Lee Bell

Lee Bell

Bell in 2010
Personal information
Full name	Lee Bell[1]
Date of birth	26 January 1983[1]
Place of birth	Alsager, England
Height	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)[1]
Playing position	Midfielder
Youth career
1997–2002	Crewe Alexandra
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps^†	(Gls)^†
2002–2007	Crewe Alexandra	53	(3)
2003	→ Shrewsbury Town (loan)	3	(0)
2005	→ Burton Albion (loan)	6	(1)
2007	Burton Albion	12	(0)
2007–2008	Mansfield Town	23	(1)
2008–2010	Macclesfield Town	83	(3)
2010–2012	Crewe Alexandra	75	(1)
2012–2015	Burton Albion	82	(6)
2015	→ Macclesfield Town (loan)	10	(3)
Total		347	(18)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (goals)

Lee Bell (born 26 January 1983) is an English former professional footballer who last played as a midfielder for Macclesfield Town, on loan from Burton Albion.

He began his career at Crewe Alexandra, also representing Burton Albion, Mansfield Town and Macclesfield Town, before returning in succession to Crewe, Burton Albion and latterly Macclesfield Town on loan from Burton. Bell retired from playing in the summer of 2015, aged 32, and rejoined Crewe as under-18s coach.^[2]

Career

Bell was born in Alsager, Cheshire.^[1] He is a product of the Crewe Alexandra academy system, having signed schoolboy terms with the club in 1997, on the same day as David Vaughan.^[3] In January 2001 he had a training ground bust-up with Colin Cramb, who subsequently left Gresty Road and indeed the country.^[3] He made his debut for the first team on the opening day of the 2002–03 season.^[4] He made 22 appearances in the 2002–03 promotion campaign, mostly as a substitute.^[5] He joined Football Conference side, Shrewsbury on loan in October 2003,^[6] but an injury restricted his opportunities and he returned to Crewe in January 2004.^[7] Bell established himself in the first team in December 2004, starting 18 times in the remainder of the 2004–05 season,^[8] and signed a new two-year contract in June 2005.^[9] After falling down the pecking order at the start of the 2005–06 season, Bell joined Burton Albion on a one-month loan in October 2005,^[10] which was extended for a further month.^[11] He returned to Crewe and made 18 appearances in the 2005–06 season.^[12] A broken foot and an ankle injury caused Bell to miss the start of the 2006–07 season.^[13] After being limited to one first team appearance, he had a request to leave Crewe granted in January 2007,^[14] and joined Burton Albion on a contract until the end of the season.^[15]

Following a successful trial, Bell joined Mansfield Town in August 2007.^[16] He made 27 appearances for Mansfield in the 2007–08 season,^[17] before suffering a serious knee injury in February 2008 that ruled him out for most of the rest of the season.^[18] After Mansfield Town were relegated to the Conference National at the end of the 2007–08 season, Bell was released by the club,^[19] and joined Macclesfield Town on a one-year contract.^[20] He impressed at the club in 2008–09, making a total of 47 appearances, and signed a one-year extension to his contract in June 2009.^[21] He played 44 games in 2009–10, and was voted the club's Player of the Year.^[21] He was released by the club, along with ten other players, in May 2010.^[22]

He was re-signed by Crewe on a two-year contract in May 2010, with manager Dario Gradi looking to add experience to the squad.^[23] He was one of three regular club captains during the 2010–11 season, along with David Artell and Ashley Westwood.^[24] He helped the club to reach the play-offs in 2011–12, and was a last second substitute as the "Railwaymen" secured victory in the League Two play-off final at Wembley Stadium.^[25] However he was released by new boss Steve Davis a few days later, and was heavily linked with a move to nearby Port Vale.^[26]

Bell signed a one-year contract with Burton Albion in the summer of 2012 following a short trial, during which he impressed in a pre season friendly against Aston Villa. With the help of Bell,who would captain the team for a number of games during the season, Burton Albion enjoyed their highest ever finish in the football league. Their 4th place in League Two saw them face Bradford City in the playoffs. Bell, however, received a 4-game suspension for a red card given towards the end of the season and was unavailable for the final, should Burton Albion have reached it.

Bell signed a new one-year contract in April 2013.

On 31 December 2014, new manager Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink let Lee know that he would not feature in the team and he should look for a move.^[27] On transfer deadline day 2 February 2015, Bell returned to Macclesfield Town on loan until the end of the season.^[28]

Career statistics

As of 11 December 2013.

Club performance			League		Cup		League Cup		Total
Season	Club	League	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
England			League		FA Cup		League Cup		Total
2002–03[29]	Crewe Alexandra	Second Division	17	1	2	0	0	0	23	1
2003–04[30]	Crewe Alexandra	First Division	3	0	0	0	0	0	3	0
2003–04[30]	Shrewsbury Town	Conference National	3	0	0	0	0	0	4	0
2004–05[31]	Crewe Alexandra	Championship	17	0	1	0	0	0	18	0
2005–06[32]	Crewe Alexandra	Championship	17	2	1	0	0	0	18	2
2005–06[32]	Burton Albion	Conference National	6	1	0	0	0	0	6	1
2006–07[33]	Crewe Alexandra	League One	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	0
2006–07[33]	Burton Albion	Conference National	12	0	0	0	0	0	12	0
2007–08[34]	Mansfield Town	League Two	23	1	4	0	1	0	27	1
2008–09[35]	Macclesfield Town	League Two	42	1	3	0	2	0	47	1
2009–10[36]	Macclesfield Town	League Two	42	2	1	0	1	0	44	2
2010–11[37]	Crewe Alexandra	League Two	45	1	1	0	2	0	50	2
2011–12[38]	Crewe Alexandra	League Two	33	0	1	0	1	0	35	0
2012–13[39]	Burton Albion	League Two	43	4	4	0	3	0	50	4
2012–13[39]	Burton Albion	League Two	41	1	4	0	2	0	47	1
Career total			344	14	22	0	13	0	385	14

Notes

• Football League Trophy & play-off results included in totals.

