Biography
Right back William Todd Bell joined the Tigers in May 1932 as Hayden Green’s side was strengthened in readiness for a Division Three North promotion push. The Tigers achieved that elevation to Division Two come May 1933 but Bell was not heavily involved. He made four starts in September 1932, but George Goldsmith was preferred at right back for the rest of the season. Bell left the Tigers in the 1933 close season.
Bell was born in North Seaton, a mining village on the banks of the River Wansbeck near Ashington in Northumberland. He began his career at Blyth Spartans but in December 1925, at the age of 20, he was snapped up by First Division side Sheffield United amidst parallel interest from rivals Arsenal. The promise that the Blades saw in Bell did not bear fruit and he made only five starts in two and a half seasons. In June 1928 he transferred to Grimsby Town and in four seasons he was again deployed mostly as a reserve, making only 11 first team starts.
Bell returned to Blyth Spartans in May 1933 but within weeks he had transferred to Newbiggin West End. After two years he transferred to Bedlington United where he spent another two seasons, drawing his career to an end in the 1937 close season. In September 1937 Bell was admitted to the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle and sadly lost his life at the age of 32, leaving a wife and six year old daughter.
Details
Nationality: England
Date/Place of Birth: 17 March 1905, North Seaton
Hull City First Game: 7 September 1932, Wrexham A (Division Three North), 27 years, 174 days old
Hull City Final Game: 24 September 1932, Doncaster Rovers A (Division Three North), 27 years, 191 days old
Clubs
Blyth Spartans (1923-1925), Sheffield United (1925-1928), Grimsby Town (1928-1932), Hull City (1932-1933), Blyth Spartans (1933), Newbiggin West End (1933-1935), Bedlington United (1935-1937)
Hull City Record
Career: 4 apps, 0 goals
William Bell| Season | LGE App | LGE Gls | FAC App | FAC Gls | FLC App | FLC Gls | EUR App | EUR Gls | OTH App | OTH Gls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1932/33 | 4 | 0 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |