David Bell (footballer born 1984)
Encyclopedia
David Bell is an English
-born Irish
professional footballer. He plays as a midfielder
for Coventry City
. He previously played for Norwich City
, Luton Town
and Rushden & Diamonds
, as well as having a brief trial with Middlesbrough
. He has played mostly in the centre and on the right side of midfield for Luton, although he can also play on the left.
The 2006–07 season was very much a breakthrough season for him as he went from a squad player at Luton to one of the club's key players under Mike Newell
and Kevin Blackwell
. In January 2007 he was given a contract extension, running through to 2010.
At the end of season awards, Bell won the Internet Player Of The Season and Young Supporters' Player Of The Season – an achievement few fans believed possible at the start of the season, as Bell had not even broken into the starting line-up at the season's beginning.
On 28 March 2008, he joined Leicester City
on loan with a view to a permanent transfer. However, Leicester's relegation to League One
meant the permanent deal did not go ahead.
On 23 July 2008 it was confirmed that Bell had agreed a three-year deal with Norwich City
, signing for an undisclosed fee. His debut for the club was delayed by an ankle injury incurred before his signing. He finally made his first appearance in a home defeat to Derby County
on 4 October 2008.
On 29 January 2009, he signed for Coventry City
, for a fee believed to be on the region of £500,000.
Bell scored his first goal for Coventry on 21 March 2009 with a 45 yard strike against Doncaster at the Ricoh Arena. Bell scored in Coventry's FA Cup 3rd round tie draw at Premier League club Portsmouth
on 2 January 2010.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
-born Irish
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
professional footballer. He plays as a midfielder
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
for Coventry City
Coventry City F.C.
Coventry City Football Club, otherwise known as the Sky Blues owing to the traditional colour of their strip, are a professional English Football league club based in Coventry...
. He previously played for Norwich City
Norwich City F.C.
Norwich City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Norwich, Norfolk. As of the 2011–12 season, Norwich City are again playing in the Premier League after a six-year absence, having finished as runner up in the Championship in 2010–11 and winning automatic promotion.The...
, Luton Town
Luton Town F.C.
Luton Town Football Club is an English professional football club based since 1905 at Kenilworth Road, Luton, Bedfordshire. The club currently competes in the fifth tier of English football, the Conference National, for the third consecutive season during the 2011–12 season.Formed in 1885, it was...
and Rushden & Diamonds
Rushden & Diamonds F.C.
Rushden & Diamonds Football Club was an association football club based in Irthlingborough, Northamptonshire, England. Formed by a merger of Rushden Town and Irthlingborough Diamonds in 1992, the club played in the Conference National following a short spell in the Football League at the start of...
, as well as having a brief trial with Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough F.C.
Middlesbrough Football Club , also known as Boro, are an English football club based in Middlesbrough, who play in the Football League Championship. Formed in 1876, they have played at the Riverside Stadium since August 1995, their third ground since turning professional in 1889...
. He has played mostly in the centre and on the right side of midfield for Luton, although he can also play on the left.
The 2006–07 season was very much a breakthrough season for him as he went from a squad player at Luton to one of the club's key players under Mike Newell
Mike Newell (footballer)
Michael Colin "Mike" Newell is an English football manager and former professional footballer. As a player he notably was a member of the Blackburn Rovers team which won the Premier League in 1995, as well also playing for Crewe Alexandra, Wigan Athletic, Luton Town, Leicester City, Everton,...
and Kevin Blackwell
Kevin Blackwell
Kevin Patrick Blackwell is an English former professional football goalkeeper who since retiring as a player has worked as a coach and a manager. He has an identical twin, Noel.-Early career:...
. In January 2007 he was given a contract extension, running through to 2010.
At the end of season awards, Bell won the Internet Player Of The Season and Young Supporters' Player Of The Season – an achievement few fans believed possible at the start of the season, as Bell had not even broken into the starting line-up at the season's beginning.
On 28 March 2008, he joined Leicester City
Leicester City F.C.
Leicester City Football Club , also known as The Foxes, is an English professional football club based at the King Power Stadium in Leicester...
on loan with a view to a permanent transfer. However, Leicester's relegation to League One
Football League One
Football League One is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system....
meant the permanent deal did not go ahead.
On 23 July 2008 it was confirmed that Bell had agreed a three-year deal with Norwich City
Norwich City F.C.
Norwich City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Norwich, Norfolk. As of the 2011–12 season, Norwich City are again playing in the Premier League after a six-year absence, having finished as runner up in the Championship in 2010–11 and winning automatic promotion.The...
, signing for an undisclosed fee. His debut for the club was delayed by an ankle injury incurred before his signing. He finally made his first appearance in a home defeat to Derby County
Derby County F.C.
Derby County Football Club is an English football based in Derby. the club play in the Football League Championship and is notable as being one of the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888 and is, therefore, one of only ten clubs to have competed in every season of the English...
on 4 October 2008.
On 29 January 2009, he signed for Coventry City
Coventry City F.C.
Coventry City Football Club, otherwise known as the Sky Blues owing to the traditional colour of their strip, are a professional English Football league club based in Coventry...
, for a fee believed to be on the region of £500,000.
Bell scored his first goal for Coventry on 21 March 2009 with a 45 yard strike against Doncaster at the Ricoh Arena. Bell scored in Coventry's FA Cup 3rd round tie draw at Premier League club Portsmouth
Portsmouth F.C.
Portsmouth Football Club is an English football club based in the city of Portsmouth. The club is nicknamed Pompey. Portsmouth's home matches have been played at Fratton Park since the club's formation in 1898. The team currently play in the Football League Championship after being relegated from...
on 2 January 2010.