Manchester City set to make significant alterations to statues at Etihad Stadium.

Redaction Willow Austin
Published on 2024-03-19 20:00:00

Manchester City has received approval to modify a significant statue located outside the Etihad Stadium.

The statue of the iconic Manchester City trio consisting of Colin Bell, Francis Lee, and Mike Summerbee was revealed outside the Etihad Stadium in November 2023. It was created by the renowned sculptor David Williams-Ellis.

This statue commemorating the three players was the fourth to be unveiled outside the Etihad Stadium. Other permanent honors include statues of David Silva, Sergio Aguero, and Vincent Kompany.

Bell, Lee, and Summerbee collectively made over 1,000 appearances for Manchester City, scoring 368 goals and achieving success in the FA Cup, League Cup, and European Cup Winners’ Cup between 1967 and 1970.

Both Lee and Bell tragically passed away before the unveiling of their statue. Bell died in 2021 at the age of 74, while Lee passed away in October 2023 at the age of 79.

The statue honoring the three former players has been accessible to fans since a Champions League match against RB Leipzig and is positioned outside the main entrance of the Etihad Stadium.

The Manchester Evening News report states that the club is planning to make alterations to the statue. They have applied for planning permission from the Manchester City Council to add ‘visitor seating’ around the statue, as well as ‘walled planters, pressed concrete floor, and an ivy green screen’.

A statement from the council’s planning department, clarified: “The statue and plinth are made of bronze and polished concrete respectively.

“These materials are of high quality and enhance the adjacent walkway, which is mainly paved. The statue will blend in with the Etihad Stadium and will not seem out of place in the street scene.

“The landscaping additions are deemed appropriate to soften the appearance of the stadium concourse.

“Based on these factors, the proposed modifications are acceptable in terms of design and visual impact.”