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

Rosler's Mullet said:
Keep hearing lots of nice things said about Colin, people seem to be comparing him the KDB a lot, which is fair enough, but I'd go further and add many traits of a prime Fern to that too, would have loved to have seen him in the modern game and what he would have become.
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He was built for the modern game; for any era, in fact.
 
ahoyhoy said:
I've just checked other club forums & they're all very complimentary about him. There's even a thread on a fishing forum about his passing
He was universally admirred
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And so he should be. Most of us older fans are not idiots who post stupid things. That City team with Bell Coleman Doyle etc was one of the best sides I ever saw at Anfield. Colin Bell was a great player. He would have been a great player no matter where he played. With no affiliation to Man City I can honestly say he is probably one of the best 20 or 30 players of the last 50 years or so. God bless him.
 
This has hit me so hard I can scarcely bear to write about it, even the next day.

I was lucky enough to be of the generation that watched Colin through his career. He was a unique player as I said before, no one like him before or since, and still the greatest City player I have seen, and you know, back in the day, we had some great players,and even more now.

The tragedy is his career was cut short. His reputation lives on what was effectively half a career, and ended with him at his prime. He was so fit that he could probably have played to age 40, but for injury.
Only met him once face-to-face, outside Maine Road. The most lovely, ordinary, humble bloke you could wish to meet - a pattern for us all, let alone footballers.

I don't think I will ever care so much for another player. They just don't make 'em like Colin any more.
 
Unfortunately I’m from the generation that just missed seeing him play. My brother and his mate who I go to City with are both retired and obviously have had that honour. If you like, I started watching at the start of our slow decline. I’m annoyed at myself for asking the daft question of them comparing the Bell, Lee and Summerbee era to today’s successful team. I suppose that’s like asking someone to compare a sumptuous full English breakfast in a top hotel versus a Spaghetti Vongolle with a crisp Frascati by a Venice canal. Both fantastic but very different.

R.I.P. Colin the King.
 
Lovebitesandeveryfing said:
No responsibility whatsoever was on Belly. If anything, there were signs that Charlton was wilting before the substitution.
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Yes this was the key point that many people ignored re that substitution. The full 120 mins used to be on youtube and you could see at around 65-70 mins Charlton was involved in an England attack that broke down. The Germans moved the ball quickly up field and into the England half. In one camera shot you could see Charlton walking back toward the centre circle, completely out of the game, he was shattered. No reflection on him, the conditions were stifling but defensively England were a man short at that point and the substitution was inevitable. As has been mentioned Bell actually played well and was the driving force behind England's best attacks after coming on.
 
Colin Bell wouldnt have looked out of place in the modern era , supreme athlete ,and was the best all round footballer you could wish for , he had everything in his locker ,the thing i really loved about Colin was his humility when he scored a goal there was no celebration he was just doing his job , he would turn and head back for the half way line. Only met him the once but judging by comments on here , he was the same unassuming fella off the pitch.

King if the Kippax R-I-P , the best inside forward the world has ever seen.
 
Blue Llama said:
Most of the team were very fit as Allison ahead of the times brought in a number of part time specialist coaches including an athletic one.
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Vic said:
And a ballet coach!
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Fairly sure the athletics coach was Derek Ibbotson, the Great Britain long distance runner. If I recall, I think Ibbotson said Colin would of been a world class long distance runner if he had chosen athletics, instead of football.
 
