Paul Bell (footballer)


Alfred William Paul Bell was an Australian rules footballer who played with St Kilda in the Victorian Football League. He returned to Shepparton in 1938, and coached his home team. He was killed in action in World War II.

Family

The son of John Thomas Bell, and Ada Barbara Bell, née Wilson, Alfred William Paul Bell was born at Shepparton on 12 April 1914. He married Beatrice "Rannie" Alcorn on 16 September 1937. They had two daughters, Beverley, and Judith.

Education

He attended Shepparton High School; as did Beatrice Alcorn.

Football

Bell initilly played with the Lemnos Football Club in the Goulburn Valley Second Eighteen Football Association in 1933 and then won the 1934 - GVSEFA Best & Fairest award / N. Gribble Cup. Bell then moved across to play in the stronger Goulburn Valley Football League with the Shepparton Football Club in 1935.
Having tried out with Richmond two years earlier, he was cleared from Shepparton to St Kilda in June 1937. He travelled to and from Shepparton, rather than living in Melbourne, and he played 15 senior games with St Kilda over two seasons.

Military service

He served in the Second AIF as a commando. He was killed in action at Balikpapan, Borneo on 4 July 1945.

Footnotes