Bell was one of the founders of the factory's football team, the West Bromwich Strollers, and played in the team's first recorded match,[1] a 0–0 draw against Hudson's soap factory on 23 November 1878.
[3][4] He scored the winning goal in the 1883 Staffordshire Senior Cup Final to give Albion their first ever trophy.
[3] The following season saw Bell play in Albion's first FA Cup match, a 0–2 defeat to Wednesbury Town.
[4] He appeared in all of Albion's FA Cup games in 1885–86 as the club reached the final for the first time.
[4] Albion won their first FA Cup in 1888, but Bell did not play in any of the matches,[4] and in June 1888 he joined Kidderminster Harriers, with whom he remained until May 1890.