Colin Bell - After Football

After Football

Bell later continued his service with the Maine Road club by working with the youth team, but left before returning during the 1990s as the club's first ambassador. He was guest of honour at Manchester City's final match at Maine Road against Southampton in May 2003. In 2004, Manchester City polled fans to determine a name for the main stand at their new stadium. Bell won the poll and the West Stand at The Etihad Stadium was renamed "The Colin Bell Stand" in honour of their greatest ever player. This was a unique honour, as all of the other remain nameless to this day, although one of the roads leading to the stadium is called "Joe Mercer Way" in honour of Manchester City's most successful manager. Bell was inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame in 2005 in recognition of his contribution to the English game. He was also awarded an MBE that year in recognition of his work for charity. He also released his autobiography entitled 'Colin Bell: Reluctant Hero' in 2005. In the book, Bell reveals how his mother died of bowel cancer at 39 when he was too young to remember. Colin Bell's son, a doctor, was asked to have the book autographed for Consultant Surgeon, Jim Hill. When reading about Colin's mother, Mr Hill suggested that the football legend be examined. A bowel tumour was discovered on colonoscopy at the Manchester Royal Infirmary and within two weeks he underwent life-saving surgery.