Colin Bell MBE (26 February 1946), is a former English football player who was born in Hesleden, County Durham, England. Nicknamed "The King of the Kippax" (after Manchester City's Kippax terraced stand renowned for its singing), and Nijinsky after the famous racehorse (due to his renowned stamina), Bell is widely described as Manchester City's greatest ever player. He was part of the famous trio of the late 1960s and early 1970s alongside Francis Lee and Mike Summerbee. The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by King George V. The Order includes five classes in civil and military divisions; in decreasing order of seniority, these are Knight Grand Cross or Dame Grand Cross (GBE) Knight Commander... is the 57th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1946 (MCMXLVI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full 1946 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... For other uses, see England (disambiguation). ... A player (wearing the red kit) has penetrated the defence (in the white kit) and is taking a shot at goal. ... Hesleden is a village in County Durham, in England. ... County Durham is a county in north-east England. ... For other uses, see England (disambiguation). ... Manchester City Football Club is an English football club based in the city of Manchester. ... The racehorse Nijinsky II (named after the dancer Vaslav Nijinsky) was a son of Northern Dancer and Flaming Page and a grandson of Nearco. ... Francis Lee (born April 29, 1944 in Westhoughton, England) is a former professional footballer, who played in the 1960s and 1970s, including many appearances for the England national team. ... Mike Summerbee or buzzer played in the all conquering Manchester City side of the late 6os and early 70s. ...

Early career

He began his career at Bury captaining the team at a young age. In 1966 he moved to Manchester City and helped the team earn promotion to the First Division that same year. When trying to sign him for Manchester City, Assistant Manager Malcolm Allison misled other clubs interested in Bell by claiming the player "can't head it, can't pass it, he's hopeless". Allison's stratagem succeeded as Bell signed for City. In 1968 he helped City win their second League Championship. In the same year Bell also won his first England cap against Sweden, where he was instrumental in a 3-1 victory - the last time England defeated Sweden. In 1969 Manchester City won the FA Cup with a 1-0 victory over Leicester City thanks to a goal by Neil Young. That same year Bell distinguished himself in the national team, scoring England's only goal in a 1-0 victory over The Netherlands and also scoring against Brazil. In 1970, Manchester City and Bell won two trophies, the League Cup and the European Cup Winners' Cup. For the team from Bury St Edmunds, see Bury Town F.C.. Bury Football Club are an English association football team based in Bury, Greater Manchester to the north of the Manchester region. ... Manchester City Football Club is an English football club based in the city of Manchester. ... Malcolm Alexander Allison (born Dartford 5 September 1927) is a former English footballer and football manager. ... This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ... Leicester City Football Club, (also known as The Foxes) are an English professional football club based in the city of Leicester. ... Manchester City striker who famously scored the only goal in the 1969 Football Association cup final. ... The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup, is an English football competition. ... The Cup Winners Cup was a football club competition between the winners of the European domestic cup competitions. ...

1970 World Cup

In 1970 Bell, along with Manchester City team mate Francis Lee, earned a place in the England squad for the World Cup in Mexico. To help the players acclimatize to the heat of Mexico, the team staged an inter-squad mini-olympics which saw Bell win every event. During the tournament, Bell saw action in the quarter final when he replaced Bobby Charlton in the 2-3 defeat to West Germany. The substitution was deemed by some to be the negative (for England) turning point of the game. However, Charlton has argued that it was not the substitution which changed the game, and pointed out that West Germany scored their first goal before Charlton was substituted, and also that the West German team at the time had a habit of coming back in games indicates that it is wrong to blame the substitutions for England's defeat. Year 1970 (MCMLXX) was a common year starting on Thursday (link shows full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Francis Lee (born April 29, 1944 in Westhoughton, England) is a former professional footballer, who played in the 1960s and 1970s, including many appearances for the England national team. ... For the club competition, see FIFA Club World Cup. ... Sir Robert Bobby Charlton, CBE (born 11 October 1937 in Ashington, Northumberland) is a former English professional football player who won the World Cup and was named the European Footballer of the Year in 1966. ...

