Initially wearing the No.10 shirt, he made his City debut against Derby County and scored one of the goals in a vital 2-1 win. He played in all 11 remaining league games – with ironically the only loss being a 1-0 defeat away to Bury – as the Blues went on to be crowned second tier champions and it was Bell’s winner in a hard-fought 1-0 win at Rotherham that clinched promotion
Signing the Hesleden-born youngster was already proving a very sound investment, just two months into his career at Maine Road.
Bell was an ever-present during his first full season, making 50 starts and finished top scorer with 14 goals as the Blues limped to a final placing of fifteenth in the table - but that was merely the warm-up for the incredible years that still lay ahead.
Though he changed shirt numbers during his first 18 months, the No.8 jersey would eventually become his own and with a full top flight campaign under his belt, he set about shifting up another gear, as did many of his team-mates.
Francis Lee had joined the club partway through the 1967/68 season and for many, this represented the final piece of the Mercer-Allison jigsaw.
Suddenly, Manchester City were playing a stylish, aggressive style that had a definite swagger to it.
The balance was perfect from back to front, with big personalities such as Mike Summerbee, Tony Coleman, Lee and Mike Doyle complementing those who preferred to stay out of the limelight as much as possible – Bell, Tony Book and Neil Young among them.
City won the league title for the first time in 31 years with Bell inspirational throughout the campaign. He was here, there and literally everywhere and the fans loved his incredible athleticism and seemingly limitless stamina and despite being in a team of winners, he was an easy choice for the 1967/68 Manchester City Player of the Year.
He was the beating heart of Mercer’s side and along with Lee and Summerbee, formed the so-called ‘Holy Trinity’ of players who would inspire the Blues to as yet uncharted heights.
Bell also won his first England cap in 1968 – the first of 48, which for several decades, was a Manchester City record.