"The Greater Game: Sporting Icons Who Fell In The Great War" by Clive Harris (an Addick) & Julian Whippy (an 'appy 'Ammer) has a chapter devoted to Donald Bell. The VC winner born in December 1890 is the same who appeared as a triallist for Crystal Palace.
He was apparently "a strapping lad in excess of six foot tall with a physique to match" who played in reserve team games while he was studying at Westminster Training College in 1909-11, and also appeared for Hertfordshire County XV in rugby union. After moving back home to Harrogate he appeared for Newcastle United as an amateur, before joining Bradford Park Avenue.
He was awarded his VC for an action at Contalmaison in the Battle of the Somme on 5 July 1916, but was sadly killed 5 days later whilst carrying out another act of bravery. Donald Bell VC is buried at Gordon Dump CWGC Cemetery, and the helmet he was wearing when he died is now on display at the Green Howards' regimental museum.
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Provisional Wing of the Dougie Freedman Appreciation Society
I make Cassandra look like an optimist.
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