Norman Bell (born 16 November 1955) is an English former footballer, born in Hylton Castle, Sunderland, who played in the Football League for Wolverhampton Wanderers and Blackburn Rovers.[2] He also played in the NASL for New England Tea Men.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | (1955-11-16) 16 November 1955 (age 66) | ||
| Place of birth | Sunderland, England | ||
| Position(s) | Striker | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1971–1975 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1975–1981 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 80 | (17) |
| 1980 | → New England Tea Men (loan)[1] | 18 | (3) |
| 1981–1984 | Blackburn Rovers | 61 | (10) |
| 0000 | Darwen | ||
| Teams managed | |||
| 0000 | Darwen (player-manager) | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Bell began his career at Wolverhampton Wanderers as an apprentice in 1971, and turned professional in 1973.[3] He made his senior debut for the club on 23 September 1975 in a goalless draw with Aston Villa,[4] but appeared only a handful of times in that season, which ended in relegation from the First Division.[5]
Overlooked for the club's 1976–77 promotion campaign, he returned to the fold in the following season.[5] With John Richards sidelined, Bell played regularly in the 1978–79 season,[6] until breaking his leg in an FA Cup tie at Crystal Palace in February 1979. As a result of the injury and the addition of Andy Gray to the Molineux attack, Bell next featured in the first team more than a year later, in March 1980, when Wolves fielded a weakened side a few days before the League Cup Final.[7][8] He found it hard to gain regular football and eventually left to join Blackburn Rovers in November 1981.[5] In total, he scored 24 goals in 100 games for Wolves.[3]
He stayed with Rovers for two-and-a-half seasons in the Second Division[2] before moving into non-league football as player-manager of Darwen.[9]
Since retiring from football Bell had various sales-related jobs before working with young offenders for Blackburn with Darwen Council.[9] Bell's son Andy also became a professional footballer,[10] and his uncle Harry Bell played in the Football League in the 1940s and 1950s.[9]