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On This Day: King Colin Bell signs

By Jason Bardwell

1970: Colin Bell of Manchester City in action during a Division One match. \ Mandatory Credit: Allsport UK /Allsport
1970: Colin Bell of Manchester City in action during a Division One match. \ Mandatory Credit: Allsport UK /Allsport /
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This season Manchester City have won the League Cup, are on course for the Premier League and still remain in the Champions League. At least two trophies, if not three could be put into the Manchester City cabinet come the end of May.

It hasn’t always been the case, with Manchester City, that trophies flowed quite as much, or as often as they have in the last few years. Since Roberto Mancini led us to our first trophy, with the 2011 FA Cup, City have formed a habit.

That FA Cup has been followed by two League titles (so far) and three League Cup trophies. The change in this decade from last has seen us being called ‘Noisy Neighbors’ by an ex Manchester United boss, to the current one gushing over our football heritage.

But, before we get complacent, we must also recognise the last glory spell we had at Manchester City. Instead of Kevin DeBruyne, it was Colin Bell pulling the strings. This season King Kev has surpassed Colin the King in many people’s eyes, but he still awaits that European glory night with the Blues.

When Colin Bell joined City, on this day in 1966, the Blues were in the second tier of English football. Money was tight for City at the time and, with other clubs scouting the future England International, it was going to be a tough ask. Malcolm Allison reportedly attended a game while Bell was still at Bury and commented on his lack of ability. ‘He can’t head it, he can’t pass it. He’s hopeless’ was the now famous quotes from the City number two.

Of course he could do both of those things, and was far from hopeless. Joining City he would go on to play almost 400 times for City before injury forced him to quit. With City he won the FA Cup, the title, and two League Cups. Alongside that, he also was there for the European Cup Winners Cup win of 1970.

Colin Bell has been inducted into the Manchester City hall of Fame, and has a stand in the Etihad named after him. For a long time he was considered the best to wear the sky blue shirt of City. Now, and after far too long, City’s long reigning King may have to relinquish his throne.