Steven Bell (footballer) explained

Steven Bell
Birth Date:1985 2, df=y
Birth Place:Scotland
Position:Defender/Midfielder
Currentclub:Annan Athletic (assistant manager)
Youthyears2:2001–2002
Youthclubs1:Clyde
Youthclubs2:Dundee United
Years1:2002–2005
Years2:2005
Years3:2005–2008
Years4:2008–2012
Years5:2013–2018
Years6:2018–2020
Years7:2020–2021
Years8:2021
Years9:2021–2022
Years10:2022
Clubs1:Dundee United
Clubs2:Queen of the South
Clubs3:Stirling Albion
Clubs4:Dunfermline Athletic
Clubs5:Stranraer
Clubs6:Ayr United
Clubs7:East Kilbride
Clubs8:Partick Thistle (loan)
Clubs9:Partick Thistle
Clubs10:Kelty Hearts
Caps1:0
Caps2:2
Caps3:85
Caps4:64
Caps5:126
Caps6:57
Caps8:10
Caps9:7
Caps10:4
Goals1:0
Goals2:0
Goals3:16
Goals4:14
Goals5:8
Goals6:2
Goals8:0
Goals9:0
Goals10:0
Totalcaps:355
Totalgoals:40

Steven Bell (born 24 February 1985) is a Scottish former professional footballer. Bell started his career with Dundee United, before moving on to play for Queen of the South, Stirling Albion, Dunfermline Athletic, Stranraer, Ayr United, Partick Thistle and Kelty Hearts. Stephen Bell is now Annan Athletic as assistant manager as of 30/05/2024.

Career

Early career

Bell started his professional career with Dundee United, signing professional forms in 2002. Although Bell featured in matchday squads, he failed to make a first-team appearance during his time at Tannadice, making his first-team debut in a July 2004 friendly at Bolton Wanderers and joined Queen of the South in January 2005. He was injured for much of the 2004–05 season, and before the start of the 2005–06 season he signed for Stirling Albion.

Dunfermline Athletic

On 30 January 2008, Bell signed a pre-contract agreement with Dunfermline Athletic.[1] [2] Bell's move to Dunfermline was expected to be finalised in May 2008 after his contract with Stirling finished.[3] He signed for the Fife side on 19 May 2008.[4] [5] Bell's 88th-minute substitute appearance at Tannadice in October 2008 during Dunfermline's League Cup defeat was his first senior appearance at the ground he spent three years at professionally.

Stranraer

On 31 October 2013, after nearly three years out of football due to injury, Bell signed for Stranraer on a contract until January 2014, having played three matches for the club as a trialist.[6] In January 2014, he signed a new deal until the end of the 2013–14 season.[7] After Frank McKeown left Stair Park for Morton, Bell was appointed Stranraer club captain for the 2015–16 season.[8] After over four years with the side, Bell left Stranraer after the club announced it was suffering from financial difficulties.[9]

Ayr United

On 5 January 2018, he signed for fellow Scottish League One club Ayr United until the end of the 2018–19 season.[10] Bell left Ayr in October 2020, saying that he felt unable to combine his work outside football with training full-time.[11]

East Kilbride

Bell signed for Lowland League club East Kilbride on 7 October 2020.[12]

Partick Thistle

In March 2021, Bell joined Scottish League One club Partick Thistle on loan until the end of the season.[13] He made ten league appearances as Thistle won the 2020–21 League One title.[14]

After spending the second half of the 2020–21 season with Thistle and winning the Scottish League One title, Bell joined the club on a permanent basis in June 2021, signing a one-year deal with the Jags.[15]

Kelty Hearts

Bell signed for League One club Kelty Hearts in August 2022.[16]

On 24 September 2022, Bell announced his retirement from football

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueScottish CupLeague CupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Queen of the South2004–05Scottish First Division2000000020
Stirling Albion2005–06[17] Scottish Second Division262200000282
2006–07[18] 32831105[19] 0419
2007–08Scottish First Division27610201[20] 0316
Total851661306010017
Dunfermline Athletic2008–09Scottish First Division233503000313
2009–103183021213810
2010–11103002010133
2011–12Scottish Premier League0000000000
Total64148071318216
Stranraer2013–14Scottish League One21240002[21] 1273
2014–1523230002[22] 0282
2015–1631020205[23] 0400
2016–17323202030393
2017–18191102030251
Total1268120601511599
Ayr United2017–18Scottish League One151000000151
2018–19Scottish Championship261204110332
Total412204110483
Career total3184028120125239144

Honours

Club

Ayr United
Partick Thistle

2020–21[14]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Six more players depart East End. 1 February 2008 . BBC News . 31 January 2008.
  2. Web site: Pars wait for McCann. 29 April 2008. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20080502224807/http://www.thecourier.co.uk/output/2008/04/29/sportstory11281870t0.asp. 2 May 2008.
  3. Web site: Bell ready to become Par. 13 May 2008. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20080517120552/http://www.thecourier.co.uk/output/2008/05/13/sportstory11351592t0.asp. 17 May 2008.
  4. Web site: New Boys at Dunfermline. 19 May 2008. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20080828225003/http://www.dafc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/FNewsDetail/0%2C%2C10288~1314847%2C00.html. 28 August 2008.
  5. Web site: Three new faces for Dunfermline. 19 May 2008 . BBC News . 19 May 2008.
  6. Web site: Stranraer sign Bell. spfl.co.uk. 31 October 2013. 1 November 2013.
  7. Web site: Stranraer midfielder Steven Bell signs contract extension at Stair Park. Daily Record. Glasgow. Wilson. Fraser. 6 January 2014. 28 March 2014.
  8. Web site: Pre-Season is Over! . stranraerfc.org . 20 January 2016.
  9. Web site: Chairman Q&A: December 2017 . Stranraer FC . 30 December 2017 . 5 January 2018.
  10. Web site: Bells ring for United . Ayr United FC . 5 January 2018 . 5 January 2018.
  11. News: Steven Bell pays tribute to "great club" Ayr United as he reveals reasons behind decision to leave Somerset Park . Stuart . Wilson . Daily Record . 5 October 2020 . 6 October 2020.
  12. Web site: FC. East Kilbride. Steven Bell arrives to strengthen defence as season approaches. 2020-10-07. eastkilbridefootballclub.co.uk. en.
  13. Web site: 12 March 2021. Loan News: Steven Bell and Chris Erskine join on loan. 12 March 2021. ptfc.co.uk.
  14. News: Partick Thistle seal League 1 title. BBC Sport.
  15. Web site: SIGNING NEWS: Steven Bell signs one-year contract.
  16. News: Kelty Hearts sign ex-Dunfermline, Ayr and Partick Thistle player Steven Bell . Dunfermline Press . 10 August 2022 . 11 August 2022 . Ross . Hart.
  17. Web site: Stirling 1 Inverurie Loco 0. Sky Sports. 10 December 2005. 18 May 2019.
  18. Web site: Stirling Albion 2–2 Airdrie. BBC Sport. 9 May 2007. 18 May 2019.
  19. One appearance in the Scottish Challenge Cup and four in the First Division play-offs
  20. Appearances in the Scottish Challenge Cup
  21. Appearances in the Championship play-offs
  22. Appearances in the Championship play-offs
  23. One appearance in the Scottish Challenge Cup and four in the Championship play-offs
  24. Web site: Ayr pip Raith to League One title. 28 April 2018.