Colin Bell RIP - Ian Cheeseman interview with Jon Bell (P142)

Blue2112 said:
It's been a long time since I've come on here to post and believe me there has been many times I've been tempted. However tonight needed no more tempting it just felt the right thing to do.

I started following this wonderful club when my Dad first took me in 1972. My Dad was my first hero and will be my last but that Saturday afternoon in 72 he unearthed a plethora of new heroes that continues to this day. We all pick our favourites or maybe they pick you. My Dad's was Buzzer Summerbee, mine was Willie Donachie, whilst my own 2 daughters were Stephen Jordan and Sun Jihai for a short time at least.

But I knew all about Colin Bell before I even stepped foot inside Maine Road, how could I not. I'd heard all the stories from my Dad of his extraordinary stamina, his pace, his goals and the name Nijinsky. I'd thumbed through my Dad's scrapbooks from newspaper clippings and touched them longingly.

Surrounded by my Dad's mates, those foreboding dark stands, the tall floodlights, the smell of grass and then seeing for the first time in glorious technicolor those stunningly beautiful sky blue shirts and then there stood in the middle of the pitch this rapier like blonde fella, our very own England midfield Star - Nijinsky!

My Dad took me to almost every home game barring the derbies, too much trouble in those days, and so I missed that fateful League Cup game. But he made sure he took me to the King's homecoming v Newcastle. It's all been said before about the noise the crowd made when he appeared and it was beaten since. We've all heard and read about him, seen the clips, sung his name on many occasions and I hope 'Colin the King' is the first we sing whenever we are all back together. Where ever he is we need him and his family to hear it bellowing out every bit as loud as that Newcastle return.

I didn't want to believe it tonight although I knew it was true and I just had to ring my Dad who has been bedridden for far too long now to tell him the news. My Mam (a United fan) answered the phone and said she was sorry and I asked her to tell my Dad that Colin Bell had died....did i really just say that to my Dad!

I heard his voice in the background "Oh No not Colin Bell" and I put the phone down.

Fate has brought City v United together again in a League Cup tie tomorrow night. Those footballing gods really do know to play the heartstrings. Come on City Do it for the King, do it for Nijinsky, do it for every Blue's hero Colin Bell.
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Stop it, I'm blubbing now
 
Colin is the reason I'm a blue.
My dad took me and my brothers to city and united in the mid 60s.
Dad was a blue, eldest brother a red, middle brother a blue, and me the youngest just loved it all.
In 66, or 67, we went to Maine Rd. City won. On the way home on the 169 bus to Fog Lane, Burnage, with the City side of the family, my brother was asking me which player I liked the best. Colin was the stand out player. In every sense - blonde hair. All over the pitch. Seemed to be on the ball all the time. I chose him. No doubt my memory of that day is coloured by the hundreds of other games I went on to watch him play - for City and England. That's how he was - everywhere; doing everything; nonstop!!
My brother asked if I liked him enough to be a city fan, and to stop going to Old Trafford with my eldest brother. Thank God I said "Yes!"
The rest is history. I am the lucky one - along with thousands of you who'll feel like shedding a tear tonight. The very best of his generation, and more complete than any other player, imho.
I had the joy of meeting him about 20 years ago on a tour of the stadium with other blue mooners - again, I felt just like the little boy on the 169 bus - my hero!!
And I do again now - as I drink my nightcap, happy and sad, drinking a drink, a drink, a drink
To Colin the King, the King, The King
He's the leader of our tea-e-eam.
He's the greatest, inside forward
That the world has ever seen.

May you replay in the heavens all the magical moments you gave us Colin.
Thank you for making me - and my 3 boys, and their children - 'blue.'
God bless you and your family.
R.I.P.
 
the blue panther said:
Colin is the reason I'm a blue.
My dad took me and my brothers to city and united in the mid 60s.
Dad was a blue, eldest brother a red, middle brother a blue, and me the youngest just loved it all.
In 66, or 67, we went to Maine Rd. City won. On the way home on the 169 bus to Fog Lane, Burnage, with the City side of the family, my brother was asking me which player I liked the best. Colin was the stand out player. In every sense - blonde hair. All over the pitch. Seemed to be on the ball all the time. I chose him. No doubt my memory of that day is coloured by the hundreds of other games I went on to watch him play - for City and England. That's how he was - everywhere; doing everything; nonstop!!
My brother asked if I liked him enough to be a city fan, and to stop going to Old Trafford with my eldest brother. Thank God I said "Yes!"
The rest is history. I am the lucky one - along with thousands of you who'll feel like shedding a tear tonight. The very best of his generation, and more complete than any other player, imho.
I had the joy of meeting him about 20 years ago on a tour of the stadium with other blue mooners - again, I felt just like the little boy on the 169 bus - my hero!!
And I do again now - as I drink my nightcap, happy and sad, drinking a drink, a drink, a drink
To Colin the King, the King, The King
He's the leader of our tea-e-eam.
He's the greatest, inside forward
That the world has ever seen.

May you replay in the heavens all the magical moments you gave us Colin.
Thank you for making me - and my 3 boys, and their children - 'blue.'
God bless you and your family.
R.I.P.
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Great post this mate.
 
Been reading a few other teams forums and it's nice to see how highly he was regarded.

Quite a few years before I started to support City but my dad's face always lit up talking about Colin.

Here's to The King.
 

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Absolutely gutted. Colin Bell was my idol as a young kid in the early/mid seventies. My first City kit was the home kit with number eight on the back. I use to feel so proud wearing that shirt, it use to inspire me to play better. A truely great player for City, and England.
RIP Colin
 
Never had the fortune to see him play.

My Dad though made it clear that he set a bar of excellence at a height that no other City player could meet. He still says the same now, despite the brilliance of our recent players.

He must have been quite something.

RIP The King of the Kippax.
 
It's lovely and heartwarming to see fans of other clubs registering and posting to express their condolences. Thank you to them.
Two of my brothers staunch Manchester United supporters (as other fans are being respectful to us I can't not be back) have sent me messages of condolence and one has posted on my FB page saying: "A Great player and a credit to both City and Football."

Universally loved and respected. RIP lad.
 
recall his comeback after injury game v Newcastle on new years day. the reception he received was unlike anything I can every remember for a city game.

RIP The King
 
It’s a sad day for all blues but I feel particularly bad for all you people lucky enough to have watched him play.

The warmth and love towards him can be felt with every post.

My Dad, my Mum’s two brothers and some of the parents of my mates have always spoken so highly of him - almost in hushed tones.

Living in East Yorkshire since my early 20’s, I’ve met a lot of blokes from that era who don’t support City but when I say I do, go misty eyed and talk of the great Colin Bell.

Rest In Peace King Colin.
 
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