Later career

In total Bell won 48 caps and scored nine goals for England. He also captained the national team for a game in 1972, a defeat to Northern Ireland. Despite these successes, Bell was upset that he was unable to better make his name on the world stage when England failed to qualify for the World Cup in 1974, a failure which also forced England Alf Ramsey's departure. Bell's former manager at Manchester City Joe Mercer took over as caretaker of the national side and chose Bell to play in every game that he was in charge. This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ... Manchester City Football Club is an English football club based in the city of Manchester. ... Joe Mercer, OBE (August 9, 1914 - August 9, 1990) was an English football player and manager. ...

Bell is regarded as one of England's finest ever midfield players, being described by one commentator as 'the most finished article in the modern game'. His finest performances for his country included scoring twice in the 7-0 demolition of Austria, and also helping England defeat World Champions West Germany 2-0 in 1975 at the one hundredth international game played at Wembley Stadium. The team that beat the West Germans in that game consisted of a forward line-up of Mick Channon, Kevin Keegan, Malcolm Macdonald, Alan Hudson and Alan Ball as well as Bell. Channon has commented that he did not understand why then manager Don Revie did not continue with this line-up which he considered was as good as any forward line England had had since 1970. Year 1975 (MCMLXXV) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Michael Roger Mick Channon (born 28 November 1948 in Orcheston, Wiltshire, United Kingdom) is a sportsman who enjoyed a career as a feared football goalscorer with Southampton and England in the 1970s and later became a hugely successful racehorse trainer. ... Joseph Kevin Keegan, OBE (born February 14, 1951 in Armthorpe, South Yorkshire, England)[1] is a former English football coach and one of the all-time greatest players. ... Malcolm Ian Macdonald (born January 7, 1950, Fulham, England) was an English footballer always known as Supermac. Born in Fulham, London, Macdonald started out as a full back before switching to centre forward. ... This article or section seems not to be written in the formal tone expected of an encyclopedia entry. ... Alan James Ball, MBE (born May 12th 1945 in Farnworth, Lancashire) is an English former professional footballer and football club manager. ... Donald George Revie, OBE, (10 July 1927 - 26 May 1989), was a football player for Leicester City, Hull City, Sunderland, Manchester City and Leeds United as a deep-lying centre forward. ... Year 1970 (MCMLXX) was a common year starting on Thursday (link shows full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Injury and Retirement

Tragically, in 1975 at the age of 29 Bell severely injured his right knee against Manchester United in a challenge from Martin Buchan during a League Cup match at Old Trafford. He attempted a return in 1977, but called time on a magical career in 1979 having never recaptured the form which guided Manchester City to the 1968 League Title, 1969 FA Cup, 1970 League Cup and 1970 European Cup Winners' Cup and a second League Cup victory in 1976, after collecting a runners up medal in the same competition two years earlier. Then Manchester City Chairman Peter Swales described Bell as the 'finest tuned athlete' and 'irreplaceable'. This latter sentiment turned out to be true as Malcolm Allison who managed Manchester City again in the late 1970s was not able to find a trio of talented players the calibre of Bell, Summerbee and Lee like he had done in the past with Joe Mercer. In 1980 Bell tried to resurrect his career with NASL side San Jose Earthquakes. The move didn't succeed as he only played 5 games for the club. Manchester United Football Club are a world-famous English football club, based at the Old Trafford stadium in Trafford, Greater Manchester, and are one of the most popular sports clubs in the world, with over 50 million supporters worldwide. ... Martin McLean Buchan (born March 6, 1949 in Aberdeen) was a Scottish football player. ... Old Trafford (given the nickname The Theatre of Dreams by Sir. ... From 1889 until 1992, this was the highest division overall of organized football in England. ... This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ... The Cup Winners Cup was a football club competition between the winners of the European domestic cup competitions. ... Manchester City Football Club is an English football club based in the city of Manchester. ... A Chairman is the presiding officer of a meeting, organization, committee, or other deliberative body. ... Peter Swales is a northwest businessman, and former Chairman of Manchester City F.C. from the 1970s until the early 1990s, when he was replaced by Francis Lee. ... Malcolm Alexander Allison (born Dartford 5 September 1927) is a former English footballer and football manager. ... Joe Mercer, OBE (August 9, 1914 - August 9, 1990) was an English football player and manager. ... Nasl, or El Nasl, is one of the names given to the star Gamma-2 Sagittarii in the constellation Sagittarius NASL is a common abbreviation for the North American Soccer League, a defunct professional soccer league that operated between 1968 and 1984. ... Year founded 1995 League Major League Soccer Nickname Earthquakes, Quakes, The Boys in Blue, Los Terremotos de San José Stadium Formerly Spartan Stadium Coach None Owner Earthquakes Soccer, LLC First Game San Jose Clash 1 - 0 D.C. United (Spartan Stadium; April 6, 1996) Largest Win San Jose Clash 6...

