Colin Bell (footballer, born 1946)

This article is about the Manchester City footballer. For the player and coach, see Colin Bell (footballer, born 1961). For the Mauritian footballer, see Colin Bell (footballer, born 1979).

Colin Bell
MBE
Bell in 1969
Personal information
Date of birth (1946-02-26)26 February 1946
Place of birth Hesleden, England[1]
Date of death 5 January 2021(2021-01-05) (aged 74)
Height 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)[2]
Position(s) Midfielder
Youth career
Horden Colliery Welfare Juniors
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1963–1966 Bury 82 (25)
1966–1979 Manchester City 394 (117)
1980 San Jose Earthquakes 5 (0)
Total 481 (142)
International career
1968 England U23 2 (1)
1968–1975 England 48 (9)
1970–1974 The Football League XI 4 (1)
Medal record
Representing  England
UEFA European Championship
Third place 1968 Italy
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Colin Bell MBE (26 February 1946 – 5 January 2021) was an English professional footballer who played as a midfielder. Bell, known for his thirteen-year spell at Manchester City, is regarded as one of the club's greatest-ever players,[3] and was part of the Bell–Lee–Summerbee trio in the late 1960s and 1970s.[4][5] Bell made 48 appearances for the England national football team; he was an unused squad member at UEFA Euro 1968 and played in three matches at the 1970 FIFA World Cup.

During his playing career, he was nicknamed "The King of the Kippax" (after Maine Road's Kippax Street terraced stand renowned for its singing) and Nijinsky (after the famous racehorse, due to his renowned stamina).[6] In 2004, the West Stand of City of Manchester Stadium was later named in his honour.

  1. ^ Colin Bell: Reluctant Hero, p. 19 & p. 20.
  2. ^ Colin Bell. Romford: A&BC. p. 93.
  3. ^ Conn, David (2012). Richer Than God: Manchester City, Modern Football and Growing Up. Quercus. ISBN 978-0857386809.
  4. ^ Culley, Jon (25 January 1994). "Where are they now?: Colin Bell". The Independent. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
  5. ^ Ferris, Ken (2013). Football Fanatic: A Record Breaking Journey Through English Football. Mainstream Digital. ISBN 978-1780578019.
  6. ^ Matthews, Tony (2013). Manchester City Player by Player. Amberley Publishing. ISBN 978-1445617251.