Heartfelt tributes as City legend Bell passes away aged 74
FORMER Manchester City and England midfielder Colin Bell has died at the age of 74, the club announced on the eve of a derby he so often graced.
Bell made 492 appearances and scored 152 goals for City during his 13-year stay after joining from Bury in 1966.
He helped City secure promotion to the top flight that year and was one of their stand-out players as they edged out Manchester United to win the First Division title in 1968.
FA Cup success followed in 1969 as well as two more trophies in 1970 — the League Cup and the European Cup Winners’ Cup. Bell was the club’s top scorer three times.
One of those goals came against Linfield in a famous first-round Cup Winners’ Cup tie in 1970. Bell’s first-leg winner in a 1-0 victory at Maine Road was crucial as Linfield triumphed 2-1 in the second leg, only for City to progress on away goals and go on to win the trophy.
A club statement read: “Colin passed away peacefully this afternoon after a short, non-covid-related illness aged 74. He leaves behind wife Marie, children Jon and Dawn and grandchildren, Luke, Mark, Isla and Jack.”
Bell earned the nickname ‘The King of the Kippax’ after one of the terraces at their former Maine Road home, and had a stand named after him at the Etihad Stadium after a fans’ vote.
His career was effectively ended, though, by a broken leg in a Manchester derby challenge by United’s Martin Buchan which Bell always maintained was accidental.
City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak said in a statement on the club website: “Colin Bell will always be remembered as one of Manchester City’s greatest players and the very sad news today of his passing will affect everybody connected to our club.
“I am fortunate to be able to speak regularly to his former manager and team-mates, and it’s clear to me that Colin was a player held in the highest regard by all those who had the privilege of playing alongside him or seeing him play.
“The passage of time does little to erase the memories of his genius. The fact that we have a stand at the Etihad Stadium named after Colin speaks volumes about the importance of his contribution to this club.”
Mike Summerbee, a former City team-mate of Bell and now a club ambassador, said: “Colin was a lovely, humble man. He was a huge star for Manchester City but you would never have known it.
“He was just the greatest footballer we have ever had. Kevin de Bruyne reminds me a lot of Colin in the way he plays and the way he is as a person.
“Even though I knew he’d been poorly for a while, I wasn’t expecting to lose him — it’s a complete shock.”
Tony Book, who captained that City team in the late 1960s and early 1970s, added: “He was a very special person, not only as a footballer but as a man — I can’t believe he’s gone.
“He is irreplaceable. We had some great times together and I’ll miss him terribly.”
Former City team-mate Rodney Marsh wrote on Twitter that Bell was the “most under-appreciated footballer who ever played” and “the professional I always wanted to be”.
Francis Lee said: “He goes into the top five City players of all time — only in the last 10, 15 years has anyone else come along who can take that mantle.”
Rivals United also paid tribute, writing on Twitter: “All of us at @Manutd are deeply saddened by the passing of Colin Bell, a true footballing legend. Condolences to Colin’s loved ones and everyone at @Mancity.”
Defender Tommy Booth broke into the City team as a 17-year-old and paid tribute to Bell, a “special person” in such a successful era for the club.
Booth said: “He’s one of the greatest players we have ever had and for me it was a privilege to play alongside him and share in so many special moments.
“And but for that terrible injury in 1975, goodness knows what he would have gone on to achieve.
“He was simply the complete player and no one will ever, ever forget what he did for our club. Colin the King. That just says it all.”