Bobby Bell (Scottish footballer)
Encyclopedia
Robert McDicken Bell was a Scottish association footballer who played as a right back
. He played in the Scottish football league system
for Falkirk
and Ayr United, before spending the majority of his playing career at English Football League club Watford
. He later moved into English amateur football, first as a player, and later as a coach and manager.
, Bell played in Scottish Junior Football
for Whitletts Victoria, and also for the British Army
during his national service. Bell turned professional in August 1954 when he signed for Scottish Football League
side Falkirk
. Manager Bob Shankly
selected Bell for one league game, before releasing him on a free transfer at the end of the 1955–56 season. Ayr United manager Neil McBain
signed Bell, fielding him 15 times in the league. When McBain rejoined Watford
in August 1956, he signed several former Ayr players, including Bell.
Bell became a regular first team player at Watford, and along with Cliff Holton
helped Watford gain promotion to the Third Division in 1959–60, for the first time in their history. Other teammates of Bell during this period included Sammy Chung
, Freddie Bunce
and Dennis Uphill
. Watford achieved a 4th-placed league finish in 1961, and 3rd position in 1964. The arrival of player-manager Ken Furphy
in 1964 signalled the end of Bell's Watford career; Furphy was also a full back, and selected himself in preference to Bell. After spending most of the 1964–65 season in Watford's reserves, Bell joined non-league Folkestone
on a free transfer in July 1965, later playing for Wealdstone
.
. He played for the company's football team, and managed them from 1979 until 1981. He later coached several English amateur sides, including Leverstock Green
and Mill End, and also managed in Sunday league football
in the 1990s. He died in 2007.
Right Back
-Guest Artists:This album features many additional artists, including:* Barrington Levy, performing on "Righteous Dub" & "Saw Red"* H.R., performing on "New Sun"* Dangr, performing on "Kick Down"* Tippa Irie, performing on "Sensi"...
. He played in the Scottish football league system
Scottish football league system
The Scottish football league system is a series of generally unconnected leagues for Scottish football clubs. The Scottish system is more complicated than many other national league systems, consisting of two completely separate systems of leagues and clubs, senior football and junior football...
for Falkirk
Falkirk F.C.
Falkirk Football Club is a Scottish professional football club based in Falkirk. It is one of two professional football teams from the town, the other being East Stirlingshire...
and Ayr United, before spending the majority of his playing career at English Football League club Watford
Watford F.C.
Watford Football Club is an English professional football club based in Watford, Hertfordshire. It is often referred to as Watford F.C., Watford, or by the team's nickname The Hornets . Watford Rovers, Founded in 1881, entered the FA Cup for the first time in 1886, and the Southern League a decade...
. He later moved into English amateur football, first as a player, and later as a coach and manager.
Playing career
Born in the Scottish town of AyrAyr
Ayr is a town and port situated on the Firth of Clyde in south-west Scotland. With a population of around 46,000, Ayr is the largest settlement in Ayrshire, of which it is the county town, and has held royal burgh status since 1205...
, Bell played in Scottish Junior Football
Scottish Junior Football Association
The Scottish Junior Football Association is an affiliated national association of the Scottish Football Association and is the governing body for the Junior grade of football in Scotland. The term "Junior" refers to the level of football played...
for Whitletts Victoria, and also for the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
during his national service. Bell turned professional in August 1954 when he signed for Scottish Football League
Scottish Football League
The Scottish Football League is a league of football teams in Scotland, comprising theScottish First Division, Scottish Second Division and Scottish Third Division. From the league's foundation in 1890 until the breakaway Scottish Premier League was formed in 1998, the Scottish Football League...
side Falkirk
Falkirk F.C.
Falkirk Football Club is a Scottish professional football club based in Falkirk. It is one of two professional football teams from the town, the other being East Stirlingshire...
