George Campbell (footballer)
Encyclopedia
George Campbell is a former Scottish professional football player. He was born in the Highland town of Caol
near Fort William
in Scotland, and played for Aberdeen F.C.
in the Scottish Premier League
. He is one of only three players to have made their debut at 16 years of age for Aberdeen FC.
He was the youngest player ever to make his debut for Aberdeen, being only 16 years 8 months old, until 22 August 2009 when Fraser Fyvie
broke his record by 3 months. 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 Scottish club Aberdeen
to Australian club South Melbourne Hellas for £20,000 (AUD 50,000). This was an enormous amount of money, considering the 21-year-old planned to stay at the club for only one year before returning to the Scottish Premier League.
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 FC at only 16 years and 8 months old, until 22 August 2009 when Fraser Fyvie
broke his record by 3 months. He made his debut for Aberdeen against Heart of Midlothian F.C.
on 10 August 1974 in a Scottish League Cup
game at Pittodrie Stadium.
Campbell won the 1975 Reserve Scottish Cup
with Aberdeen
before breaking into the Aberdeen first team.
Campbell won the 1976 Scottish League Cup
with Aberdeen FC after beating Celtic FC 2-1 at Hampden Park
in front of 69,707 supporters. He played a total of 15 Premier League and Cup, playing numerous senior friendly and UEFA Cup Winner's Cup and European Cup qualifying matches. He scored one of his 2 career goals for Aberdeen in the Anglo-Scottish Cup against St Johnstone on the 6th August 1975, winning 2-0. He scored the other in a friendly game against League of Ireland
club Finn Harps
on the 17th March 1976, who had won the FAI Irish Cup 2 years previously in 1974. Aberdeen had already beaten the Harps in the UEFA Cup in 1973 3-1 and 4-1.
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 planned to stay in Australia for only one season before returning to the Scottish Premier 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 Preston Makedonia and stayed there for three seasons, making 50 appearances and scoring 8 goals. He helped Preston reach the 1985 NSL Cup Final against Sydney Olympic at St. George's Stadium. He then moved to another NSL club, Green Gully, in 1985, where he made 29 appearances and scored 4 goals, winning the 1986 Dockerty Cup. He then signed for Box Hill Inter
in the Victorian Premier League and stayed there for 2 seasons making 62 appearances and scoring 29 goals.
George then signed for Fawkner Blues
who were also in the VPL. He made 24 appearances for the Blues and scored 2 goals.
Campbell was named the Player of the Year at Victorian Premier League club Fawkner FC for season 1989.
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 is Scottish and had already represented Scotland, although he did represent Victoria and played against American footballing giants New York Cosmos. He played against German legend Franz Beckenbauer
, Dutch legend Johan Neeskens
and Carlos Alberto
, one of Brazil's most highly regarded defenders of all time.
With Aberdeen F.C.
in SPL: 1975 Reserve Scottish Cup Winners 1976 Scottish League Cup
Winners
With South Melbourne Hellas in NSL: 1981 NSL Runners Up 1982 Ampol Cup Winners
With Preston Makedonia in NSL: 1983 NSL Third Placed 1985 NSL Cup Runners Up 1985 NSL Finalist 1985 NSL Southern Conference Runners Up
With Green Gully SC in NSL: 1986 Dockerty Cup Winners
With Fawkner F.C.
in VPL: Player of the Year - 1989
in SPL:
With South Melbourne Hellas in NSL:
George then won the U21 Victorian Premier League title with Essendon in season 2001.
Campbell was the Football Federation Victoria
U14 & U15 State Coach in 2005 & 2006. The Melbourne Victory
Youth Coach, Mehmet Durakovic
, was his assistant for the FFV U14 state team in 2006.
He was the Head Coach of the Northcote City U21/Reserve Team who played in the Victorian Premier League
for the 2010 season.
