Steven Bell (footballer)

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.

Steven Bell
Bell (centre) whilst playing with Dunfermline Athletic
Personal information
Date of birth (1985-02-24) 24 February 1985 (age 39)
Place of birth Scotland
Position(s) Defender/Midfielder
Team information
Current team
Annan Athletic (assistant manager)
Youth career
Clyde
2001–2002 Dundee United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2002–2005 Dundee United 0 (0)
2005 Queen of the South 2 (0)
2005–2008 Stirling Albion 85 (16)
2008–2012 Dunfermline Athletic 64 (14)
2013–2018 Stranraer 126 (8)
2018–2020 Ayr United 57 (2)
2020–2021 East Kilbride
2021Partick Thistle (loan) 10 (0)
2021–2022 Partick Thistle 7 (0)
2022 Kelty Hearts 4 (0)
Total 355 (40)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Career

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Early career

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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

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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

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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

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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

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

Partick Thistle

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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

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

On 24 September 2022, Bell announced his retirement from football

Career statistics

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As of 18 May 2019
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Scottish Cup League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Queen of the South 2004–05[17] Scottish First Division 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
Stirling Albion 2005–06[18][19] Scottish Second Division 26 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 28 2
2006–07[20][21][22] 32 8 3 1 1 0 5[a] 0 41 9
2007–08[23] Scottish First Division 27 6 1 0 2 0 1[b] 0 31 6
Total 85 16 6 1 3 0 6 0 100 17
Dunfermline Athletic 2008–09[24] Scottish First Division 23 3 5 0 3 0 0 0 31 3
2009–10[25][26] 31 8 3 0 2 1 2[b] 1 38 10
2010–11[27][26] 10 3 0 0 2 0 1[b] 0 13 3
2011–12[28] Scottish Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 64 14 8 0 7 1 3 1 82 16
Stranraer 2013–14[29][26] Scottish League One 21 2 4 0 0 0 2[c] 1 27 3
2014–15[30] 23 2 3 0 0 0 2[d] 0 28 2
2015–16[31] 31 0 2 0 2 0 5[e] 0 40 0
2016–17[32] 32 3 2 0 2 0 3[b] 0 39 3
2017–18[33] 19 1 1 0 2 0 3[b] 0 25 1
Total 126 8 12 0 6 0 15 1 159 9
Ayr United 2017–18[33] Scottish League One 15 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 15 1
2018–19[34] Scottish Championship 26 1 2 0 4 1 1[b] 0 33 2
Total 41 2 2 0 4 1 1 0 48 3
Career total 318 40 28 1 20 1 25 2 391 44
  1. ^ One appearance in the Scottish Challenge Cup and four in the First Division play-offs
  2. ^ a b c d e f Appearances in the Scottish Challenge Cup
  3. ^ Appearances in the Championship play-offs
  4. ^ Appearances in the Championship play-offs
  5. ^ One appearance in the Scottish Challenge Cup and four in the Championship play-offs

Honours

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Club

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Ayr United
Partick Thistle

References

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  1. ^ "Six more players depart East End". BBC News. 31 January 2008. Retrieved 1 February 2008.
  2. ^ "Pars wait for McCann". Archived from the original on 2 May 2008. Retrieved 29 April 2008.
  3. ^ "Bell ready to become Par". Archived from the original on 17 May 2008. Retrieved 13 May 2008.
  4. ^ "New Boys at Dunfermline". Archived from the original on 28 August 2008. Retrieved 19 May 2008.
  5. ^ "Three new faces for Dunfermline". BBC News. 19 May 2008. Retrieved 19 May 2008.
  6. ^ "Stranraer sign Bell". spfl.co.uk. 31 October 2013. Retrieved 1 November 2013.
  7. ^ Wilson, Fraser (6 January 2014). "Stranraer midfielder Steven Bell signs contract extension at Stair Park". Daily Record. Glasgow. Retrieved 28 March 2014.
  8. ^ "Pre-Season is Over!". stranraerfc.org. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
  9. ^ "Chairman Q&A: December 2017". Stranraer FC. 30 December 2017. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  10. ^ "Bells ring for United". Ayr United FC. 5 January 2018. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  11. ^ Wilson, Stuart (5 October 2020). "Steven Bell pays tribute to "great club" Ayr United as he reveals reasons behind decision to leave Somerset Park". Daily Record. Retrieved 6 October 2020.
  12. ^ FC, East Kilbride. "Steven Bell arrives to strengthen defence as season approaches". eastkilbridefootballclub.co.uk. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
  13. ^ "Loan News: Steven Bell and Chris Erskine join on loan". ptfc.co.uk. 12 March 2021. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  14. ^ a b "Partick Thistle seal League 1 title". BBC Sport.
  15. ^ "SIGNING NEWS: Steven Bell signs one-year contract".
  16. ^ Hart, Ross (10 August 2022). "Kelty Hearts sign ex-Dunfermline, Ayr and Partick Thistle player Steven Bell". Dunfermline Press. Retrieved 11 August 2022.
  17. ^ "Games played by Steven Bell in 2004/2005". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 18 May 2019.
  18. ^ "Games played by Steven Bell in 2005/2006". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
  19. ^ "Stirling 1 Inverurie Loco 0". Sky Sports. 10 December 2005. Retrieved 18 May 2019.
  20. ^ "Games played by Steven Bell in 2006/2007". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
  21. ^ "Games played by Steven Bell in 2006/2007". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
  22. ^ "Stirling Albion 2–2 Airdrie". BBC Sport. 9 May 2007. Retrieved 18 May 2019.
  23. ^ "Games played by Steven Bell in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
  24. ^ "Games played by Steven Bell in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
  25. ^ "Games played by Steven Bell in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
  26. ^ a b c Steven Bell at Soccerway. Retrieved 18 May 2019.
  27. ^ "Games played by Steven Bell in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
  28. ^ "Games played by Steven Bell in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  29. ^ "Games played by Steven Bell in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
  30. ^ "Games played by Steven Bell in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
  31. ^ "Games played by Steven Bell in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
  32. ^ "Games played by Steven Bell in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
  33. ^ a b "Games played by Steven Bell in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
  34. ^ "Games played by Steven Bell in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 18 May 2019.
  35. ^ "Ayr pip Raith to League One title". 28 April 2018.
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