Honours

Individual

• Macclesfield Town F.C. Player of the Year: 2009–10
• Burton Albion F.C. Player of the Year: 2012–13

with Crewe Alexandra

• Football League Second Division runner-up: 2002–03
• Football League Two play-off winner: 2012

References

1. Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2010). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2010–11. Edinburgh: Mainstream Publishing. p. 40. ISBN 978-1-84596-601-0.
2. Neil Baker swaps roles as Crewe Alex announce changes to management structure, Crewe Chronicle, 24 August 2015. Retrieved: 24 August 2015.
3. "Mission accomplished as Bell ends Alex career on Wembley high". The Sentinel. 31 May 2012. Retrieved 31 May 2012.
4. "Crewe trio earn new deals". BBC Sport. 13 February 2003. Retrieved 29 April 2008.
5. "Crewe 2002/2003 player appearances". Soccerbase. Racing Post. Retrieved 29 April 2008.
6. "Shrews seal Bell deal". BBC Sport. 2 October 2003. Retrieved 29 April 2008.
7. "Shrews sever Bell ties". BBC Sport. 7 January 2004. Retrieved 29 April 2008.
8. "Games played by Lee Bell in 2004/2005". Soccerbase. Racing Post. Retrieved 29 April 2008.
9. "Trio sign new contracts at Crewe". BBC Sport. 30 June 2005. Retrieved 29 April 2008.
10. "Bell joins Burton Albion on loan". BBC Sport. 8 October 2005. Retrieved 29 April 2008.
11. "Burton extend Bell's loan spell". BBC Sport. 7 November 2005. Retrieved 29 April 2008.
12. "Games played by Lee Bell in 2005/2006". Soccerbase. Racing Post. Retrieved 29 April 2008.
13. "Midfielder Bell back in training". BBC Sport. 18 October 2006. Retrieved 29 April 2008.
14. "Bell opens door to Burton switch". BBC Sport. 10 January 2007. Retrieved 29 April 2008.
15. "Midfielder Bell signs for Burton". BBC Sport. 31 January 2007. Retrieved 29 April 2008.
16. "Stags sign up Bell and Boulding". BBC Sport. 3 August 2007. Retrieved 29 April 2008.
17. "Mansfield 2007/2008 player appearances". Soccerbase. Racing Post. Retrieved 29 April 2008.
18. "Bell fears early finish to season". BBC Sport. 20 February 2008. Retrieved 29 April 2008.
19. "Seven players to leave Mansfield". BBC Sport. 16 May 2008. Retrieved 17 May 2008.
20. "A great move for me". Macclesfield Town FC. 21 May 2008. Retrieved 9 July 2008.
21. "Profile". mtfc.co.uk. Retrieved 31 May 2012.
22. "Macclesfield release Jon Brain but make Rooney offer". BBC Sport. 14 May 2010. Retrieved 15 May 2010.
23. "Midfielder Lee Bell returns to Crewe Alexandra". BBC Sport. 21 May 2010. Retrieved 31 May 2012.
24. "Crewe Alexandra manager Dario Gradi to rotate captaincy". BBC Sport. 6 August 2010. Retrieved 1 June 2012.
25. Begley, Emlyn (27 May 2012). "Nick Powell's stunning volley set Crewe Alexandra on their way to League Two play-off final delight as they defeated Cheltenham at Wembley to win promotion.". BBC Sport. Retrieved 31 May 2012.
26. "Port Vale talk has familiar ring for Crewe outcast Lee Bell". The Sentinel. 31 May 2012. Retrieved 31 May 2012.
27. "Lee Bell and Ian Sharps allowed to leave Burton Albion". BBC Sport. 31 December 2014. Retrieved 4 August 2015.
28. "Transfer Deadline Day: Lee Bell joins Macclesfield from Burton". BBC SPORT. 2 February 2015. Retrieved 4 August 2015.
29. "Games played by Lee Bell in 2002/2003". Soccerbase. Retrieved 1 June 2012.
30. "Games played by Lee Bell in 2003/2004". Soccerbase. Retrieved 1 June 2012.
31. "Games played by Lee Bell in 2004/2005". Soccerbase. Retrieved 1 June 2012.
32. "Games played by Lee Bell in 2005/2006". Soccerbase. Retrieved 1 June 2012.
33. "Games played by Lee Bell in 2006/2007". Soccerbase. Retrieved 1 June 2012.
34. "Games played by Lee Bell in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Retrieved 1 June 2012.
35. "Games played by Lee Bell in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Retrieved 1 June 2012.
36. "Games played by Lee Bell in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Retrieved 1 June 2012.
37. "Games played by Lee Bell in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Retrieved 1 June 2012.
38. "Games played by Lee Bell in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Retrieved 1 June 2012.
39. "Games played by Lee Bell in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Retrieved 1 December 2013.

External links

• Lee Bell career statistics at Soccerbase