Edward Bell

Edward Inkerman Jordan Bell (1886 – 24 March 1918) was a British professional footballer who played for Southampton in the early 20th century. He later was a soldier who was twice awarded for gallantry in the First World War but died in the Battle of the Somme in March 1918. Football career Bell was born in Gibraltar, the son of Maj. E. I. Bell (Royal Fusiliers), and Minnie Bell and given the middle name "Inkerman", presumably a reference to his father's military service. His father was later stationed at Aldershot and Bell played his early football for South Farnborough. After a short period with Crystal Palace as an amateur in February 1907, when he made a small number of appearances in the reserve team in the London and Western League, and a trial with Portsmouth, Bell was signed by Southampton of the Southern League in March 1907. He went straight into the team, making two appearances at outside-right in April as a replacement for triallist J. Patten; both matches, against Queens Park Rangers and Fulham, ended in 3–0 defeats. Bell made two more appearances in the 1907–08 season, as a replacement for John Bainbridge and was released at the end of the season. Later career Bell returned to South Farnborough and was re-instated as an amateur, working as a Government Contracts Inspector.