.gif)
Michael Bell (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Michael "Mickey" Bell is an English
former football defender
, turned manager. In a seventeen year career as a professional in the Football League
he made 599 league appearances with five different clubs.
Starting his career with Northampton Town
in 1990, over a four year period he would make over 150 appearances for the club. He then transferred to Wycombe Wanderers
, where he would make 118 league appearances in a three year spell. He then made a £150,000 move to Bristol City
in 1997, and would make 345 appearances in all competitions, in an eight year association with the club. He then spent a brief spell at Port Vale
, before joining Cheltenham Town
in 2006. He then dropped into the non-leagues with Team Bath
and Weston-super-Mare, before being appointed as manager of Clevedon Town
in 2011.
before moving on a £55,000 transfer to Wycombe Wanderers
. He then moved on a £150,000 transfer to Bristol City
where he made most of his career appearances. He spent eight years at Ashton Gate before the club released him in the summer of 2005.
He joined Port Vale
on a free transfer, citing the fact that he knew a few players already on the team as a factor in his decision. However, the stay was brief as Bell headed for the exit door later that year to join Cheltenham Town
to finish out the season. Bell stated the long commute as well as family reasons for the mutual termination agreement. Although Bell helped Cheltenham to promotion to League One via the League Two playoffs in 2006 (playing a part in the clubs 1-0 triumph in the final over Grimsby Town
at the Millennium Stadium
), his time at Cheltenham was riddled with injuries which required surgery on his achilles
and he did not appear for the Robins past Boxing Day
of the following campaign; subsequently, Bell was not offered a contract at the conclusion of the 2006–07 season.
After his release by Cheltenham Town
he was appointed as a player coach at Team Bath
. It was first reported that Mickey Bell was training with Weston-super-Mare on 15 December 2007 in an interview with manager Tony Ricketts
. He had previously been training to be a plumber
, but finished the courses and started to train with the team. Weston-super-Mare announced Mickey Bell's signing on 4 February 2008. He eventually made ten appearances for the club before being released at the end of the season.
, he returned to the game in May 2010 when he was appointed manager of Southern Football League Division One South & West side Clevedon Town
.
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
former football defender
Defender (association football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
, turned manager. In a seventeen year career as a professional in the Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
he made 599 league appearances with five different clubs.
Starting his career with Northampton Town
Northampton Town F.C.
Northampton Town Football Club are an English professional football club based in Northampton, Northamptonshire. They currently play in Football League Two, the lowest league division, after being relegated from League One on the last day of the 2008–09 season...
in 1990, over a four year period he would make over 150 appearances for the club. He then transferred to Wycombe Wanderers
Wycombe Wanderers F.C.
Wycombe Wanderers Football Club is an English professional football team from High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire, which has been promoted to Football League One after finishing third in Football League Two in the season 2010–11. The club's nicknames are "The Chairboys" and "The Blues", and they play...
, where he would make 118 league appearances in a three year spell. He then made a £150,000 move to Bristol City
Bristol City F.C.
Bristol City Football Club is one of two football league clubs in Bristol, England . They play at Ashton Gate, located in the south-west of the City...
in 1997, and would make 345 appearances in all competitions, in an eight year association with the club. He then spent a brief spell at Port Vale
Port Vale F.C.
Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...
, before joining Cheltenham Town
Cheltenham Town F.C.
Cheltenham Town Football Club is an English football club playing in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. Founded in 1887, the team has played at four different grounds, namely Agg-Gardner's Recreation Ground, Carter's Field and now the Abbey Business Stadium, although it is more...
in 2006. He then dropped into the non-leagues with Team Bath
Team Bath F.C.
Team Bath was an English association football club affiliated with the University of Bath in the city of Bath, Somerset at the turn of the 21st century. The club was formed to allow the players to combine professional football with higher education...
and Weston-super-Mare, before being appointed as manager of Clevedon Town
Clevedon Town F.C.
Clevedon Town Football Club are an English professional football club based in Clevedon, North Somerset. They currently play in the Southern League Division One South & West.-History:...
in 2011.
Playing career
Bell started his career at Northampton TownNorthampton Town F.C.
Northampton Town Football Club are an English professional football club based in Northampton, Northamptonshire. They currently play in Football League Two, the lowest league division, after being relegated from League One on the last day of the 2008–09 season...
before moving on a £55,000 transfer to Wycombe Wanderers
Wycombe Wanderers F.C.
Wycombe Wanderers Football Club is an English professional football team from High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire, which has been promoted to Football League One after finishing third in Football League Two in the season 2010–11. The club's nicknames are "The Chairboys" and "The Blues", and they play...
. He then moved on a £150,000 transfer to Bristol City
Bristol City F.C.
Bristol City Football Club is one of two football league clubs in Bristol, England . They play at Ashton Gate, located in the south-west of the City...
where he made most of his career appearances. He spent eight years at Ashton Gate before the club released him in the summer of 2005.
He joined Port Vale
Port Vale F.C.
Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...
on a free transfer, citing the fact that he knew a few players already on the team as a factor in his decision. However, the stay was brief as Bell headed for the exit door later that year to join Cheltenham Town
Cheltenham Town F.C.
