Bell is a 2 time South Sydney Reserve Grade premiership winner in 1943 and 1943. He also played in the 1942 Third Grade premiership decider for South Sydney. He is a 1 time South Sydney U21 Presdidents Cup winning captain in 1942.
Not to be confused with Les (Bert) Bell from Parramatta. Bell was educated at De La Salle Brothers Surry Hills and Marrickville. He is a local junior from Kensigton United who was also a South Sydney junior rep with the 1942 Presidents Cup team. After winning the U21 Presidents Cup, Bell stepped up to make his senior grade debut in the 1942 Round 13 clash against North Sydney At North Sydney Oval. The following year he stepped up into reserve grade in the 1943 Round 1 Reserve Grade clash against Newtown at Henson Park. Three weeks later he made his first grade club and premiership debut in the 1943 Round 4 clash against North Sydney at the Sports Ground, at 17 years of age.
Bell was a young fullback or centre who also was a left foot kicker.
Bell played 6 seasons with South Sydney between 1942 and 1948. He played 23 first grade club games for South Sydney which included 18 first grade premiership games and 2 first grade cup games. Overall he played 57 senior grade club career games for South Sydney which included 55 senior grade career premiership games for South Sydney. He also played in the 1943 short form carnival for South Sydney.
Bell acted as players representative on the South Sydney DRLFC General Committee between 1944 and 1948.
Bell's final first grade club and premiership game was in the 1946 Round 5 clash against St George at Hurstville Oval.
Playing - Height / Weight
/ 11st
Representative Qualification
NSW City
Date of Birth
Gosford - 11th January 1926 (Died - 2003)
South Sydney Junior Club
Kensington United
Playing Career at South Sydney (1942-46,48)
Souths First Grade Debut
1943 May 15 Rd04 SSG v North Sydney (17y 124d)
First Grade
Premiership : State Championship : Tour
M S R T G/A FG Pts : M S R T G/A FG Pts : M S R T G/A FG Pts
1943 6 6 - - - - - : 2 2 - - 1 - 2 : - - - - - - -
1944 3 3 - - - - - : - - - - - - - : - - - - - - -
1945 6 6 - - 8 - 16 : 1 1 - - 1 - 2 : 1 1 - - 4 - 8
1946 3 3 - - 7 - 14 : : 1 1 - - 2 - 4
1947 - - - - - - -
1948 - - - - - - -
TOTAL 18 18 - - 15 - 30 : 3 3 - - 2 - 4 : 2 2 - - 6 - 12
SS Cup 3 3 - - 2 - 4
SS FG 23 23 - - 23 - 46
South Sydney Senior Grade Debut
1942 Aug 1 Rd13 NSO v North Sydney (Third Grade)
1943 Apr 24 Rd01 Hens v Newtown (Reserve Grade)
Lower Grades : Juniors
Reserve Grade : Third Grade : (U21) Presidents Cup
Year M S R T G/A FG Pts : M S R T G/A FG Pts : M S R T G/A FG Pts
1942 - - - - - - - : 4 4 - 3 2 - 13 : . . - 1 6 - 15
1943 11 11 - 2 2 - 10 : - - - - - - -
1944 7 7 - 1 6 - 15 : - - - - - - -
1945 11 11 - 1 40 - 83 : - - - - - - -
1946 1 1 - - 2 - 4 : - - - - - - -
1947 - - - - - - - : - - - - - - -
1948 2 2 - 1 - - 3 : 1 1 - - 4 - 8
TOTAL 32 32 - 5 50 - 115 : 5 5 - 3 6 - 21 : . . - 1 6 - 15
South Sydney Senior(FG/RG/3G) Grade Career
Premiership : Cup : All Matches
M S R T G/A FG Pts : M S R T G/A FG Pts : M S R T G/A FG Pts
CAREER 55 55 - 8 71 - 166 : 3 3 - - 2 - 4 : 57 57 - 8 77 - 178
Short Form
Short-Game Matches
M S R T G/A FG Pts
1943 2 - - 6
1946 - - - - - - -
TOTAL 2 - - 6
SS SF 2 - - 6
Captaincy Record at South Sydney
Lower Grades : Juniors
Year RG( W- D-L %) : 3G( W- D-L %) : U21( W- D-L %)
1942 : 3( 3- 0-0 100%)
1944 7( 1- 0-6 14%) : :
TOTAL 7( 1- 0-6 14%) : : 3( 3- 0-0 100%)
SS CAREER 3( 2- 0-1 67%)
Suspension Record at South Sydney
Year Grade v Wk CHARGE never
Player Awards
Year Award 1981 - NSWRL Life Membership
Representative Honours at South Sydney
Year Pos Team Versus Match T G/A FG none
After retiring as a player Bell would move into lower grade coaching, coaching the South Sydney Lennox Cup U17 junior teams between 1949 and 1952, before stepping up into lower grade coaching for South Sydney.
First Class Playing Career (1943-46)
M T G FG Pts
Total FG Premiership 18 - 15 - 30
Total FG Cup 3 - 2 - 4
Total FG Club Tour 2 - 6 - 12
Total Internationals - - - - -
Total State - - - - -
Total Other Representative - - - - -
TOTAL FIRST CLASS 23 - 23 - 46
Ref - SSLC-S v3n16 p3 / DMA-04 p65 / Wiki / RLP / FN-46
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