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

RIP Colin Bell a magnificent player for City,thoughts are with his family at this time,let’s win this semi final now for him.
 
I am a little young to remember him as a player as born in 71 but I do recall the buzz for his comeback game, you could feel something in the air even though I was too young to go. My Dad went and needless to say was emotional.
Fortunate enough to meet him in the last few years and what a lovely, lovely man.

God Bless, you Colin. X
 
lunebleu said:
i saw him make his debut. I was there when that twat Buchan crippled him and when he came back against Newcastle. The thing about Colin (other than other City greats] i'm convinced he would easily get in the current City side. Pep would love his work rate and intelligence, and decency off the pitch.....I would add that i think overall he was a better finisher than KDB. I only spoke to him once when i went to Bell-Waldron Restaurant and i made some gibberish comment about my admiration. he just said ''thanks mate, but just lucky and a bit of hard work thats all'' Don't imagine many of todays players would display such genuine humility.
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Colin could have played in any era I’m sure that Pep would have built the team around him. Image him gliding along on the pitches of today? He never reached his peak Big Mal said he could have played into his forties moving back into defence We would have won more trophies with him certainly beat Liverpool to the title when we finished 2nd
 
Amidst this sad news it’s wonderful to read so many great memories of the King and what he has meant to people for so long. And seeing other clubs fans coming on here too to say the same.

At a time when many people are struggling to connect to the game at the moment for obvious reasons, we can’t attend, it’s uplifting to be reminded just how much the club and Colin Bell has impacted on people’s lives.

Like many I’m far too young to have seen him play and I’m always in awe of the way people talk about his footballing abilities and stature in his day.

Rest easy Colin
 
Met him just the once at a supporters club meeting when we were in the 3rd tier. Some complete numbnuts actually asked him how the current (1999) side would have compared to the side he played in. While the rest of the room exploded into laughter and jeering at said muppet, the king managed a wry smile and said “I think we’d have given them a game”.
A genuine class act both on and off the pitch.
RIP King Colin, you will never be forgotten.
 
A tiny piece of comfort for me is that he knew how much he was loved by City fans. I understand he was a very humble man but at least he knew how many people he inspired and gave happiness to. My sincere condolences go to Colin's family. The tributes on here have been beautiful.
 
Started going to watch City on a regular basis towards the end of 73/74, over the next two years before his untimely injury he was absolutely brilliant for us, as others have said a true box to box player and a scorer of all types of goals from 30 yard screamer to tap ins.
Was at Elland Road when he scored his first goal in April 76 on his first comeback, great shot from the edge of the box. Also like many others was at the game against Newcastle on Boxing Day, It was amazing how one player could affect the crowd and the team as much as he did; the second half was won on a tidal wave of emotion.
Back in the summer of 75 I went down to Maine Road with one of my mates to buy our first junior season tickets for the Kippax. We then decided to hang around for a while to see if any players would appear so we could get their autographs. We soon spotted Colin along with Rodney Marsh and approached them slightly nervously. Both of them couldn't have been more obliging and happy to sign our scraps of paper but always remember Colin being very quiet whilst Rodney did most of the talking to us.
We would have definitely won the league in 77 if Colin hadn't been injured and maybe him being fit would have saved us from the catastrophe of the following years.
He would have also been brilliant in our current team as he would fit into Pep's philosophy of being able to play in a number of positions and would have been ideal as a false 9 because of the amount of goals he could score
RIP Colin, a true legend.
 
Blue and still suffering said:
Also like many others was at the game against Newcastle on Boxing Day, It was amazing how one player could affect the crowd and the team as much as he did; the second half was won on a tidal wave of emotion.
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This ^^^^
Electric atmosphere.

“The King is dead. Long live The King!”

In his case, the One, the Only.

Loved the portrait of Foden holding the King Colin pic. He has a chance to draw parallels, but he still needs a few more strings to his bow before he could ever be considered in King Colin’s universe.

King Colin in full flow tells you all you need to know about his nickname...Nijinsky.
 
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During the 1970 World Cup I was 7 years old and Mum and Dad allowed me to come down for the England games as long as I had an evening sleep. I couldn't as I was too excited so made out I was asleep when they checked. It was fantastic, watching the games late at night with my sticker book to hand. Then in I think the 3rd game against Brazil, a player took my eye. I kept noticing him and after a while I decided that whoever he played for was going to be my team. That player, Colin Bell of Manchester City. I have the Toffs England 70 'teabag' shirt with 19 printed and will wear it with pride once the diet takes effect as my personal mark of respect to the undisputed King. RIP Colin, it's going to be very strange now you're in Maine Road heaven
 
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It's quite telling how many new posters, hyper infrequent posters, or long unseen absentee posters there are coming in to pay tribute and respects to the man.

It's nice that despite the unfortunate circumstances Colin Bell had the power to have brought so many of us together to celebrate him.
 
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