Signed Twice by Fergie: A Biography of Dougie Bell

by Archie McLeod

Signed Twice by FergieDougie last played for Alex Ferguson in the 1980’s and the fact that he is writing a foreword for this book suggests that he saw Dougie as someone special. To those of us who saw him play, he was.He amassed fifteen winners’ medals in his career, and this is about as statistical as the book gets. With stories in the book about all of them, his full-time clubs were St Mirren, Aberdeen, Rangers, Hibernian, Shrewsbury Town, Birmingham City, Portadown, Clyde, Partick Thistle. Examples of a third of the book content ‘Too skillful’ for Jim ClunieFergie’s phone call Six glorious years at AberdeenMy road to Gothenburg and Jock SteinLife-saving surgery and leaving AberdeenRangers under Jock WallaceSouness and I and my role in the revolutionBack to Pittodrie as a Rangers player, The King’s Salute, and a near riotA good move to Hibs, initiallyDougie Bell v Alex Miller and negative tacticsRacial abuse of the Scots at ShrewsburyWe major on his personal working relationships with the legendary managers he played under and was influenced by. These include Sir Alex Ferguson, Archie Knox, Jock Stein, Jock Wallace, Graeme Souness, Dave McKay, Iain McNeil, Ronnie McFall, Alec Miller, Lou Macari, Alex Smith, Jim Clunie and last, but not least, John Lambie whom Dougie accidentally hospitalised. Dougie completed a full set of coaching badges early in his full-time career. These set him up for a subsequent part-time career with 10 clubs in 15 years, as player, player coach / or coach and as a manager. In a 34-year connection with the senior game, he was never out of work. People who had seen him play wanted him involved with their teams and his phone never stopped. Since he left the full time game Dougie has worked for 25 years in the Social Care sector, with the same company. On joining them, he identified the qualifications needed to succeed and studied for 3 years with the Open University to obtain them. In his Social Care capacity, he has spoken out about LGBT issues and he shares his views in the book. Likewise, he offers his views on Sectarianism in the game.This book is Dougie Bell’s story.

192 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 31, 2020

Reviews

[Tracy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good read for all football fans

As football autobiographies go it’s not too bad. Some chapters could have been done with going into a bit more depth, but then again, it’s been covered in other AFC players/managers books.