The man they called Nijinsky is one of the greatest players ever to grace the City blue. Part of the golden era of the late 60’s and early 70’s, Bell was one of the famous trio involving Francis Lee and Mike Summerbee.
Colin Bell began his footballing career with Bury in the old second division in 1963. He made 86 appearances for the Shakers, scoring 25 goals. With a host of clubs lining up for his signature, City boss Malcolm Allison dissuaded other clubs from signing him by saying Bell ‘couldn’t head of pass the ball and was hopeless.’ Allison’s tactics worked a dream and Bell moved to City in 1966, going on to form the famously formidable midfield partnership of Bell, Lee and Summerbee. His endless stamina earned him the nickname Nijinsky after the famous racehorse.
His time with the blues marked a successful period for the club. In 1968 he helped City to win the league championship on the final day of the season at Newcastle and a year later, he was part of the FA Cup winning side as the blues beat Leicester City 1-0 at Wembley. He made his England debut in the same year, scored the winner against The Netherlands and also got on the score sheet against the mighty Brazil.
In 1970, Bell was a trophy winner again, this time with a League Cup and European Cup Winners Cup double. In the summer of 1970, he was part of the Mexican World Cup squad, which was attempting to defend the trophy they had won four years earlier at Wembley. In the quarter final against West Germany, Bell replaced United legend Bobby Charlton, a move that prompted some to claim that the substitution turned the game in Germany’s favour. The Germans won the game 3-2, but Charlton defended the decision, stating Germany had scored before Bell replaced him and the substitution made no difference.
Bell made forty eight appearances for England and grabbed nine goals. England failed to qualify for the 1974 World Cup, which saw the departure of Sir Alf Ramsey as manager. Former City boss Joe Mercer took temporary charge of the national side and included Bell in every game under his charge. Bell was regarded as the finest ever England midfielders, with his best performance for England coming in the 7-0 hammering of Austria, scoring twice and also helped England to victory over World Champions West Germany in 1975.
in 1976, Bell was involved in a clash with United’s Martin Buchan and was out of the game until 1977, when he made his return, but failed to regain his form and retired from the game in 1979. Then chairman Peter Swales described Bell as irreplaceable, as manager Malcolm Allison failed to find another midfield trio that Bell was a huge part of. Bell later moved to the States in an attempt to resurrect his career with San Jose Earthquakes, but the move was unsuccessful as Bell only managed to play five games for the club.
In 2004, a the west stand at City’s new stadium was renamed The Colin Bell Stand. In 2005, Bell was awarded an MBE in recognition for his charity work. In total, Colin Bell played over 450 games over a fourteen year period, scoring 152 goals in the process.
A true legend in every sense of the word and a classy player who could still show some of the players today how it’s done.
Colin Bell is not a past master. He is the past master.