George Bell was an English footballer who played at outside left. He was born in West Bromwich

West Bromwich

West Bromwich is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Sandwell, in the West Midlands, England. It is north west of Birmingham lying on the A41 London-to-Birkenhead road. West Bromwich is part of the Black Country...

 and worked at the local George Salter's Spring Works

Salter Housewares

Salter Housewares is a British manufacturer of consumer weighing scales for personal and kitchen use, and other kitchen accessories...

. Bell was one of the founders of the factory's football team, the West Bromwich Strollers, and played in the team's first recorded match, a 0–0 draw against Hudson's soap factory on 23 November 1878. He continued to play for the team following their change of name to West Bromwich Albion

West Bromwich Albion F.C.

West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands...

 in 1879, playing alongside his cousin Harry Bell

Harry Bell (footballer born 1862)

Harry Bell was an English footballer who played at full back. He was born in West Bromwich and after attending Beeches Road School, worked at the local George Salter's Spring Works. He joined West Bromwich Albion in 1879 and turned professional in the summer of 1885...

 on several occasions.

He scored the winning goal in the 1883 Staffordshire Senior Cup

Staffordshire Senior Cup

The Staffordshire Senior Challenge Cup is a football cup tournament based in the county of Staffordshire in England first competed for in 1877-78. Organised by the Staffordshire Football Association, it is competed for by a mix of clubs from Staffordshire and the surrounding areas. Both...

 Final to give Albion their first ever trophy. The following season saw Bell play in Albion's first FA Cup

FA Cup

The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...

 match, a 0–2 defeat to Wednesbury Town

Wednesbury Town F.C.

Wednesbury Town F.C. is a football club based in Wednesbury, West Midlands, England. For the 2008-09 season, they are members of the West Midlands League Division One....

. He appeared in all of Albion's FA Cup games in 1885–86 as the club reached the final for the first time. He was on the losing side however, as Albion lost 0–2 to Blackburn Rovers

Blackburn Rovers F.C.

Blackburn Rovers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. The team currently competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football....

 in a replay. In 1887, West Bromwich Albion were FA Cup runners-up again, but Bell played in just one match during the cup run, scoring in a 2–1 second round victory over Derby Junction

Derby Junction F.C.

Derby Junction F.C. were an amateur football club in Derby, England. They were active in the 1880s and 1890s, notably being founder members of the Midland League in 1890 and FA Cup semi-finalists in 1888. They played at Derby Arboretum....

. Albion won their first FA Cup in 1888, but Bell did not play in any of the matches, and in June 1888 he joined Kidderminster Harriers

Kidderminster Harriers F.C.

Kidderminster Harriers F.C. are an English football club based in Kidderminster, Worcestershire formed in 1886 They currently play in the Conference National and have played at Aggborough Stadium since they were formed...

, with whom he remained until May 1890.