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

[gordondaviesmoustache]

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.

He was built for the modern game; for any era, in fact.

 

[John John]

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

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.

 

[BrianW]

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.

 

[Mad Eyed Screamer]

From The Italian Job

 

[dadnlad]

hope the link works growing up with this tv classic " the Dustbinmen " emptying colin bells bins lol

RIP Colin thanks for the memories

 

[Dirty Harry]

He was built for the modern game; for any era, in fact.

Agreed mate, probably the most complete player I've seen.

 

[Beanies Nosebag]

What a player, what an athlete, what a legend, what a man

RIP King Colin

 

[blue_paul]

RIP The King. Seeing tons of tributes from fans of other clubs, all saying how brilliant a player he was.

 

[BamberBridgeBlue]

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.

 

[lancs blue]

No responsibility whatsoever was on Belly. If anything, there were signs that Charlton was wilting before the substitution.

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.