Glory without the ego: Colin Bell’s City legacy will endure forever | OneFootball

A timeless talent who blended glory without the ego and who stands as an enduring shining light in the history of both Manchester City and England.

Men's Team

Remembering Colin Bell: ‘Pep would have adored him!’

That’s the proud legacy of the late, great Colin Bell, according to Henry Winter – one of the most respected and admired journalists to have chronicled the English game over the past three decades or so.

On the day that City both mark and honour what would have been King Colin’s 80th birthday, we sought out the views of Winter to try and ascertain just what it was that made this quietly spoken midfield marvel who hailed from a mining village in County Durham so special and so revered.

Over the course of 13 majestic years at City, Colin would go on to make 501 appearances for the Club, contributing a hefty 153 goals in the process.

In the course of his Maine Road career, Colin helped City amass a treasure trove of silverware in what proved a golden era, including the First Division title, FA Cup, League Cup, European Cup Winners’ Cup and Charity Shield.

On the international front meanwhile, he won 48 caps for England, representing his country at both the 1970 World Cup finals and 1972 European Championships.

But according to Winter, Colin’s impact and importance to both Club and country is measured in myriad ways than run far deeper than mere statistics alone.

Men's Team

Remembering Colin Bell on his 80th birthday

“For Manchester City fans, Colin Bell was Nijinsky, the King of the Kippax. He was just beautiful to both watch and behold,” says Winter.

“The stamina that he had, the runs from box to box, he was just a joy to watch. I think he was also helped by the two fantastic leaders City had at time in Joe Mercer and Malcolm Allison.

“They allowed Colin to flourish, and he just looked fantastic in that side.

“And for people who maybe weren’t Manchester City fans and didn’t have that extra emotional and geographic connection with the team, Colin Bell transcended that.

“I think there were fans, probably even from rival clubs, who just looked at Colin and thought how beautifully he played the game, and how well he served his club.

“Colin also looked like he had stepped from one of those sorts of comic book heroes like Roy of the Rovers with his clean-cut image and his enduring stamina.

“He was always running, he was always doing something for the team, and he was always able to conjure up something spectacular as well.

Men's Team

Legend: Colin Bell

“You could almost sense and hear the commentator’s voice, whether on the radio or the TV, just raising a notch and slipping up a gear with that extra element of excitement, of urgency, because you knew something was going to happen whenever Colin Bell had the ball.

“And he glided across the surface in an era where  pitches often resembled cabbage patches.

“Charge is not the word to use for him. Instead, Colin used to glide, and that’s the whole sort of Nijinsky thing which was one of his affectionate nicknames, though whether that was in honour of the Derby winning racehorse or the iconic Ballet dancer, I was never quite sure!

“I think both of them fitted Colin perfectly and you see still today that his legacy lives on in so many ways thanks to the inspiration that he provided to a generation of football fans.

“For me what makes Colin Bell even more admirable is that he wasn’t the type of individual who chased or sought the limelight.

“Remember he emerged in an era when football was really starting to capture the national imagination and superstars were beginning to be forged and recognised.

“But he didn’t seek that that type of recognition or adulation.

“That’s what I mean about glory without the ego.

“The only regret in Colin Bell’s case is I just wish he’d been able to do more in a difficult period for the England national team when the side didn’t qualify for two World Cups in the 1970s, because his outstanding talent deserved to have been regularly seen on the greatest stage at all.

“But as one of the emblems of that special era, he just had his feet on the ground - except when he was on a football pitch, where he used to glide across it.”

For Winter, Bell’s enduring impact has also been further cemented through his family, not least Colin’s son Jon who has a key role as Clinical Director of Radiology and a Consultant Interventional Radiologist at The Christie NHS Foundation Trust in south Manchester.

“Colin’s legacy, of course, lives on with his amazing family,” Winter added.

“I know that his son Jon does some incredible work through his important role at the Christie Hospital in Manchester.

“And I mean, what a legacy to bestow as a footballer and then as a father with your son.

Men's Team

Colin Bell: The Family Man

“I think that’s a really important part of Colin’s story. The fact that his son, Jon, with the work he does at the Christie, is just helping bring this light into dark places.

“I know Jon does a lot of work with the club as well. So there is that element that these are two men who have contributed so much to life.

“Literally, in Jon’s case, it’s saving lives and just looking after people. And then there is his dad who brought so much joy to so many on match days. What a legacy that is.”

Heroes of course come and go with every generation but an elite few manage to transcend the march of time.

And for Winter, Colin Bell’s status in the pantheon of both Manchester City and England is assured forever.

“Colin’s impact, memory and legacy will live on for as long there is a Manchester City,” Henry adds.

“Both as a player and as a person thanks to his humility as an individual, as well as to the club, and also just the huge number of unbelievable memories he gave us on the pitch.

“It’s funny as in this current age, we’re always having a go at the younger generation to get off their phones and trying to encourage them to get them away from their screens.

“But when it comes to Colin Bell my message would be, actually go on your phones.

Men's Team

Colin Bell: Return of the King

“Go on your screens, go onto YouTube and just look at some of the amazing footage of the great Colin Bell in action.

“Watch and marvel at him gliding across pitches, which you would assume were just about to have potatoes planted in them.

“He would take some horrendous tackles because that was the era where the reducer was key and protected by referees.

“But that never stopped Colin. He was that good, that brave and was that special.

“It’s all subjective of course, but for me he stands as City’s all-time number one.”