Colin Bell

Lore & Background

Bell began his career at Bury where he was swiftly made club captain. In total, Bell made 82 league appearances for Bury (in three seasons) and scored 22 goals. In 1966, he moved to Manchester City (who were managed by Joe Mercer) for £45,000. When trying to sign him for Manchester City, assistant manager Malcolm Allison misled other clubs interested in Bell (including Leicester City) by claiming that the player was "hopeless".

Allison's stratagem succeeded as Bell ultimately signed for City. In the 1965–66 season, Bell helped City finish first in the Second Division, earning the team promotion to the First Division. Mike Summerbee scored the only goal (via a header) in a 1–0 victory against Rotherham which ensured promotion. In the 1966–67 season, Bell was City's top scorer with 14 league goals, and the team finished in 15th place in the First Division.

Bell scored a hat trick in a 3–1 victory against Stoke City in April that season. In the 1967–68 season, Bell helped City win their second League Championship (they had won their first in 1937). Bell scored 14 league goals that season. One of his goals came in the famous 4–1 victory against Tottenham Hotspur, at Maine Road, which was dubbed the "Ballet on Ice" due to the snowy conditions in which the game was played.

Mike Summerbee, Tony Coleman and Neil Young scored City's other goals while Jimmy Greaves scored the goal for Spurs. After the game, legendary centre forward Dixie Dean informed Allison that the City team which had beaten Spurs was "the most brilliant side I have ever seen". In the penultimate game of the season, Bell scored twice in a 3–1 victory against Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane. In the game, Lee and Summerbee stretched the Spurs defence allowing Bell a clear run at a slowing Dave Mackay which overwhelmed the Scotsman.

In the final game of the season, City defeated Newcastle United 4–3, to clinch the title. Bell assisted Lee with the "best pass of the afternoon" to score City's fourth goal. In the 1968–69 season, Bell again scored 14 league goals as City finished 13th in the First Division. Manchester City won the FA Cup that season with a 1–0 victory over Leicester City in the final thanks to a goal by Neil Young. In the 1969–70 season, Bell scored eleven league goals for City, who finished tenth in the league.

Reader's Guide

Bell played twice for the England Under 23 team in 1968. He played in a 2–1 victory against Scotland Under 23 team in which Martin Chivers and Rodney Marsh scored for the England Under 23 team. He also played in a 4–0 victory against the Hungary Under 23 team. Bell scored one of the four goals.

The other scorers were Chivers, Marsh and Joe Royle. In the same year, Bell was selected for the senior England squad for a match against Spain, in May, but was forced to withdraw from the squad due to injury. Bell was replaced by Peter Thompson. Later in the same month, Bell won his first cap for the senior England team against Sweden, where he helped inspire goals from Martin Peters, Bobby Charlton and Roger Hunt in a 3–1 victory.

One journalist stated that Bell 'revealed high promise and fitted in splendidly'. Bell won his second cap in a 1–0 defeat to West Germany in which Brian Labone scored an own goal. Bell was part of the England squad for UEFA Euro 1968, which was ultimately won by Italy. England finished third in the tournament after defeating the Soviet Union in the third-place match.

In 1969, Bell distinguished himself in the national team, scoring England's only goal in a 1–0 victory over the Netherlands in an "all-action display". Bell was part of the England squad which toured South America in 1969. Brian Glanville contended that both Bell and Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Alan Mullery excelled on the tour. Bell gave England an early lead in a game against Brazil, but late goals from Tostão and Jairzinho gave Brazil a 2–1 victory.

Bell also played in a 2–1 victory against Uruguay on the tour. He also helped England to win the 1968–69 British Home Championship. He played in a 2–1 victory against Wales in which Bobby Charlton and Francis Lee scored England's goals. Bell played in the 1969–70 British Home Championship, which was shared between England, Wales and Scotland.

He replaced Keith Newton in a 3–1 victory against Northern Ireland. He was subsequently included in the England squad for the World Cup in Mexico. Glanville contends that Bell's excellence was threatening Bobby Charlton's place in the England team. England were seeking to replicate their performance in the 1966 FIFA World Cup, which they had won. Bell's City teammate Francis Lee was also included in the squad.

Club Career and Major Honors

Colin Bell's professional journey began at Bury where he was swiftly made club captain. In total, Bell made 82 league appearances for Bury (in three seasons) and scored 25 goals. In 1966, he moved to Manchester City (who were managed by Joe Mercer) for £45,000. When trying to sign him, assistant manager Malcolm Allison misled other clubs interested in Bell (including Leicester City) by claiming that the player was "hopeless".

