Manchester football legends Peter Schmeichel and Mike Summerbee are among eight people to be welcomed into the National Football Museum’s Hall of Fame.
Hall of Fame ambassador Mark Lawrenson joined museum director Kevin Moore to announce the inductees at a special event on Tuesday evening.
Schmeichel, who spent eight years playing in goal for retiring Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson, is delighted to be included in the list.
“I am very proud to join the Hall of Fame,” he said.
“Such great goalkeepers have played in England over the years – the likes of Gordon Banks, Peter Shilton and Bert Trautmann.
“And at Manchester United I was part of such a fantastic team led by Sir Alex.”
Summerbee, who played for Manchester City more than 400 times, said he was ‘thrilled’ to be inducted in such esteemed company.
“It’s a privilege to be inducted and join team mates Francis Lee and Colin Bell,” he added.
Schmeichel and Summerbee are joined by former United midfielder Ray Wilkins, Southampton legend Matt Le Tissier and 78-year-old Tottenham Hotspurs double-winner Cliff Jones.
Leeds United hero Eddie Gray, Chorley Ladies’ longest serving player, Shelia Parker, and Jack Taylor, the first Englishman to referee a World Cup final, are also on the list.
They were selected by an expert panel, which includes museum president Sir Bobby Charlton, vice president Ferguson and Gordon Taylor.
Lawrenson, who also took his place on the selection committee, believes it’s vital to pay tribute to football’s greats in this way.
“It’s really, really important to honour these guys and I think this will become really big,” he told MM.
“You look at the American Football Hall of Fame and it’s massive and the American’s have really bought into it.
“I just think it will get stronger and stronger.”
The inductees join the likes of Jimmy Greaves, Sir Tom Finney, Banks and Ferguson in the Hall of Fame.
And their achievements will be celebrated at a charity fundraising celebration at the museum on September 25.
Image courtesy of Soccer AM, via YouTube, with thanks.
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