Background
Bell was born in Edinburgh and after junior football with Roseberry and Street Bernard"s, he joined Heart of Midlothian in April 1900.
Bell was born in Edinburgh and after junior football with Roseberry and Street Bernard"s, he joined Heart of Midlothian in April 1900.
Heart of Midlothian He earned his solitary cap for Scotland in a 1–1 draw with Wales on 2 March 1901. At Hearts he was regarded as a nippy forward, equally at home on either wing. In 1901-1902 he helped Hearts to third place in the Scottish League table.
Southampton In 1902, he moved to the south coast of England, where Southampton were attempting to reclaim the Southern League title and recruited six new players, including fellow Scots, Tom Robertson from Liverpool and Jack Fraser from Street Mirren.
Bell made his debut on 18 October 1902, standing in for Joe Turner, in a 1–1 draw at Kettering Town. Injury prevented him making regular appearances, although he made six consecutive league (and three in the ) in January and February replacing the injured Dick Evans.
Bell contributed six league goals, plus one in the cup, including a pair in an 11–0 victory over Watford on 13 December 1902. This remains the "Saints" joint highest victory margin in League football.
In his nine Southern League appearances, he scored six goals, helping Southampton claim the Southern League title for the fifth time in seven years.
Later career In April 1903, he returned to Hearts helping them to take the runners-up position in the Scottish League for the 1903-1904 season. He then returned to the Southern League with Fulham where he helped them take the championship title for the first time in 1905-1906 (when Southampton were runners-up) and again the following season. He left Fulham in 1907 and spent the rest of his career with various London clubs, including Clapton Orient and Leyton, before finishing his career with New Brompton, where he played as a half back.
After the First World War he emigrated to Australia in 1919.
Heart of Midlothian Scottish Cup winners: 1901 Scottish Football League runners-up: 1903-1904 Southampton Southern League championship: 1902-1903 Fulham Southern League championship: 1905-1906 and 1906-1907.