David Bell (footballer, born 1984)

David Anthony Bell (born 21 January 1984) is a former professional footballer. A midfielder, he played for Norwich City, Coventry City, Luton Town, Rushden & Diamonds and Notts County.

David Bell
Personal information
Full name David Anthony Bell[1]
Date of birth (1984-01-21) 21 January 1984 (age 40)
Place of birth Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, England[2]
Height 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Position(s) Midfielder
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2000–2006 Rushden & Diamonds 122 (10)
2006–2008 Luton Town 75 (7)
2008Leicester City (loan) 6 (0)
2008–2009 Norwich City 19 (0)
2009–2013 Coventry City 94 (5)
2013–2014 Notts County 13 (0)
2014–2015 King's Lynn Town 12 (1)
2016–2017 Corby Town 5 (0)
International career
2004–2005 Republic of Ireland U21 2 (0)
2007 Republic of Ireland B 1 (0)
Managerial career
2017 Corby Town
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 24 January 2014
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 20:40, 6 October 2015 (UTC)

Playing career edit

The 2006–07 season was very much a breakthrough season for him as he went from a squad player at Luton to one of the club's key players under Mike Newell and Kevin Blackwell. In January 2007 he was given a contract extension, running through to 2010.

At the end of season awards, Bell won the Internet Player of the Season and Young Supporters' Player of the Season – an achievement few fans believed possible at the start of the season, as Bell had not even broken into the starting line-up at the season's beginning.

On 28 March 2008, he joined Leicester City on loan with a view to a permanent transfer.[3] However, Leicester's relegation to League One meant the permanent deal did not go ahead.

Was once nutmegged by Rushden and Diamonds youth team player, Aaron Watts, during a training session.

On 23 July 2008, it was confirmed that Bell had agreed a three-year deal with Norwich City, signing for an undisclosed fee.[4] His debut for the club was delayed by an ankle injury incurred before his signing.[5] He finally made his first appearance in a home defeat to Derby County on 4 October 2008.[6]

On 29 January 2009, he signed for Coventry City, for a fee believed to be on the region of £500,000.

Bell scored his first goal for Coventry on 21 March 2009 with a 45-yard strike against Doncaster at the Ricoh Arena.[7] he scored in Coventry's FA Cup 3rd round tie draw at Premier League club Portsmouth on 2 January 2010.[8]

On 19 July 2013, Bell signed for Notts County after being released from his contract with Coventry.[9] On 24 January 2014, he was released by Notts County by mutual consent[10] and signed for King's Lynn Town.[11]

Coaching career edit

On 19 October 2016, Bell was appointed as Assistant Manager to fellow former Rushden & Diamonds academy product Gary Mills at Corby Town.[12] Bell became Corby manager in May 2017 after Mills left the club.[13] He was sacked in September 2017.[14]

Career statistics edit

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition[15]
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other[a] Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Rushden & Diamonds 2000–01 Conference 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0
2001–02 Division Three 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 2 0
2002–03 Division Three 30 3 3 0 1 0 1 0 35 3
2003–04 Division Two 37 1 1 0 1 0 1 0 40 1
2004–05 League Two 40 3 1 0 1 0 1 0 43 3
2005–06 League Two 14 3 3 0 1 0 1 0 19 3
Total 122 10 8 0 4 0 6 0 140 10
Luton Town 2005–06 Championship 9 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 9 0
2006–07 Championship 34 3 2 0 3 0 0 0 39 3
2007–08 League One 32 4 5 0 3 1 1 0 41 5
Total 75 7 7 0 6 1 1 0 89 8
Leicester City (loan) 2007–08 Championship 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 0
Norwich City 2008–09 Championship 19 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 20 0
Coventry City 2008–09 Championship 9 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 9 1
2009–10 Championship 28 2 2 1 0 0 0 0 30 3
2010–11 Championship 22 2 0 0 1 0 0 0 23 2
2011–12 Championship 28 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 29 0
2012–13 League One 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 7 0
Total 94 5 2 1 2 0 0 0 98 6
Career total 316 22 18 1 12 1 7 0 353 24

References edit

  1. ^ Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2010). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2010–11. Mainstream Publishing. p. 40. ISBN 9781845966010.
  2. ^ Rollin, Glenda; Rollin, Jack, eds. (2012). Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2012–2013 (43rd ed.). London: Headline. p. 457. ISBN 978-0-7553-6356-8.
  3. ^ "Bell goes from Luton to Leicester". BBC News. 28 March 2008. Retrieved 7 March 2008.
  4. ^ "Bell signs for Canaries". 23 July 2008. Archived from the original on 17 September 2008. Retrieved 23 July 2008.
  5. ^ "Bell blow for Canaries". Sky Sports. 30 July 2008. Retrieved 15 August 2008.
  6. ^ "Norwich 1–2 Derby". BBC News. 4 October 2008. Retrieved 11 October 2008.
  7. ^ "Coventry 1–0 Doncaster". BBC. 21 March 2009. Retrieved 2 January 2010.
  8. ^ "Portsmouth 1–1 Coventry". BBC. 2 January 2010. Retrieved 2 January 2010.
  9. ^ Magpies Swoop For Creative Midfielder
  10. ^ "David Bell Departs by Mutual Consent – News – Notts County FC".
  11. ^ "Linnets Sign David Bell". Archived from the original on 2 February 2014.
  12. ^ Gary Mills is the new Corby boss Corby Town F.C.
  13. ^ Former Coventry City midfielder David Bell named Corby Town manager Coventry Telegraph, 4 May 2017
  14. ^ David Bell Departs Steel Park Corby Town, 29 September 2017
  15. ^ David Bell at Soccerbase

External links edit