Fergus Bell
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Fergus Stuart Bell | ||
Date of birth | 25 January 1991 | ||
Place of birth | Wandsworth, London | ||
Height | 1.82 m (5 ft 11 1⁄2 in) | ||
Playing position | Midfielder | ||
Youth career | |||
2005–2007 | Sunderland | ||
2007–2010 | Hibernian | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2010–2011 | Jerez Industrial | 36 | (7) |
2012–2013 | Mechelen | 23 | (0) |
2013 | Heist | 3 | (0) |
2013–2014 | Monza | 22 | (0) |
2014–2015 | Mansfield Town | 16 | (1) |
2015 | Yeovil Town | 2 | (0) |
2015 | Torquay United | 6 | (0) |
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 21:43, 6 January 2016 (UTC). |
Fergus Bell (born 25 January 1991) is an English footballer who plays as a central midfielder most recently for Torquay United.
Career
Early career
After his spell at Sunderand, Bell signed for Hibernian, where he was a member of the Hibernian Under 19s side that won the Under-19 league and Scottish Youth Cup double in the 2008–09 season.[1][2][3][4] He scored five goals during the team's run in the 2008–09 Scottish Youth Cup, finishing as one of the competition’s top goalscorers. He was also a member of Hibs' successful East of Scotland Shield winning side in 2008–09.[5] Bell was one of six players in the side who were given new contracts by Hibs following their success.[6] Bell left Hibernian after failing to agree terms on a new contract at the end of the 2009–10 season following a year affected by injury. Bell was one of two English players handed a trial with Spanish club Celta Vigo during the summer of 2010.
Jerez Industrial
Bell joined Spanish club Jerez Industrial in Segunda B division during 2010, after ex England Manager Glenn Hoddle's take over of the club and introduction of his Academy, which was based in Montecastillo, Spain. The club received widespread media coverage over Europe and back in the UK after the influx of English players and coaches including Nigel Spackman, Graham Rix and Dave Beasant. There he went on to make 36 league appearances scoring 7 goals in the process and collecting the "Lo mejor de febrero" - 'Player of the Month' award for February. After leaving Spain following financial issues at Jerez Industrial, Bell spent a short period of time on a non-contract basis at Championship outfit Barnsley FC under boss Mark Robins. During this time, Bell had a trial spell with Blackburn Rovers,[7] but was not offered a contract.
Mechelen
Bell moved to KRC Mechelen on an 18-month contract during the 2012–13 season under newly appointed manager Thierry Pister. Quickly establishing himself as the star mainstay of Mechelen's midfield Bell was linked with a transfer to Anderlecht but towards the end of 2012, Bell suffered a knee injury, keeping him out of action for a prolonged period.
KSK Heist
In July 2013, after fully recovering from his injury, Bell signed for Belgacom league team K.S.K. Heist, making his debut vs Royal Antwerp F.C. on 11 August 2013.
A.C. Monza Brianza 1912
After only one month and a half at KSK Heist, Bell had impressed and was the subject of transfer speculation regarding interest from Italian Lega Pro club A.C. Monza Brianza 1912. On 28 August, both clubs came to an agreement which allowed Bell and one other player to move to Italy.[8][9] On 29 August President of Heist, Michel Wijns released a statement to confirm the departure of the two players; "Beide spelers zijn officieel vertrokken naar Monza en onze trainer is daarvan op de hoogte. De club is reeds bezig met andere spelers om dat vertrek op te vangen" Both players have officially left for Monza. The club is already working with other players to replace that departure.
Bell's full debut for the Biancorossi, came in a 3–0 win over Vicenza Calcio in the Coppa Italia.[10]
Mansfield Town
After leaving A.C Monza, Bell agreed to join Mansfield Town after impressing manager Paul Cox on 11 July 2014. The second of Stags summer signings to have previously played for A.C Monza. He first appeared as a second-half substitute in a friendly against Notts County in which he shone, contributing to a 3–1 home win for the Stags against their League One rivals. Bell's first goal for the club came the following week in a pre season fixture vs Lincoln City; a spectacular long range strike in a 3-1 victory for the Stags. After an impressive start to the season, featuring twice in The Sun Newspaper 'Team Of The Week' feature for League 2, Stag's manager Paul Cox praised Bell during his annual Supporter's Association speech by stating; "I look at the squad and players like Ryan Tafazolli and Fergus Bell, and I'm going to be honest, by Christmas there will be a queue of people wanting to sign them" "sic"[11] Bell went on to make 21 appearances in all competitions for Mansfield before completing a move to Yeovil Town during January 2015.
