LUTON MIDFIELDER BELL JOINS NORWICH CITY

Luton Town midfielder David Bell has completed a move to Championship side Norwich City, signing a three-year deal at Carrow Road for an undisclosed fee believed to be around £600,000.

Bell’s move to the Canaries has been in the offing all summer, and he has decided to join the Canaries despite a late bid from Coventry City. Hatters manager Mick Harford was quick to state that Bell wanted to leave Kenilworth Road, as did another Hatter sold recently, Calvin Andrew.

A tricky midfielder who loves to get forward and can operate through the centre and on both flanks, Bell joined Luton Town in the January 2006 transfer window from the then League Two side Rushden & Diamonds for £100,000.

Nicknamed the ‘Wellingborough Wizard’ during his time at Nene Park (he hails from Wellingborough), Bell came through the youth ranks with Rushden and he made his debut at senior level during the 2000-01 season in a 0-1 loss at Kingstonian in the Conference Trophy.
Two further first-team appearances followed in 2001-02 in a 1-7 drubbing at Cardiff City in the LDV Vans Trophy and in a 0-2 loss at eventual champions Plymouth Argyle in Division Three (now League Two).

However, it was during the 2002-03 campaign that Bell burst onto the scene as he appeared in a 2-2 draw with Wrexham in September 2002 and he went on to enjoy an incredible season as Rushden & Diamonds won the League Two title. Attracting interest from Premiership clubs, Bell scored three times during the season in victories over Lincoln City, Cambridge United and Macclesfield Town. Rewarded with a championship trophy, big things were expected from him the following season.

Appearing regularly in the side, it was a hard season for Bell as a young player as Rushden struggled and were relegated after just one season in Division Two (now League One).

A regular for Rushden again in 2004-05 and 2005-06, Bell’s skills twice took him to Middlesbrough for trials and scouts from bigger clubs were constantly watching him. He has also been capped by the Republic Of Ireland at both Under-19, Under-21 and ‘B’ level.

However, after scoring three times during 2005-06 and impressing in a struggling team, Bell moved to Kenilworth Road for £100,000.
Arriving at Luton Town carrying an injury, Bell didn’t appear for the Hatters until early February 2006 when he stepped off the bench to make his debut in a disappointing 2-3 home loss to Hull City.

He went on to make a further 8 appearances (6 of them coming from the bench) and he operated right across the midfield, appearing on the right, centre and left during those appearances! Looking very skilful and never afraid to run at the opposing defenders, perhaps Bell’s best moment of his first season with Luton Town was setting up Steve Howard for the winning goal in a 1-0 home victory over Derby County. It certainly wasn’t his full debut – a 1-5 drubbing at Preston North End when goalkeeper Marlon Beresford was sent off!

After making an excellent start to the 2006-07 season - which saw him come off the bench and net the winner against promotion-chasing Birmingham City in mid-October 2006 - Bell delighted the Hatters fans by signing a contract extension in January 2007. Penning an extension on his contract that tied him to Kenilworth Road until the summer of 2010, Bell had already bagged another goal during the season, netting in a 5-1 demolition of Leeds United just a week after his goal against Birmingham.

His skilful midfield play and craftsmanship, coupled with his ability to burst into the opposition's penalty box, made him a real handful for defences and there were high hopes that he could be the next big star to emerge at Luton Town - and so it was to prove.

Although Bell continued to shine for the Hatters as the 2007-08 season drew to a disappointing climax, he was unable to prevent Luton Town from suffering relegation to League One. During the season run-in, he scored his third - and final - goal of the campaign in a 2-3 loss at Queen's Park Rangers, a match that all but sealed the Hatters' relegation. He was also sent off during the season, receiving his marching orders in a 0-0 home draw with Cardiff City.

Starting the 2007-08 season very much in new manager Kevin Blackwell's plans - Blackwell having replaced the sacked Mike Newell as Hatters boss - Bell's fine footwork and ability to run at opposing defences caused him to attract the interests of a whole host of higher Division clubs.

He netted four goals during the first three months of the season - all of which resulted in Luton Town winning - and this purple patch included a fine free-kick against Premiership side Sunderland in the League Cup Second Round. However, in November 2007, Luton Town chairman Bell Pinkney placed the club into administration and the Hatters were automatically deducted 10 League points. It plummeted the Hatters into the relegation places and they were unfortunately unable to pull themselves out of the bottom four. The sales of key duo Chris Coyne and David Edwards - sold by the administrator - did not help matters and manager Kevin Blackwell also soon left, replaced as boss by Luton legend Mick Harford.

Called up to the Republic Of Ireland 'B' squad, Bell was touted for a call-up to the senior national side, but his form dipped slightly as Luton's season wilted away and resulted in a second successive relegation.

With the Hatters all-but-relegated in March 2008, manager Mick Harford loaned Bell to Championship side Leicester City, who themselves were fighting relegation. The move looked set to be made permanent, but after the Foxes lost their battle against the drop, Bell returned to Kenilworth Road with the move called off.

Rumoured to be one of the highest earners at Kenilworth Road, Bell has been sold to Norwich City, firstly to reduce the wage bill at Luton Town, and also as the fee for a League Two is very good. He left Kenilworth Road after 75 League appearances and 7 goals for Luton Town.
Story date: Wednesday, July 23, 2008