
The statue, which steps pretty much 4.5 metres large (14.5 ft) and four metres huge (13 ft), with an approximate excess weight of 2,000 kilos (4,409 pounds), is located on the west aspect of the Etihad Stadium, near to the Colin Bell stand.
Earth-renowned sculptor David Williams-Ellis was the man tasked with producing the tribute.
Manchester City’s Chairman, Khaldoon Al Mubarak, was vital in hand-picking the sculptor, and he has been remaining delighted with the conclusion consequence.
‘This statue honours a few gamers who are unquestionably Metropolis legends and have deservedly attained a exclusive location in the heritage of the Club and hearts of the complete Metropolis loved ones,’ he mentioned.
‘The artist’s decision to attribute the 3 males in motion on a one plinth, as effectively as include things like the 29 names of their crew-mates, offers us the option to acknowledge a trophy-successful era of Town soccer background that has, and will, resonate for generations to come.’
As properly as obtaining illustrious actively playing professions with Person Town, the a few honoured gamers all had article-taking part in roles at the club.
Bell worked as a mentor, Lee was chairman among 1994-1998, and Summerbee stays club ambassador to this day.
David Williams-Ellis is most regarded for his commission of the Normandy Memorial Trust’s D-Working day Sculpture – which was unveiled by French President Emmanuel Macron and then-British Primary Minister Theresa May in 2019
A aspect length documentary highlighting the story of the statues from inception to establish will be produced on Person City’s YouTube channel and their Metropolis+ platform on Saturday.
‘It has been a great honour to get the job done alongside Manchester City in celebrating their prosperous background and the vast contribution of this extremely particular group,’ sculptor Williams-Ellis mentioned.
‘I have been built aware all through the approach of the depth of sensation toward all three of gamers and how that has spanned across just about six decades.
‘I hope my do the job provides that legacy to life as a timeless reminder for long term generations of supporters.’