| Alex Bell |
 Alexander Stewart Bell was born on Friday, 13th March, 1931, in Auchinleck, East Ayrshire. The 6' 0 (12st 4lbs) goalkeeper signed for David Meiklejohn's Thistle on Tuesday, 2nd January, 1951, having most recently been with Glenafton Athletic. Aged 20, he made his debut appearance on Wednesday, 29th August, 1951, in a 2-0 win at home to Stirling Albion in the League Cup. In doing so, Alex joined the goalies' clean-sheet debutant's club. He registered the last of his 3 clean-sheets on Saturday, 21st March, 1953, in a 0-0 draw at home to Third Lanark in the SFL First Division. He played his last game for the club on Saturday, 27th March, 1954, in a 1-0 defeat at home to East Fife in the SFL First Division, having appeared as a Jag on 16 occasions. Alex's club-list included Glenafton Athletic, Partick Thistle, Exeter City and Grimsby Town. |
 This big Ayrshire miner came through at Glenafton before getting a big-time move to Thistle early in 1951, just before his 20th birthday. He was the reserve to Tommy Ledgerwood, but got his first-team chance in the final two League Cup group games which opened the 1951-52 season. Alex rarely let the team down, although his game time was extremely limited, his run of 8 games in 9 at the beginning of 1953 being the sole exception. His undoubted highlight was keeping goal for Thistle at Hampden in the Glasgow Cup Final of 29th September 1952. 46,035 were there to see the Jags defeat Rangers by 3 goals to 1. Thistle were the more skilful side and Bobby Howitt was the best forward on view. Rangers scored (21) but Howitt levelled (43) then he dummied a defender and shot from the edge of the box to make it 2-1 (67). Rangers hit the bar (85) before Johnny MacKenzie picked his spot (89) with the Rangers' defence AWOL. Alex made a southwardly move in the close season of 1954, joining Exeter City of the Football League Division 3 (South). Shortly after signing he was called up for his two years national service, having previously been exempt as a miner in Scotland. Luckily, he was able to serve locally and keep his place in the Exeter team, but this changed for the following season when he was posted to Germany to complete his second year. Alex later played one season with Grimsby Town, making 8 appearances in the Second Division during the 1958-59 season. |
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