Second Lieutenant Donald Simpson Bell, VC (3 December 1890 – 10 July 1916) was an English school teacher and professional footballer.

[4] When World War I broke out, he became the first professional footballer to enlist into the British Army – joining the West Yorkshire Regiment in 1915.

[5] He was promoted to Lance Corporal and then commissioned into the 9th Battalion, Green Howards (Alexandra, Princess of Wales' Own Yorkshire Regiment), going to France in November 1915.

[1] Bell was awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions on 5 July 1916 at Horseshoe Trench, Somme, France.

[7]Describing the deed in a letter to his parents, Bell stated that "I must confess that it was the biggest fluke alive and I did nothing.

[6] Bell was shot in the head by a sniper on 10 July 1916 while attacking a machine-gun post near the village of Contalmaison.