Back to the future for Shrewsbury Town's Luke Summerfield
Luke Summerfield may only be 24, but his life has already travelled full circle.
Even before his summer switch from Cheltenham to Shrewsbury Town, the ball-playing midfielder was no stranger to life in Shropshire.
As the son of Town’s former attacking midfielder Kevin, Summerfield junior spent his early childhood years growing up in the county town.
And, ahead of tomorrow’s intriguing home clash with early League One leaders Tranmere, Summerfield has wasted no time in again putting down his roots in Shropshire, completing his move on Wednesday.
“It has been a bit hectic recently for me and my partner Heidi, with moving house,” he said.
“We’ve moved from Gloucester to Telford and now we are all settled.
“I’m glad it’s out of the way and looking forward to getting the boxes unpacked.
“I remember bits and bobs of Shropshire when I was a kid here, but now we are looking forward to starting a new life.
“The family lived in Shrewsbury when dad played here and now we have moved out to Telford. It’s a bit different as a footballer, because you never know where you are going to be from one season to the next.
“But I’m delighted to be playing for Shrewsbury and pleased with how it’s gone so far.”
Summerfield was victorious in his first individual battle, seeing off competition from Asa Hall and Aaron Wildig to claim a midfield starting berth alongside Matt Richards. So intense is the battle for places, he admitted that was an achievement in itself.
“I’ve been pleased with the way it has gone and I’m happy to be playing,” he added. “But I have to work my socks off day in and day out to stay in the team.
“There are masses of selection options here. Asa and Aaron are top-class footballers and I know how hard I have to work.”
That will continue tomorrow with the visit of a Tranmere side that Summerfield’s Cheltenham beat 1-0 in the FA Cup at Prenton Park last season.
With dad then on the coaching staff at Rovers, that earned the younger member of the Summerfield clan temporary bragging rights. With Kevin now No.2 at Burton, there are no such family loyalty issues tomorrow.
But, after Tranmere’s flying start to the campaign, another testing encounter is in store for Graham Turner’s side.
Summerfield, however, believes Tuesday’s 1-0 victory over Preston will only add to the feelgood factor around the Greenhous Meadow.
“Getting the win and clean sheet on Tuesday has given an extra air of confidence ahead of tomorrow,” he said. “The fact it was the first home game for us made it extra special.
“I don’t think there will be much talk about easy games this year. But, at the same time, there is nothing to fear and we know if we play to the best of our ability we will be there or thereabouts.”
Tranmere head to Shropshire on the crest of an early-season wave having won all three games, scoring eight goals in the process.
But manager Ronnie Moore isn’t getting carried away. “It has been a good start but we’ll keep our feet on the floor,” he added.
“We’ve done nothing and we’ve won nothing. The reports we’ve had say they were unlucky at Sheffield United – and if you’re unlucky at Sheffield United, you’ve got a decent team.
“(Terry) Gornell and (Marvin) Morgan up front are going to cause one or two problems but I’d like to think that Graham (Turner) is sitting there thinking that we’re going to cause them one or two problems.”