Gary Bell (footballer)

During his career, he made over 350 appearances in The Football League most notably with Cardiff City where he spent eight years, helping the side to seven Welsh Cup victories.

[1] Born in Stourbridge,[2] Bell supported West Bromwich Albion as a child and spent time on trial with the club at the age of 15, having previously played reserve team football for Halesowen Town as a left winger in the Worcestershire Combination League.

West Brom manager Jimmy Hagan offered Bell an amateur deal at The Hawthorns but he never played a senior match for the club.

Despite his father recommending that he stay with West Bromwich as an amateur, Bell accepted the contract, earning six pound a week plus a two-pound win bonus.

He struggled to make an impact on the side until he was converted to a left-back by manager Jimmy Scoular and he established a strong full back pairing with David Carver.