In the 1965–66 season, Bell helped City finish first in the Second Division, scoring the only goal (via a header) in a 1–0 victory against Rotherham which ensured promotion. In the 1967–68 season, Bell helped City win their second League Championship. Bell scored 14 league goals that season. One of his goals came in the famous 4–1 victory against Tottenham Hotspur, at Maine Road, which was dubbed the "Ballet on Ice" due to the snowy conditions.

In the 1968–69 season, Manchester City won the FA Cup with a 1–0 victory over Leicester City in the final. In 1970, City won the League Cup and the European Cup Winners' Cup. City defeated West Bromwich Albion 2–1 in the 1970 Football League Cup Final, and defeated Górnik Zabrze 2–1 in the 1970 European Cup Winners' Cup Final. In the 1974–75 season, Bell scored 15 league goals and was named in the 1974–75 Football League First Division PFA Team of the Year.

The Bell-Lee-Summerbee Trio

During the late 1960s and 1970s, Manchester City fielded one of English football's most formidable attacking partnerships: Colin Bell, Francis Lee, and Mike Summerbee. This trio was widely celebrated for their synergy and technical brilliance. After the 4–1 victory against Tottenham Hotspur dubbed the "Ballet on Ice", legendary centre forward Dixie Dean informed Allison that the City team which had beaten Spurs was "the most brilliant side I have ever seen".

In the penultimate game of the 1967–68 season, Bell scored twice in a 3–1 victory against Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane. In the game, Lee and Summerbee stretched the Spurs defence allowing Bell a clear run at a slowing Dave Mackay which overwhelmed the Scotsman. In the final game of the season, Bell assisted Lee with the "best pass of the afternoon" to score City's fourth goal in a 4–3 victory against Newcastle United to clinch the title. When Malcolm Allison returned as manager in 1979, he was not able to find a trio of talented players of the calibre of Bell, Summerbee and Lee as he had done in the past with Joe Mercer.

The Career-Ending Injury and Legacy

Bell's career was tragically altered in November 1975 during a League Cup match against Manchester United. At just 29 years old, he severely injured his right knee following a challenge with Martin Buchan at Maine Road. This forced him into prolonged absence, a blow so significant that it contributed to England manager Don Revie's resignation in 1977. Bell returned to action in a 4–0 victory against Newcastle on Boxing Day in 1977.

His introduction to the game, at half time, was greeted with rapturous applause. However, Bell's return to City was fleeting as he left in the 1978–79 season. Malcolm Allison, who returned to City for a second spell as manager in 1979, convinced Bell that it was time to go. The then-chairman Peter Swales described Bell as the "finest tuned athlete" and "irreplaceable".

Bell's testimonial took place in December 1978 and involved a Manchester team combining players from both Manchester City and Manchester United and a Merseyside team combining players from both Liverpool and Everton. A crowd of 23,936 watched the game. The Manchester team won 2–1. Bell tried to resurrect his career in 1980 with NASL side San Jose Earthquakes, where he joined former Manchester United player George Best, but ended up playing only five games before retiring. In 2004, the West Stand of City of Manchester Stadium was later named in his honour.

International Career and Nicknames

On the international stage, Colin Bell earned 48 caps for England. He was part of the squad at UEFA Euro 1968, though he remained an unused substitute. He played in three matches at the 1970 FIFA World Cup. Bell played twice for the England Under 23 team in 1968, scoring against Hungary.

In 1968, Bell was selected for the senior England squad for a match against Spain but was forced to withdraw due to injury. Later that month, Bell won his first cap against Sweden, helping inspire goals from Martin Peters, Bobby Charlton and Roger Hunt in a 3–1 victory. In 1969, Bell scored England's only goal in a 1–0 victory over the Netherlands in an "all-action display". Bell was part of the England squad which toured South America in 1969.

Bell gave England an early lead in a game against Brazil, but late goals from Tostão and Jairzinho gave Brazil a 2–1 victory. At the 1970 World Cup, Bell came on as a substitute in a 1–0 defeat to Brazil, "adding spark to the England offence in the latter stages". He started in a 1–0 victory against Czechoslovakia. In the quarter-final, Bell replaced Bobby Charlton in a 2–3 defeat to West Germany.

Bell 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).