George also runs his own academy named Melbourne Football STARS. He has taken three teams to the UK in 2008, 2009 & 2010 respectively to play against Scottish and English opposition.
He currently coaches Xavier College Firsts soccer team and in 2011 helped them win the APS trophy and the Jesuit Cup.
Caol
Caol is a village near Fort William, in the Highland council area of Scotland. It is about 2.5 km north of Fort William town centre, on the shore of Loch Linnhe, and within the parish of Kilmallie....
near Fort William
Fort William, Scotland
Fort William is the second largest settlement in the highlands of Scotland and the largest town: only the city of Inverness is larger.Fort William is a major tourist centre with Glen Coe just to the south, Aonach Mòr to the north and Glenfinnan to the west, on the Road to the Isles...
in Scotland, and played for Aberdeen F.C.
Aberdeen F.C.
Aberdeen Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Aberdeen...
in the Scottish Premier League
Scottish Premier League
The Scottish Premier League , also known as the SPL , is a professional league competition for association football clubs in Scotland...
. He is one of only three players to have made their debut at 16 years of age for Aberdeen FC.
He was the youngest player ever to make his debut for Aberdeen, being only 16 years 8 months old, until 22 August 2009 when Fraser Fyvie
Fraser Fyvie
Fraser Fyvie is a Scottish professional footballer currently playing for Scottish Premier League club Aberdeen.-Early life:...
broke his record by 3 months. 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 Scottish club Aberdeen
Aberdeen F.C.
Aberdeen Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Aberdeen...
to Australian club South Melbourne Hellas for £20,000 (AUD 50,000). This was an enormous amount of money, considering the 21-year-old planned to stay at the club for only one year before returning to the Scottish Premier League.
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 Aberdeen's Pittodrie StadiumPittodrie Stadium
Pittodrie Stadium is an all-seated football stadium situated in the Scottish city of Aberdeen. It was first used in 1899 and from 1903 has been the home of Aberdeen Football Club...
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 FC at only 16 years and 8 months old, until 22 August 2009 when Fraser Fyvie
Fraser Fyvie
Fraser Fyvie is a Scottish professional footballer currently playing for Scottish Premier League club Aberdeen.-Early life:...
broke his record by 3 months. He made his debut for Aberdeen against Heart of Midlothian F.C.
Heart of Midlothian F.C.
Heart of Midlothian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Gorgie, in the west of Edinburgh. They currently play in the Scottish Premier League and are one of the two principal clubs in the city, the other being Hibernian...
on 10 August 1974 in a Scottish League Cup
Scottish League Cup
The Scottish League Cup is a football competition open to all Scottish Football League and Scottish Premier League clubs. At present it is also known as the Scottish Communities League Cup owing to the sponsorship deal in place with the Scottish Government. In the past it has been sponsored by...
game at Pittodrie Stadium.
Campbell won the 1975 Reserve Scottish Cup
Scottish Cup
The Scottish Football Association Challenge Cup,, commonly known as the Scottish Cup or the William Hill Scottish Cup for sponsorship purposes, is the main national cup competition in Scottish football. It is a knockout cup competition run by and named after the Scottish Football Association.The...
with Aberdeen
Aberdeen F.C.
Aberdeen Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Aberdeen...
before breaking into the Aberdeen first team.
Campbell won the 1976 Scottish League Cup
1976 Scottish League Cup Final
The 1976 Scottish League Cup Final was played on 6 November 1976 and was the final of the 31st Scottish League Cup competition. It was contested by Aberdeen and Celtic. Aberdeen won the match 2–1, thanks to goals by Drew Jarvie and Davie Robb....
with Aberdeen FC after beating Celtic FC 2-1 at Hampden Park
Hampden Park
Hampden Park is a football stadium in the Mount Florida area of Glasgow, Scotland. The 52,063 capacity venue serves as the national stadium of football in Scotland...
in front of 69,707 supporters. He played a total of 15 Premier League and Cup, playing numerous senior friendly and UEFA Cup Winner's Cup and European Cup qualifying matches. He scored one of his 2 career goals for Aberdeen in the Anglo-Scottish Cup against St Johnstone on the 6th August 1975, winning 2-0. He scored the other in a friendly game against League of Ireland
League of Ireland
The League of Ireland is the national association football league of the Republic of Ireland. Founded in 1921, as a league of eight clubs, it has expanded over time into a two-tiered league of 22 clubs. It is currently split into the League of Ireland Premier Division and the League of Ireland...
club Finn Harps
Finn Harps F.C.
