The Sydney Roosters are very saddened to hear the news that John Bell, one of the Roosters oldest former players passed away yesterday (17th October, 2025) at the age of 95.
John Bell played five seasons of first grade with the Club bewtween 1951 and 1955, primarily as a prop forward. He made his first grade debut for the Club in Round 3, 1951 alongside two of the Roosters best of that era, halfback Col Donohoe and seond rower Ferris Ashton.
He would go on to play 54 first grade matches for the Club, including the only finals match the Club played in the entire 50s decade, the 25-7 1953 semi final loss to St George at the SCG. Alongside him that day were Donohoe and Ashton, as well as Roosters Hall of Famer Jack Gibson, who played in the second row against the Dragons, who were to go on to play South Sydney in the 1953 Final.
Meet John Bell: Rooster #390
Brought up in Paddington, Bell was a Roosters fan from a young age, watching the greatest ever Roosters sides of the mid 1930s, who at one stage were undefetaed through 35 matches from 1935 to 1938. Prior to making grade with the Roosters, Bell played in West Armidale and Grafton before returning to Sydney and playing junior league with the now defunct Bondi Beach club.
Known for wearing head gear, Bell was one of those on the players committee who recommended the Club move from the striped Tricolours jersey to the current 'V', that has become synonymous with the Sydney Roosters.
The condolenses of the Sydney Roosters are with the family and friends of John Bell.
