GARRY Bell, a member of a well known North-East football family and a familiar Northern League player in the 1960s, has died after a fight against leukaemia. He was 63.
Mr Bell was in the Whitby Town squad which reached the 1965 Amateur Cup final but missed a Wembley appearance through injury. He also played for Bishop Auckland.
His brother, Jackie, played for Newcastle United while Billy Bell, his uncle, was one of the most successful managers in Northern League history.
"He was an old fashioned inside forward, a very intelligent footballer and a very nice man," said former Whitby team-mate Barrie Geldart, who is still scouting for Blackburn Rovers at the age of 72.
A funeral service for Mr Bell, a retired tiler, will be held at Longnewton church, near Stockton, at noon on Friday. He leaves a widow, son and daughter.
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