Lovebitesandeveryfing said:
Took me months and even years to get over that game. In fairness, it may have been the heat and altitude that sapped the English players. You will say, it was the same for the Germans. But the Germans were, are, and always have been, superbly drilled and fit. I think that’s one of the major reasons why they have beaten England in so many matches.
Also — and this has to be emphasised — a lot was on Bonetti. I actually remember Bonetti (rather than Bell) getting it in the neck from the press. Rightly so. He had an absolute mare. Bonetti was one of those weird keepers, quite similar to James in a way, who was capable of pulling off the most impossible saves in one game, and then letting in clownish goals in the next.
No responsibility whatsoever was on Belly. If anything, there were signs that Charlton was wilting before the substitution.
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From archive footage, Bonetti wasn't told he was starting until the team were on the coach on the way to the stadium - hardly the best preparation for such an important game. Ramsey was still hoping Banks would overcome his stomach bug caused by food poisoning right up until that late stage. I imagine Bonetti felt the pressure of knowing he was a stand in and he hadn't played in any games up to that point in the tournament. Definitely at fault for the crucial first goal which gave WG belief that they could come back. The second goal - it doesn't look good when you watch it back - he looks flat footed and slow to react but it also looks like a total fluke. Also he was very short for a gk - I'd say no more than 5'9 or 5'10 - so he had no chance as it sailed over his head into the net.
Yes you're right - Charlton was struggling and Bell was the ideal replacement (remember Hunter was meant to be the defensive replacement). If the Hurst header goes in from Colin's pinpoint cross it's 3-1 and England would never lose from there. Looked a stonewall penalty on Colin too for the foul by Beckenbauer.
 
Kazzydeyna said:
That is a powerful post mate. Heartfelt and genuine.

I am sad today and yesterday as Colin Bell always reminds me of my beloved Dad. Dad’s gone now but he was of that generation, nicer than mine I have to say, that could support City without viscerally hating United. A gentler and nicer time.

Dad wasn’t a crazy City fan, he could watch United without frothing at the mouth, probably because his Dad was one of those cliches that went to see both. My uncle was a red for instance.

But there were two players Dad would wax lyrical about, to the point of getting misty eyed sometimes. Roy Paul, and Colin Bell. Roy Paul was before my time so of course as I actually got to see Colin play he became my hero as I wanted to be like my Dad. Dad would have been devastated with this news but as it is I’m quite sure he’ll be having a celestial pint last night with his own Dad and toasting the king.

It was what you said about George Best that made me think. Brought back a lot of memories. One of the very few times my Dad ever lost his temper with me as a kid (He was incredibly mild and gentle my Dad, he didn’t do anger really) was when I was watching telly and Best came on (think it was Wogan, can’t remember) and I called him something not very nice. Dad went mental and properly put me in my place. Taught me a lesson about respecting others that did. Sadly I haven’t always kept to it.

My wish, albeit an adventurous one, is that fans are allowed back in time for the CL final and I get to see,hear, and experience 30 or 40k of them singing the Colin Bell song in honour of the great man.

A gentleman, A rare footballer, and by all accounts a humble, decent husband and father.

God rest the King.
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Fabulous post pal.
 
Is it right he was never booked, simply because he never used offensive, insulting or abusive language to a ref?
 
jimmygrimblesboots said:
Colin Bell wouldnt have looked out of place in the modern era , supreme athlete ,and was the best all round footballer you could wish for , he had everything in his locker ,the thing i really loved about Colin was his humility when he scored a goal there was no celebration he was just doing his job , he would turn and head back for the half way line. Only met him the once but judging by comments on here , he was the same unassuming fella off the pitch.

King if the Kippax R-I-P , the best inside forward the world has ever seen.
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I guess half the next KotK fanzine will be tributes!
 
Mancity1980 said:
Great post mate, being born in 1972 I obviously don’t remember this World Cup but I have watched footage and read about the game and you have filled in a few gaps in my knowledge. The anti-England angle is interesting seeing as though the war was still in living memory (makes me think there is a link with the Bobby Moore arrest). My understanding is the substitution meant Beckenbauer was free to join the attack although I don’t recall any blame on Colin, much more on Bonetti, if anything from your description it was a good change by Ramsey. Surely having to chase the game would have the German defender pushing up front anyway?
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At 2-0 down WG had to push forward - no choice. You can also look at Mullery (the defensive midfielder) who was beaten by Beckenbauer before the latter fired his shot under the body of Bonetti. Colin was already being prepared to replace Charlton before the goal went in. Ramsey stuck to his decision to make the substitutions - believing to change his mind would have sent signals of panic and indecision to the opposition. Not something Ramsey was likely to risk doing. It was probably close to 100 degrees at game time. The substitutions were absolutely the right thing to do at that point in the game - Charlton wasn't doing anything going forward and a spent force at that point in the game.
 
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