Mark Bell (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Mark Dickson Bell was a Scottish footballer who played for Heart of Midlothian
in the early years of the Twentieth century, helping them to win the Scottish Cup
in 1901, before moving to southern England where he won Southern League
championships with Southampton
and Fulham
. He won one international cap with Scotland
in 1901.
and after junior football with Roseberry and St Bernard's
, he joined Heart of Midlothian
in April 1900. In his first season with Hearts, he was joint top scorer
(with Bill Porteous) with eight goals and was a member of the team that won the Scottish Cup
, defeating Division One runners-up Celtic
4–3. 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 1901–02 he helped Hearts to third place in the Scottish League table.
were attempting to reclaim the Southern League
title and recruited six new players, including fellow Scots, Jack Robertson
from Liverpool
and Jack Fraser
from St 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 FA Cup) 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.
He then returned to the Southern League
with Fulham
where he helped them take the championship title for the first time in 1905–06
(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.
Southampton
Fulham
Heart of Midlothian F.C.
Heart of Midlothian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Gorgie, in the west of Edinburgh. They currently play in the Scottish Premier League and are one of the two principal clubs in the city, the other being Hibernian...
in the early years of the Twentieth century, helping them to win the Scottish Cup
Scottish Cup
The Scottish Football Association Challenge Cup,, commonly known as the Scottish Cup or the William Hill Scottish Cup for sponsorship purposes, is the main national cup competition in Scottish football. It is a knockout cup competition run by and named after the Scottish Football Association.The...
in 1901, before moving to southern England where he won Southern League
Southern Football League
The Southern League is an English football competition featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs from the South West, South Central and Midlands of England and South Wales...
championships with Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
and Fulham
Fulham F.C.
Fulham Football Club is a professional English Premier League club based in southwest London Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Founded in 1879, they play in the Premier League, their 11th current season...
. He won one international cap with Scotland
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
in 1901.
Heart of Midlothian
Bell was born in EdinburghEdinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
and after junior football with Roseberry and St Bernard's
St Bernard's F.C.
St Bernard's F.C. were a Senior Scottish football club based in Edinburgh from 1878 to 1943....
, he joined Heart of Midlothian
Heart of Midlothian F.C.
Heart of Midlothian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Gorgie, in the west of Edinburgh. They currently play in the Scottish Premier League and are one of the two principal clubs in the city, the other being Hibernian...
in April 1900. In his first season with Hearts, he was joint top scorer
Heart of Midlothian F.C. seasons
This is a list of seasons played by Heart of Midlothian Football Club in Scottish and European football, from 1875 to the present day. It details the club's achievements in major competitions, and the top scorers for each season.-References:...
(with Bill Porteous) with eight goals and was a member of the team that won the Scottish Cup
Scottish Cup
The Scottish Football Association Challenge Cup,, commonly known as the Scottish Cup or the William Hill Scottish Cup for sponsorship purposes, is the main national cup competition in Scottish football. It is a knockout cup competition run by and named after the Scottish Football Association.The...
, defeating Division One runners-up Celtic
Celtic F.C.
Celtic Football Club is a Scottish football club based in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which currently plays in the Scottish Premier League. The club was established in 1887, and played its first game in 1888. Celtic have won the Scottish League Championship on 42 occasions, most recently in the...
4–3. He earned his solitary cap
Cap (sport)
In sports, a cap is a metaphorical term for a player's appearance on a select team, such as a national team. The term dates from the practice in the United Kingdom of awarding a cap to every player in an international match of association football...
for Scotland
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
in a 1–1 draw with Wales
Wales national football team
The Wales national football team represents Wales in international football. It is controlled by the Football Association of Wales , the governing body for football in Wales, and the third oldest national football association in the world. The team have only qualified for a major international...
on 2 March 1901.
At Hearts he was regarded as a nippy forward, equally at home on either wing. In 1901–02 he helped Hearts to third place in the Scottish League table.
Southampton
In 1902, he moved to the south coast of England, where SouthamptonSouthampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
were attempting to reclaim the Southern League
Southern Football League
The Southern League is an English football competition featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs from the South West, South Central and Midlands of England and South Wales...
title and recruited six new players, including fellow Scots, Jack Robertson
Jack Robertson (footballer)
John Thomas "Jack" Robertson was a Scottish footballer who played at full-back around the turn of the 20th century for various clubs in England, including Stoke, Liverpool and Southampton .-Stoke:Robertson was born in...
from Liverpool
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
and Jack Fraser
John Fraser (footballer born 1876)
John Fraser was a Scottish professional footballer who was part of the Dundee team who won the Scottish Cup in 1910...
from St Mirren.