. Manager Bob Shankly
Bob Shankly
Robert "Bob" Shankly was a professional football player and manager. from the village of Glenbuck in Ayrshire, Scotland....
selected Bell for one league game, before releasing him on a free transfer at the end of the 1955–56 season. Ayr United manager Neil McBain
Neil McBain
Neil McBain was a Scottish professional footballer and football manager. He remains the oldest player to appear in an English Football League match.-Playing career:...
signed Bell, fielding him 15 times in the league. When McBain rejoined Watford
Watford F.C.
Watford Football Club is an English professional football club based in Watford, Hertfordshire. It is often referred to as Watford F.C., Watford, or by the team's nickname The Hornets . Watford Rovers, Founded in 1881, entered the FA Cup for the first time in 1886, and the Southern League a decade...
in August 1956, he signed several former Ayr players, including Bell.
Bell became a regular first team player at Watford, and along with Cliff Holton
Cliff Holton
Clifford Charles "Cliff" Holton was an English footballer.Born in Oxford, Holton played as a full back for non-league Oxford City as a youth, before joining Arsenal in October 1947 at the age of 18. He spent three seasons in the Gunners' reserve team, eventually converting to a centre forward...
helped Watford gain promotion to the Third Division in 1959–60, for the first time in their history. Other teammates of Bell during this period included Sammy Chung
Sammy Chung
Cyril "Sammy" Chung is an English former football player and manager. His father was Chinese and his mother English.-Playing career:...
, Freddie Bunce
Freddie Bunce
Frederick Bunce, also known as Freddie or Frank Bunce was an English footballer. He played as a left winger in England and later South Africa...
and Dennis Uphill
Dennis Uphill
Dennis Uphill was an English professional footballer who played for Tottenham Hotspur, Reading, Coventry City, Mansfield Town, Watford and Crystal Palace.- Football career :...
. Watford achieved a 4th-placed league finish in 1961, and 3rd position in 1964. The arrival of player-manager Ken Furphy
Ken Furphy
Ken Furphy is an English former football player and manager.Despite being on the books at Everton between 1950–1951, Furphy was a lower league player with Runcorn Darlington and then Workington...
in 1964 signalled the end of Bell's Watford career; Furphy was also a full back, and selected himself in preference to Bell. After spending most of the 1964–65 season in Watford's reserves, Bell joined non-league Folkestone
Folkestone F.C.
Folkestone Football Club was the name of two English football clubs based in the town of Folkestone, Kent. It is unclear if the two clubs were in fact connected, but neither has any formal connection to Folkestone Invicta, who took over the Cheriton Road stadium after the demise of Folkestone F.C....
on a free transfer in July 1965, later playing for Wealdstone
Wealdstone F.C.
Wealdstone Football Club are an English semi-professional football club who formed in Wealdstone, in the London Borough of Harrow, but are currently based a few miles away in Ruislip, in the London Borough of Hillingdon. At present, the club are members of the Isthmian League Premier Division. They...
.
Later life
Following his retirement from professional football, Bell worked for car manufacturer Rolls RoyceRolls-Royce Motors
Rolls-Royce Motors was created from the de-merger of the Rolls-Royce car business from Rolls-Royce Limited in 1973. The original Rolls-Royce Limited had been nationalised in 1971 due to the financial collapse of the company, caused in part by the development of the RB211 jet engine...
. He played for the company's football team, and managed them from 1979 until 1981. He later coached several English amateur sides, including Leverstock Green
Leverstock Green F.C.
Leverstock Green F.C. are a football club based in Leverstock Green in Hemel Hempstead, England. They were established in 1895 and joined the Herts County League Division Two in 1954. For the 2011-12 season, they are members of the Spartan South Midlands Football League Premier Division.-External...
and Mill End, and also managed in Sunday league football
Sunday league football
Sunday league football is a term used in the United Kingdom to describe those association football leagues which play on Sunday, as opposed to the more usual Saturday. These leagues tend to be lower standard amateur competitions, whose players may have less ability, or less time to devote to...
in the 1990s. He died in 2007.