| Bth | 24/12/09 | Gorebridge | Scotland |
| P/H/W | Right-Half | 5ft 10in | 12st 5lb |
| Jnd | 26?/04/30 (20) | Wallyford Bluebell | £150 |
| Deb | 05/09/31 (21) | Grimsby (A) | Div 1 |
| Dep | 13/06/34 (24) | Derby | £700 |
| A/G | 24 | 1 |
| Season | App | Gls | Posn |
| 1931/32 | 3 | 4 | |
| 1932/33 | 6 | 1 | 4 |
| 1933/34 | 15 | 4 |
Newcastle were actively scouting for young talent in Scotland when they signed-up David Bell, who had earned a fine reputation as a well-set-up right full-back. Manager Andy Cunningham even expressed the opinion that he may become another William M’Cracken.
He had to wait until the 1931/32 season to make his debut as he got a short run in the side deputising for Roddy Mackenzie.
He showed some promise in the games, demonstrating bright ideas and commonsense. And he made it his business to try and keep the ball on the carpet.Unfortunately, in the third game he played at Upton Park, he suffered a bad ankle injury.
By the start of 1932/33 Bell was fit again, but he only got a handful of appearances and had a bit of a hard time of things in the FA Cup defeat at Leeds.
With Mackenzie now reaching the veteran stage, 1933/34 proved to be his most productive campaign, but the signing of Bill Imrie in March saw him lose his place.
The club was relegated to Division 2 and Bell moved to Derby County in the summer.
The portrait is part of the nufc collection ‘Men in Stripes’ and is copyright Piotr Jozefowicz.
The second image is taken directly from an original contempary newspaper held at Newcastle Central Library Local Studies.
For a more extensive biography of his full career see the Paul Joannou book "Newcastle United - The Ultimate Who's Who 1881-2014" and the accompanying supplement "The Ultimate Who's Who Supplement 1"