Finn Harps Football Club are a professional Irish football club playing in the First Division of the League of Ireland. The club was founded in 1954 and elected to the league in 1969. They hail from Ballybofey, County Donegal and play their home matches at Finn Park. The club's colours are blue...
on the 17th March 1976, who had won the FAI Irish Cup 2 years previously in 1974. Aberdeen had already beaten the Harps in the UEFA Cup in 1973 3-1 and 4-1.
He was signed by South Melbourne FC in 1978, Australia's most successful football club in history, who played in the National Soccer League
National Soccer League
The National Soccer League is the former national association football competition in Australasia, overseen by Soccer Australia and later the Australian Soccer Association. The NSL spanned 28 seasons from its inception in 1977, until its demise in 2004...
of Australia, for a transfer fee of £20,000 (AUD 50,000). He became the most expensive player to enter the country and planned to stay in Australia for only one season before returning to the Scottish Premier League in a link with Dundee United
Dundee United F.C.
Dundee United Football Club is a Scottish professional football club located in the city of Dundee. Formed in 1909, originally as Dundee Hibernian, the club changed to the present name in 1923...
's Jim McLean
Jim McLean
James Yuill McLean is a Scottish former football player and manager. He is best known for his 22-year spell as manager of Dundee United; the longest-serving and most successful manager in the club's history, he led them to three major honours and established them as a force in European competitions...
, 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
National Soccer League
The National Soccer League is the former national association football competition in Australasia, overseen by Soccer Australia and later the Australian Soccer Association. The NSL spanned 28 seasons from its inception in 1977, until its demise in 2004...
placing at the time.
In 1982, after 104 appearances and 17 goals with South Melbourne FC, George moved to National Soccer League club rivals Preston Makedonia and stayed there for three seasons, making 50 appearances and scoring 8 goals. He helped Preston reach the 1985 NSL Cup Final against Sydney Olympic at St. George's Stadium. He then moved to another NSL club, Green Gully, in 1985, where he made 29 appearances and scored 4 goals, winning the 1986 Dockerty Cup. He then signed for Box Hill Inter
Box Hill Inter
Box Hill United Football Club is an Australian association football club based in the Melbourne suburb of Box Hill.- History :Box Hill entered the Victorian Division 4 in 1925. In their first season they lost one game and drew once to became champion and win promotion to division 3 for the 1926...
in the Victorian Premier League and stayed there for 2 seasons making 62 appearances and scoring 29 goals.
George then signed for Fawkner Blues
Fawkner Blues
Fawkner Blues is an Australian association football club from Fawkner, a suburb of Melbourne, Victoria. The club was formed in 1965 by local Italian Australians...
who were also in the VPL. He made 24 appearances for the Blues and scored 2 goals.
Campbell was named the Player of the Year at Victorian Premier League club Fawkner FC for season 1989.
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 is Scottish and had already represented Scotland, although he did represent Victoria and played against American footballing giants New York Cosmos. He played against German legend Franz Beckenbauer
Franz Beckenbauer
Franz Anton Beckenbauer is a German football coach, manager, and former player, nicknamed Der Kaiser because of his elegant style, his leadership, his first name "Franz" , and his dominance on the football pitch...