Yeovil Town
On 29 January 2015, Bell signed for League One side Yeovil Town under Gary Johnson, on a contract until the end of the season.[12] Bell proved to be manager Gary Johnson's final signing before his almost immediate departure less than a week later on 4 February, in due course finding himself out of favour with the incoming caretaker manager Terry Skiverton. Following Skiverton's departure as first team manager and the appointment of Paul Sturrock, Bell featured in Yeovil's end of season Somerset Cup campaign where he scored two goals in the semi-final,[13] and was duly given an opportunity in the upcoming League One fixtures. He made two appearances for the club before leaving the club at the end of the season following Yeovil's relegation to League Two.[14]
Torquay United
On 19 September 2015, Bell signed for National League side Torquay United on non-contract terms.[15] Bell made six appearances for the Gulls before leaving the club for personal reasons. Manager Kevin Nicholson, who described Bell as being on an 'unsustainable deal', going on to add "His attitude was bang on, but the deal that Fergus was on was unsustainable for him and I wasn't in a position where I could give him anything better.".[16]
References
- ↑ "Stevenson's rocket to fame with Hibs has Bell clambering for same". Edinburgh Evening News. Johnston Publishing. 14 February 2009. Retrieved 13 October 2013.
- ↑ "Hibernian youths complete double". BBC Sport. BBC. 29 April 2009. Retrieved 13 October 2013.
- ↑ McLeod, Liam (30 April 2009). "Hibees take lead into the future". BBC Sport. BBC. Retrieved 13 October 2013.
- ↑ "Scottish Youth Cup Final: Rangers 1 Hibernian 2 (AET, 90 mins 1–1)". Daily Record. Trinity Mirror. 30 April 2009. Retrieved 13 October 2013.
- ↑ "East of Scotland Shield: Hearts 1–1 Hibs (7–8 pens)". www.heartsfc.co.uk. Heart of Midlothian FC. 20 May 2009. Retrieved 13 October 2013.
- ↑ "Youngsters still have class". www.hibernianfc.co.uk. Hibernian FC. 11 September 2009. Retrieved 13 October 2013.
- ↑ Cryer, Andy (9 July 2011). "FULL TIME: Kendal Town 1 Blackburn Rovers reserves 7". Lancashire Telegraph. Newsquest. Retrieved 13 October 2013.
- ↑ "Finale Monza-Renate 4–3: biancorossi qualificati!". Monza News. Monza-news.it. 23 October 2013. Retrieved 26 October 2013.
- ↑ "Doppio colpo: ufficializzati un attaccante e un centrocampista". Monza News. Monza-news.it. 30 August 2013. Retrieved 26 October 2013.
- ↑ "il Monza espugna il "Menti" di Vicenza e si qualifica alla semifinale". TuttoLegaPro. TuttoLegaPro.com. 11 December 2013. Retrieved 20 December 2013.
- ↑ Paul Cox answers question on young players Tafazolli, Fergus Bell, Studer.
- ↑ "Yeovil keep Stephen Arthurworrey and sign Fergus Bell". BBC Sport. 29 January 2015. Retrieved 29 January 2015.
- ↑ "Yeovil reach Somerset Premier Cup final by beating Bridgwater". Western Daily Press.
- ↑ "Yeovil Town: Paul Sturrock releases 11 players". BBC Sport. 8 May 2015. Retrieved 8 May 2015.
- ↑ "Fergus Bell: Torquay United sign midfielder on non-contract basis". BBC Sport. 19 September 2015. Retrieved 6 January 2016.
- ↑ "Fergus Bell leaves Torquay United due to 'unsustainable deal'". BBC Sport. 15 October 2015. Retrieved 6 January 2016.
External links
- Fergus Bell career statistics at Soccerbase
- Fergus Bell profile at Soccerway