April 28, 1990, remains one of the finest days in Exeter City's history as, on the back of an incredible home record, we secured our first title in our club's history. During this month we will be taking a look back - in alphabetical order - of the main players in that title winning side. This time we look at a reliable and versatile player who made 20 appearances during the title winning campaign.
KEVIN SUMMERFIELD
MIDFIELDER
1989/90 APPEARANCES: 4
Kevin Summerfield joined Exeter City late on in the championship winning campaign.
He began his career with West Bromwich Albion, making his first team debut in 1977, but only made a total of nine league appearances, scoring three goals before joining Birmingham City in May 1982.
His stay was for just seven months, when he signed for his home town club Walsall and enjoyed a successful 18 months there, scoring 17 league goals, which led to a transfer to Cardiff City in July 1984.
Once more he quickly moved on an in December 1984 signed for Plymouth Argyle six months later and was an important member of the squad for the next five years. However, a broken leg sustained in January 1989 led to a year on the sidelines and after regaining full fitness he spent time on loan at City, joining the club in March 1990 when they were on the verge of promotion from the Fourth Division. He played four matches for Terry Cooper’s team and then
moved to Shrewsbury Town in October 1990 where he featured in 163 league games for them, scoring 22 goals.
He became a youth coach at Plymouth in 1997 and was appointed caretaker manager three years later. He Plymouth’s assistant manager after the arrival of Paul Sturrock and led the club to the brink of promotion to the Football League Championship before joining Sturrock at Southampton.
He gained promotion twice more with Sturrock, at Sheffield Wednesday in 2005, and Swindon Town in 2007, before returning to Plymouth Argyle once again on the coaching staff. Kevin was appointed assistant manager at Tranmere Rovers in July 2010, before moving to Burton Albion to take up the same role in May 2012.
In October 2014, he followed Burton manager Gary Rowett to Birmingham City, again as assistant manager, where they remained for two years, and in March 2017 joined Derby County.
This article has been created using material from the Grecian Archive and ECFC Museum as part of the 'Celebrating our Heritage' programme, funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and supported by the University of Exeter.