George Campbell (footballer, born 1957)
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Date of birth | 3 May 1957 | ||
Place of birth | Caol, Fort William, Scotland | ||
Position(s) | Left winger | ||
Youth career | |||
1971–1972 | Kilmallie Youth Club | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
1972–1978 | Aberdeen | 39 | (0) |
1978–1982 |
South Melbourne Hellas (NSL) | 104 | (17) |
1983–1985 |
Preston Makedonia (NSL) | 50 | (8) |
1986 | Green Gully (NSL) | 29 | (4) |
1987–1989 |
Box Hill Inter (VPL) | 62 | (29) |
1989 |
Fawkner Blues (VPL) | 24 | (2) |
1990–1994 | Nunawading City FC | 161 | (51) |
1995 |
Ringwood City | 27 | (2) |
1996 | Knox City | 22 | (1) |
1997–1998 | Banyule City SC | 65 | (26) |
Total | 302 | (61) | |
Managerial career | |||
2000–2002 |
Essendon Royals (Senior Assistant Coach) | ||
2000–2002 |
Essendon Royals (U21/Reserve Head Coach) | ||
2009–2010 |
Northcote City (U21/Reserve Head Coach) | ||
2008– | Melbourne Football STARS (Head Coach & Director) | ||
2011– | Xavier College (Firsts Soccer Head Coach) | ||
2016–2017 |
Dandenong Thunder (U20/Reserve Head Coach) | ||
2018–2021 | Eastern Lions SC (U20/Reserve Head Coach) | ||
*Club domestic league appearances and goals |
George Campbell (born 3 May 1957) is a Scottish former professional footballer. He was born in the Highland town of Caol near Fort William in Scotland, and played for Aberdeen in the Scottish Football League. He was the youngest player to have ever made their debut for Aberdeen until Fraser Fyvie broke his record. He is one of only three Aberdeen players to have made their debut at 16 years of age.[1]
He was nicknamed the White Pele and The Pele of the North because of his unique skill on the ball.
When George signed for South Melbourne Hellas in Australia, he became the most expensive player to enter the country with a transfer fee from Aberdeen to Australian club
In April 2022 George Campbell was awarded a Life Membership with Football Victoria due to his services to football in Victoria and Australia both as a player and coach.
Playing career
George Campbell played for Lochaber before joining the Kilmallie Youth Club as a 14-year-old in 1971. Campbell turned professional when he signed for Aberdeen FC in 1972, initially as a schoolboy. He spent seven seasons at Pittodrie Stadium as a left-sided midfielder.
While at the Dons, George represented Scotland at the UEFA European Youth Championship Qualifiers in 1972 and 1973 at the age of 15 and 16.
Campbell was the youngest player to have ever made his debut for Aberdeen at 16 years and 8 months old, making his debut against Hearts on 10 August 1974 in a Scottish League Cup game at Pittodrie.[2] The mark stood for 35 years until 22 August 2009 when Fraser Fyvie broke his record by a margin of 3 months.[1]
Campbell won the 1975
He was signed by South Melbourne FC in 1978, Australia's most successful football club in history, who played in the National Soccer League of Australia, for a transfer fee of £20,000 (AUD 50,000). He became the most expensive player to enter the country and had planned to stay in Australia for only one season before returning to the Scottish Football League in a link with Dundee United's Jim McLean, although another broken leg prevented him from doing so.
George was one of the best footballing talents ever to play in Australia's National Soccer League and in 1999 became a 'legend' of South Melbourne FC and is in South Melbourne's Hall of Fame at Bob Jane Stadium. Campbell won the Ampol Cup with South Melbourne FC in 1982 and helped South become runners up in the NSL in 1981 which was South's best ever National Soccer League placing at the time.
In 1982, after 104 appearances and 17 goals with South Melbourne FC, George moved to National Soccer League club rivals
George then signed for
George regularly appeared on Australia's only national football television programme called 'Match of the Day' on free-to-air channel 028, now known as SBS.
Campbell was not eligible for Socceroo representation as he had already represented Scotland, although he did represent Victoria and played against American footballing giants
Coaching career
Campbell was the senior assistant coach and under-21s coach at Essendon Royals in the Victorian Premier League in seasons 2000 and 2001. With the seniors, Campbell won the Victorian State League Division 1 and were promoted to the Victorian Premier League in 2001. George then won the U21 Victorian Premier League title with Essendon in season 2001.
Campbell was the
He was the head coach of the
George also runs his own academy named Melbourne Football STARS. He has taken football tours annually overseas composed of Melbourne's elite youth footballers to Scotland, England, Spain, Holland, Germany and Italy to play against European footballing opposition.
He currently coaches Xavier College Firsts soccer team and in 2011, 2015, 2016, 2018 and 2022 led them to win the prestigious Associated Public Schools (APS) trophy and the Australian Jesuit Cup in 2011, 2014, 2015 & 2016. George also led Xavier to victory in the inaugural Football Victoria Premier School's Championship in 2022.
He has previously managed Dandenong Thunder U20's and Eastern Lions U20's in the National Premier League Victoria.
Honours
Aberdeen
- 1976 Scottish League CupWinners
South Melbourne Hellas
Preston Makedonia
1983 NSL Third Placed
1985 NSL Cup Runners Up
1985 NSL Finalist
1985 NSL Southern Conference Runners Up
Green Gully SC
Fawkner Blues in VPL:
In April 2022 George Campbell was awarded a Life Membership with Football Victoria due to his services to football in Victoria and Australia both as a player and coach.
Records
With Aberdeen:
- Youngest player ever to make his debut until 22 August 2009 – 16 years 8 months
- One of three players to have ever made their debut for Aberdeen at 16 years of age[1]
With
- Most expensive transfer fee at the time for a player entering Australia – £20,000 (AUD 50,000)
In April 2022 George Campbell was awarded a Life Membership with Football Victoria due to his services to football in Victoria and Australia both as a player and coach.
References
- ^ a b c All The Young Dons, official Aberdeen FC website, 27 August 2009
- ^ a b "George Campbell profile". AFC Heritage Trust. Retrieved 18 January 2011.
External links
- South Melbourne FC's Notable Players
- George Campbell, official Aberdeen FC website (2008)
- 1976 Scottish League Cup article, official Aberdeen website (2009)
- Former Football Star, George 'White Pele' Campbell, returns from Australia for Christmas, Oban Times article
- George Campbell Playing Statistics at Oz Football
- 2006 FFV State Representative Coaches[permanent dead link]
- Melbourne Football STARS (MFS) website