SIGNING NEWS: Steven Bell signs one-year contract

Friday 11th June, 2021 at 1:59pm

Partick Thistle can today confirm that Steven Bell has agreed a one-year deal with the Club.

The defender re-joins the Jags following a hugely successful loan spell during the second part of the 2020/21 season wherein he made 10 appearances and ended the season as a League One champion.

The 36-year-old debuted during our 4-2 win over Airdrieonians but his influence was really felt following a substitute appearance at Bayview. With Thistle 2-0 down away to East Fife, Bell was one of three players introduced at half-time to help the Jags battle back and earn a point.

That second half in Methil started a run without conceding which lasted 515 minutes and included five consecutive clean sheets. Bell spent the majority of his time alongside Darren Brownlie in the centre of defence; a partnership which conceded just two goals in nine matches.

The former Ayr and Stranraer player brings a wealth of experience to the Thistle squad with more than 350 games to his name in Scottish football at various levels.

On the signing, Thistle manager Ian McCall said:

“I think Steven’s effect on the team was clear for everyone to see towards the end of last season. His calmness and composure was absolutely vital to the way we defended after the shutdown and you saw that convert into clean sheets during the run-in.

“Considering how frequently we were playing in April it was a testament to Steven’s fitness that he was able to go and perform at the level he did for however many games in a row.

“He brings a leadership to the backline as well which makes everyone around him better and I think you saw a really strong defensive unit across the final eight games or so. He’s an excellent presence off the pitch as well as someone who has seen it all at this point in his career.”

An interview with Steven is available for JagZone subscribers to watch now. Log in here to view it.