Johnnie Bell Player Profile

Biography

A native of Lochlee, Bell first came to prominence with Ashfield helping the Glasgow side reach the Scottish Junior Cup Final in 1914, although he later admitted that he had mislaid his runners-up medal. An on-the-field altercation with two Rutherglen Glencairn players brought a two-month ban later that same year but the feisty forward continued to impress and in February 1916 he joined Heart of Midlothian. Bell scored twice on his debut against Third Lanark but was unable to hold down a regular place in the Hearts side. No doubt impressed by that display, Third Lanark signed him in July 1916 but Bell managed just a handful of appearances before enlisting in the Army.

The end of the First World War saw Bell based in southern England where he played two games for West Ham United before his unit was re-assigned to Kimnel Bay. The move to north Wales saw him feature in Wrexham’s final trial match ahead of the 1919-20 season and he impressed sufficiently to be selected for the Birmingham League season opener at Willenhall; Secretary Ted Robinson had to dash by taxi from Willenhall to the League’s headquarters in Birmingham to complete the registration formalities with minutes to spare. Bell’s presence was unable to inspire Wrexham to victory and he missed the return match seven days later as he was ‘engaged in military duty’.

His second game against Birmingham Reserves proved sadly to be his last for the club as he was ordered to return north to Scotland for demobilisation, eventually signing for Dundee in October 1919. With the Dark Blues’ star centre-forward Davie Brown joining Stoke a week later for £1,500, Bell suddenly found himself thrust into the former’s central role and he adapted well scoring a debut goal in a 3-3 draw at Clydebank. The goals continued to flow, and Bell finished the campaign as the club’s top scorer with 28. A fine finisher, the Scot formed a great understanding with outside-left Alec Troup with his final total of 26 goals the following term including hat-tricks against both Ayr United and St. Mirren which helped the team to a fourth-place finish.

Dundee endured a disappointing start to the 1921-22 campaign with Bell’s frustrations boiling over in a goalless draw with Celtic which again saw him ordered from the field of play, receiving a censure from the Scottish Football League in the process. In Bell’s absence, Dens’ boss Sandy MacFarlane switched outside-left Davie Halliday to lead the line and the change quickly led to an upturn in the team’s form. Unable to regain his starting place, Bell submitted a transfer request in March 1922. Described by the Dundee Courier as ‘quick and skilful on the ball and ever ready to have an attempt on goal’, Bell left for Albion Rovers four months later in an exchange deal which saw half-back George Greenshields move in the opposite direction.

The transfer to Coatbridge proved disastrous with Rovers fighting a relegation battle from the off. With little service from the wings Bell ploughed a lonely furrow through the centre, so it was with some relief that he jumped at the chance of a loan spell with Hamilton Academicals in February 1923. Bell’s first game saw him make an emotional return to Dens Park as the Accies held Dundee to a goalless draw in the Scottish Cup third round clash before losing the replay 0-1. With Rovers looking for a £100 fee to secure the striker’s services on a permanent basis, it came as something of a surprise when it was announced that he had joined Newport County in July 1923.

Bell made his Football League bow in a 2-0 win over Exeter as County enjoyed a promising start to their Division Three (South) campaign. Two goals in a five-goal thrashing of Southend augured well for the frontman but he lost his place to fellow Scot Jack Conner and failed to shine when played in a wide role. Released at the end of the season, he joined Watford and a debut goal against Northampton in August 1924 again demonstrated his prowess in front of goal before a broken toe effectively ended his season four months early. After managing just two appearances the following term, Bell signed for Arbroath where he finished his senior career.