Bell made his debut on 18 October 1902, standing in for Joe Turner
Joe Turner (footballer)
Joseph Turner was a professional footballer who played in the 1902 FA Cup final for Southampton. Southampton were a Southern League club at the time, and their feat was all the more remarkable in that they had already been losing finalists two years earlier...
, in a 1–1 draw at Kettering Town
Kettering Town F.C.
Kettering Town Football Club are a football club originating in Kettering, Northamptonshire but currently based in the nearby village of Irthlingborough. The club play in the Conference National after winning the Conference North in 2007–08...
. Injury prevented him making regular appearances, although he made six consecutive league (and three in the FA Cup) in January and February replacing the injured Dick Evans
Dick Evans (footballer)
Richard "Dick" Evans was an English footballer, who played at outside-right, spending most of his career with Burslem Port Vale as well as a two-year spell at Southampton where he won two Southern League championships....
. Bell contributed six league goals, plus one in the cup, including a pair in an 11–0 victory over Watford
Watford F.C.
Watford Football Club is an English professional football club based in Watford, Hertfordshire. It is often referred to as Watford F.C., Watford, or by the team's nickname The Hornets . Watford Rovers, Founded in 1881, entered the FA Cup for the first time in 1886, and the Southern League a decade...
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 1903–04 season.He then returned to the Southern League
Southern Football League
The Southern League is an English football competition featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs from the South West, South Central and Midlands of England and South Wales...
with Fulham
Fulham F.C.
Fulham Football Club is a professional English Premier League club based in southwest London Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Founded in 1879, they play in the Premier League, their 11th current season...
where he helped them take the championship title for the first time in 1905–06
Southern Football League 1905-06
The 1905–06 Southern League season saw Fulham win Division One and Crystal Palace finishing top of Division Two. No clubs were relegated from Division One as it was expanded to 20 clubs the following season...
(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
Leyton F.C.
Leyton Football Club are an English association football club based in Leyton, in the London Borough of Waltham Forest. As of January 2011, they are not in a senior league, after withdrawing from the Isthmian League Division One North...
, before finishing his career with New Brompton, where he played as a half back
Defender (association football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
.
After the First World War he emigrated to Australia in 1919.
Honours
Heart of MidlothianHeart of Midlothian F.C.
Heart of Midlothian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Gorgie, in the west of Edinburgh. They currently play in the Scottish Premier League and are one of the two principal clubs in the city, the other being Hibernian...
- Scottish CupScottish CupThe Scottish Football Association Challenge Cup,, commonly known as the Scottish Cup or the William Hill Scottish Cup for sponsorship purposes, is the main national cup competition in Scottish football. It is a knockout cup competition run by and named after the Scottish Football Association.The...
winners: 19011901 Scottish Cup FinalThe 1901 Scottish Cup Final was played on the 6th of April 1901 at Ibrox Stadium in Glasgow and was the final of the 29th season of the Scottish Cup. Heart of Midlothian and Celtic contested the match. Hearts won the match 4–3, thanks to goals from Bobby Walker, Charles Thomson and a double from... - Scottish Football LeagueScottish Football LeagueThe Scottish Football League is a league of football teams in Scotland, comprising theScottish First Division, Scottish Second Division and Scottish Third Division. From the league's foundation in 1890 until the breakaway Scottish Premier League was formed in 1998, the Scottish Football League...
runners-up: 1903–04
Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
- Southern LeagueSouthern Football LeagueThe Southern League is an English football competition featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs from the South West, South Central and Midlands of England and South Wales...
championship: 1902–03Southern Football League 1902-03The 1902–03 Southern League season saw Southampton win Division One and Fulham finishing top of Division Two. No clubs applied to join the Football League.-Division One:There were no new clubs in Division One this season....
Fulham
Fulham F.C.
Fulham Football Club is a professional English Premier League club based in southwest London Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Founded in 1879, they play in the Premier League, their 11th current season...
- Southern LeagueSouthern Football LeagueThe Southern League is an English football competition featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs from the South West, South Central and Midlands of England and South Wales...
championship: 1905–06Southern Football League 1905-06The 1905–06 Southern League season saw Fulham win Division One and Crystal Palace finishing top of Division Two. No clubs were relegated from Division One as it was expanded to 20 clubs the following season...
and 1906–07