Cheltenham Town Football Club is an English football club playing in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. Founded in 1887, the team has played at four different grounds, namely Agg-Gardner's Recreation Ground, Carter's Field and now the Abbey Business Stadium, although it is more...
to finish out the season. Bell stated the long commute as well as family reasons for the mutual termination agreement. Although Bell helped Cheltenham to promotion to League One via the League Two playoffs in 2006 (playing a part in the clubs 1-0 triumph in the final over Grimsby Town
Grimsby Town F.C.
Grimsby Town Football Club is an English football club based in the seaside town of Cleethorpes, in North East Lincolnshire, England, who compete in the Conference National. They were formed in 1878 as Grimsby Pelham and later became Grimsby Town...
at the Millennium Stadium
Millennium Stadium
The Millennium Stadium is the national stadium of Wales, located in the capital, Cardiff. It is the home of the Wales national rugby union team and also frequently stages games of the Wales national football team, but is also host to many other large scale events, such as the Super Special Stage...
), his time at Cheltenham was riddled with injuries which required surgery on his achilles
Achilles tendon
The Achilles tendon , also known as the calcaneal tendon or the tendo calcaneus, is a tendon of the posterior leg. It serves to attach the plantaris, gastrocnemius and soleus muscles to the calcaneus bone.- Anatomy :The Achilles is the tendonous extension of 3 muscles in the lower leg:...
and he did not appear for the Robins past Boxing Day
Boxing Day
Boxing Day is a bank or public holiday that occurs on 26 December, or the first or second weekday after Christmas Day, depending on national or regional laws. It is observed in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and some other Commonwealth nations. In Ireland, it is recognized as...
of the following campaign; subsequently, Bell was not offered a contract at the conclusion of the 2006–07 season.
After his release by Cheltenham Town
Cheltenham Town F.C.
Cheltenham Town Football Club is an English football club playing in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. Founded in 1887, the team has played at four different grounds, namely Agg-Gardner's Recreation Ground, Carter's Field and now the Abbey Business Stadium, although it is more...
he was appointed as a player coach at Team Bath
Team Bath F.C.
Team Bath was an English association football club affiliated with the University of Bath in the city of Bath, Somerset at the turn of the 21st century. The club was formed to allow the players to combine professional football with higher education...
. It was first reported that Mickey Bell was training with Weston-super-Mare on 15 December 2007 in an interview with manager Tony Ricketts
Tony Ricketts
Tony Ricketts is a former semi-professional football player.As a player, at 24 years old, he was offered a 2 year contact with Bristol City, which he refused.In 1979 he joined Bath City, where he became first a coach and then manager, spending seven years at the club in all...
. He had previously been training to be a plumber
Plumber
A plumber is a tradesperson who specializes in installing and maintaining systems used for potable water, sewage, and drainage in plumbing systems. The term dates from ancient times, and is related to the Latin word for lead, "plumbum." A person engaged in fixing metaphorical "leaks" may also be...
, but finished the courses and started to train with the team. Weston-super-Mare announced Mickey Bell's signing on 4 February 2008. He eventually made ten appearances for the club before being released at the end of the season.
Management career
Despite becoming a qualified plumberPlumber
A plumber is a tradesperson who specializes in installing and maintaining systems used for potable water, sewage, and drainage in plumbing systems. The term dates from ancient times, and is related to the Latin word for lead, "plumbum." A person engaged in fixing metaphorical "leaks" may also be...
, he returned to the game in May 2010 when he was appointed manager of Southern Football League Division One South & West side Clevedon Town
Clevedon Town F.C.
Clevedon Town Football Club are an English professional football club based in Clevedon, North Somerset. They currently play in the Southern League Division One South & West.-History:...
.
Awards
- PFA Second DivisionFootball League Second DivisionFrom 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
Team of the YearPFA Team of the YearThe Professional Footballers' Association Team of the Year is an annual award given to a set of 44 footballers in the top four tiers of English football; the Premier League, the Championship, League One and League Two, whom are seen to be deserving of being named in a "Team of the Year".The award...
: 1999–2000, 2000–01, 2001–02 & 2002–03
Promotions
- 1997–98: Second DivisionFootball League Second DivisionFrom 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
Runners Up (promotion to First DivisionFootball League First DivisionThe First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
) - Bristol CityBristol City F.C.Bristol City Football Club is one of two football league clubs in Bristol, England . They play at Ashton Gate, located in the south-west of the City...
- 2005–06: League TwoFootball League TwoFootball League Two is the third-highest division of The Football League and fourth-highest division overall in the English football league system....
Playoff winners (promotion to League OneFootball League OneFootball League One is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system....
) - Cheltenham TownCheltenham Town F.C.Cheltenham Town Football Club is an English football club playing in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. Founded in 1887, the team has played at four different grounds, namely Agg-Gardner's Recreation Ground, Carter's Field and now the Abbey Business Stadium, although it is more...
Cups
- 2002–03: Football League TrophyFootball League TrophyThe Football League Trophy, currently known as the Johnstone's Paint Trophy for sponsorship reasons, is an annual English association football knock-out competition open to the 48 clubs in Football League One and Football League Two, the bottom two divisions in the four fully professional top...
Winner - Bristol CityBristol City F.C.Bristol City Football Club is one of two football league clubs in Bristol, England . They play at Ashton Gate, located in the south-west of the City...