, Dutch legend Johan Neeskens
Johan Neeskens
Johannes Jacobus "Johan" Neeskens is a Dutch football manager and former midfielder. As a player, he was an important member of the Dutch national team that finished as runners-up in the 1974 and 1978 FIFA World Cups. Former England manager Alf Ramsey said Neeskens was "as good as any player" in...
and Carlos Alberto
Carlos Alberto Torres
Carlos Alberto Torres is a former Brazilian footballer, one of the most highly regarded defenders of all time. He captained Brazil to victory in the 1970 World Cup and is a member of the World Team of the 20th Century, as well as the U.S...
, one of Brazil's most highly regarded defenders of all time.
Honours
With Scottish National Youth Team: 3 International Caps UEFA European Youth Championship QualificationWith Aberdeen F.C.
Aberdeen F.C.
Aberdeen Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Aberdeen...
in SPL: 1975 Reserve Scottish Cup Winners 1976 Scottish League Cup
1976 Scottish League Cup Final
The 1976 Scottish League Cup Final was played on 6 November 1976 and was the final of the 31st Scottish League Cup competition. It was contested by Aberdeen and Celtic. Aberdeen won the match 2–1, thanks to goals by Drew Jarvie and Davie Robb....
Winners
With South Melbourne Hellas in NSL: 1981 NSL Runners Up 1982 Ampol Cup Winners
With Preston Makedonia in NSL: 1983 NSL Third Placed 1985 NSL Cup Runners Up 1985 NSL Finalist 1985 NSL Southern Conference Runners Up
With Green Gully SC in NSL: 1986 Dockerty Cup Winners
With Fawkner F.C.
Fawkner Blues
Fawkner Blues is an Australian association football club from Fawkner, a suburb of Melbourne, Victoria. The club was formed in 1965 by local Italian Australians...
in VPL: Player of the Year - 1989
Records
With Aberdeen F.C.Aberdeen F.C.
Aberdeen Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Aberdeen...
in SPL:
- Youngest player ever to make his debut for Aberdeen FC until 22 Aug 2009 - He was aged 16 years 8 months
- One of three players to have ever made their debut for Aberdeen FC at 16 years of age
With South Melbourne Hellas in NSL:
- Most expensive player to enter Australia and to be signed by South Melbourne at the time - £20,000 (AUD 50,000)
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. Campbell, Dean Hennessey's senior assistant, together 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 Football Federation Victoria
Football Federation Victoria
Football Federation Victoria is the state governing body for football in Victoria, Australia. It is affiliated with Football Federation Australia, the sport's national governing body....
U14 & U15 State Coach in 2005 & 2006. The Melbourne Victory
Melbourne Victory
Melbourne Victory Football Club is an Australian professional football club based in Melbourne, Victoria, that plays in the A-League....
Youth Coach, Mehmet Durakovic
Mehmet Durakovic
Mehmet Duraković is a retired Australian-Albanian soccer player and currently serving football manager. As of June 2011, he is the currently serving head manager of Melbourne Victory...
, was his assistant for the FFV U14 state team in 2006.
He was the Head Coach of the Northcote City U21/Reserve Team who played in the Victorian Premier League
Victorian Premier League
The Victorian Premier League is the highest State level association football competition in Victoria, Australia, and second highest nationally after the A-League...
for the 2010 season.
George also runs his own academy named Melbourne Football STARS. He has taken three teams to the UK in 2008, 2009 & 2010 respectively to play against Scottish and English opposition.
He currently coaches Xavier College Firsts soccer team and in 2011 helped them win the APS trophy and the Jesuit Cup.
External links
- South Melbourne FC's Notable Players
- George Campbell on official Aberdeen FC website
- George Campbell - Youngest Players to have ever made their debuts for Aberdeen FC on official Aberdeen website
- George Campbell - 1976 Scottish League Cup article on official Aberdeen website
- Former Football Star, George 'White Pele' Campbell, returns from Australia for Christmas
- George Campbell Playing Statistics
- 2006 FFV State Representative Coaches
- Melbourne Football STARS (MFS) website