After football

Bell later continued his service with the Maine Road club by working with the youth team, but left before returning during the 1990s as an ambassador for the club. In 2004 the West Stand at Manchester City's new stadium, The City of Manchester Stadium, was renamed "The BELL STAND" in honour of their greatest ever player. This is a unique honour, as the East, North and South stands all remain nameless, although one of the roads leading to the stadium is called "Joe Mercer Way" in honour of Manchester City's most successful and greatest ever manager. Bell was inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame in 2005 in recognition of his contribution to the English game. He was also awarded an MBE that year in recognition of his work for charity. He also released his autobiography entitled 'Colin Bell: Reluctant Hero' in 2005. In the book, Bell reveals how his mother died of bowel cancer when he was too young to remember. She was only 39. Colin Bell's son, a surgeon, gave the book to his boss who, when reading about Colin's mother, suggested that the football legend be examined as the disease may be hereditary. Colin was examined and it was discovered that he had early symptoms of the disease. He has subsequently been treated. The City of Manchester Stadium (also known as COMS or Eastlands) is a sports venue in Manchester, England. ... Joe Mercer, OBE (August 9, 1914 - August 9, 1990) was an English football player and manager. ... The Hall of Fame is housed at The National Football Museum in Preston, England. ... The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by King George V. The Order includes five classes in civil and military divisions; in decreasing order of seniority, these are Knight Grand Cross or Dame Grand Cross (GBE) Knight Commander... Diagram of the stomach, colon, and rectum Colorectal cancer includes cancerous growths in the colon, rectum and appendix. ...

Legacy

England and Manchester City fans alike have fond memories of the football talents of Colin Bell, and many other great players have highlighted Bell as one of the best. In his foreword to Colin Bell's autobiography, Bobby Charlton has stated that 'Colin Bell was unquestionably a great player'.^[1] Alan Mullery, another of Bell's former England team mates stated that Bell would 'still be a star in today's football' and 'would fit into any team'.^[2] Yet another England team mate of Bell's, Kevin Keegan, has stated that Bell 'had it all'.^[3] Former England legend Tom Finney stated that 'Colin Bell was as good as anything I've ever seen'.^[4] Sir Robert Bobby Charlton, CBE (born 11 October 1937 in Ashington, Northumberland) is a former English professional football player who won the World Cup and was named the European Footballer of the Year in 1966. ... Alan Patrick Mullery MBE (born November 23, 1941, Notting Hill, London) was a footballer who enjoyed an eventful and outstanding career with Tottenham Hotspur and England in the 1960s and 1970s. ... Joseph Kevin Keegan, OBE (born February 14, 1951 in Armthorpe, South Yorkshire, England)[1] is a former English football coach and one of the all-time greatest players. ... Sir Thomas Finney, OBE (born 5 April 1922, Preston) is a former English footballer, famous for his loyalty to his league club, Preston North End, and for his performances in the English national side. ...

References

Bell, Colin; Cheeseman, Ian Colin Bell: Reluctant Hero, Mainstream Publishing

Notes

External links

• [English Football Hall of Fame]
• [Colin Bell's Sweaty Jockstrap]
• [[1]]

v • d • e England squad - 1970 FIFA World Cup
	1 Banks • 2 Newton • 3 Cooper • 4 Mullery • 5 Labone • 6 Moore • 7 Lee • 8 Ball • 9 B. Charlton • 10 Hurst • 11 Peters • 12 Bonetti • 13 Stepney • 14 Wright • 15 Stiles • 16 Hughes • 17 J. Charlton • 18 Hunter • 19 Bell • 20 Osgood • 21 Clarke • 22 Astle • Coach: Ramsey