Rangers have been thrown into sadness following the untimely loss of long-serving kitman Jimmy Bell. The Ibrox club revealed in a statement that Bell, who was in the Parkhead dugout on Sunday, died during the night. The cause of death was not stated.
After succeeding George ‘Doddie’ Soutar, the 69-year-old has been a fixture at Rangers for four decades. Bell became a cult figure among Rangers fans and was considered a pivotal character throughout his career’s several managing stages.
“As a club, we are utterly heartbroken to learn of the passing of our colleague and, more significantly, our close friend, Jimmy Bell,” Douglas Park said in a statement.
“Jimmy devoted his entire life to Rangers Football Club.” He served under managers ranging from Graeme Souness to Giovanni and witnessed some of the best days in our 150-year existence. Of course, he was present during some of the lowest periods and showed unselfish commitment regardless of the task at hand.
“Jimmy’s work ethic was unrivaled. He put in numerous hours of practice and game preparation for each training session and game. He loved working for his boyhood club since no assignment was too large or too minor for him.
“I kept in touch with Jimmy on a regular basis, having known him since his days as a mechanic and bus driver at Park’s. He was looking forward to Thursday’s encounter at Ibrox, especially as he had previously played in a European semi-final under Walter Smith.
