Alex Bell

Born in Cape Town, Cape Colony, to Scottish parents, Bell began his professional football career as a centre-forward with various clubs in Ayr, including Ayr Spring Vale, Ayr Westerlea and Ayr Parkhouse. While with Ayr Parkhouse (then still to join the Scottish Football League), Bell was spotted by former Newton Heath half-back Will Davidson, who reported his findings back to Manchester United. United paid Ayr Parkhouse £700 for Bell in January 1903. At this stage, it was less than a year since United's formation in place of the bankrupt Newton Heath club, and they were still in the Football League Second Division, from which they won promotion in 1906. He struggled to make an impact in the Manchester United first team as a centre-forward, making just 11 appearances in his first two years at the club. However, United suffered an injury crisis at half-back in 1904, and Bell was called upon to step in. As it happened, Bell excelled in his new position, and became the club's regular left-half, forming an unbreakable trio with Charlie Roberts and Dick Duckworth. After scoring 10 goals in 309 appearances, and winning two First Division titles (1907–08 and 1910–11) and one FA Cup (1909), Bell was sold to Blackburn Rovers for a fee of £1,000 in July 1913. He played only a few matches for Blackburn before the outbreak of the First World War, and signed for Clackmannan in 1921. He played there for two seasons and spent one with Royal Albert, before retiring as a player and joining…

On 16 March 1912, Bell played for Scotland in a 4–1 win against Ireland. It was his only international cap and he was the first Manchester United player to represent Scotland.

Manchester United

Football League First Division: 1907–08, 1910–11 FA Cup: 1909 FA Charity Shield 1910–11 Blackburn Rovers

Football League First Division: 1913–14