Colin Bell - Reluctant Hero

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This is Colin Bell - Rated
A good book about a quiet man. A quiet man who was lord of the field. He didn't need words to show who was the best, his feet and his brain proved that.
I pride myself in being a fan of City for 40 years and priveleged to have seen that golden era of the magnificent team the late 60's and early 70's.
This book is not full of "let me tell you what I did son" stories.
It is about a quiet, modest North East lad who went to the top of his game, only to have his career ended by injury far too early.
He showed strength and determination to get back on the field, at the same time, trying to maintain his dignity and raise a family.
The book tells it all, home and pitch life, up to the present day.
The author has done loyal fans a service by letting us know the real Colin Bell.
Sit back, open it up and enjoy.

A footballer never forgotten. - Rated
Colin Bell was one of the few footballers I've seen in the flesh who I'd describe as a genius. He deserves a greater testament to his time as a player than this book provides.

I appreciate that this is an autobiography of a footballer and not a work of high literature, but it fails for me because it is written in a very simplistic, almost schoolboy narrative. I understand that Colin Bell was not a gifted writer and I also appreciate that Ian Cheeseman is a worthy broadcaster but the book lacks depth.

I wanted to know more detail about his on pitch tussles against some of the best players of his time. I wanted a bit more of the banter that went on behind the scenes. I wanted more opinion as to why the Mercer/Allison management team was one of the most successful of it's day. That's essentially my problem with the book...I was just left wanting so much more.

Colin Bell remains one of my favourite players of all time. I was in the crowd when he sufferred the injury that cost him his playing career and deprived the England team of midfielder of the highest order as he approached his peak. This book gives what I feel is a mere taste of the Colin Bell story, and whilst it is a quick & easy read, I won't return to it again but satisfy myself with the glorious recollections of Colin Bell and the memories I have of the late sixties to early seventies Manchester City team that provided so much entertainment to the Blue half of Manchester for all too brief a period.

A sentimental and heart warming story - Rated
The book is just like a miniskirt, long enough to cover the main parts and short enough to keep you interested!

Very easy to read, and a fantastic look into Colins life. It doesn't focus too much on one particular area of his life, but just goes through each stage in a moderate amount of detail. It also pokes into detail for some important things, but not enough for you to get bogged down.

Interesting, and moderately diplomatic description of the time when Colin was sacked from his position as Youth Development Officer.

Well worth buying for any City fan.

Colin emerges from this as a humble but obviously successful person. Unlike some other books that continuously hammer a certain trait of their personality every other page, this book gently portrays a shy man who made it onto the big stage and would rather do the performance and go instead of milking an encore.

It's a genuine, honest and entertaining story. Well worth a read.