Kevin Campbell joined Arsenal as a 15-year-old in 1985. Three years later, the quick and powerful striker was a part of and received the FA Youth Cup. The Gunners defeated Doncaster Rovers 6-1 over the 2 matches. The crew included the likes of Alan Miller, David Hillier, Steve Morrow, Neil Heaney and Kevin Campbell – who scored a hat-trick within the first leg which Arsenal received 5-0.
Shortly afterwards, he made his A-team debut.
It occurred within the last spherical in Could 1988 when Everton had been defeated 2-1 at Goodison Park. Campbell got here on with twelve minutes to play when he changed Martin Hayes.
The next season, when Arsenal received the league at Anfield, ‘Kev’ hung out on mortgage at Leicester Metropolis and Leyton Orient. Then there have been an increasing number of A-team video games. In 1989/1990 there have been 15 matches. Then got here the striker’s first aim. At Highbury in March 1990, Campbell jumped into the primary half towards Nottingham Forest when Paul Merson got here off. With 13 minutes left to play, he made it 3-0.
The massive breakthrough got here the next season, 1990/1991.
Campbell scored 9 targets, most in February, March and April, as Arsenal received the league – seven factors forward of Liverpool.
His greatest season when it comes to targets was 1993/1994 when The Gunners received the Cup Winners’ Cup at Parken in Copenhagen. Campbell, who performed your complete last towards Parma, scored 19 targets – 4 of them in Europe.
Crucial got here at Highbury within the second semi towards PSG. Arsenal had been cruising on the Parc des Princes when Campbell headed dwelling Lee Dixon’s cross – a aim that took the membership to the ultimate.
The 1994/1995 season was Kevin Campbell’s final at Arsenal. After simply 5 targets in 35 video games, the striker was offered to Nottingham Forest in June 1995. The switch price was £3,000,000.
In complete, Campbell performed 228 video games for The Gunners and he netted 59 instances.
The profession then went by way of Forest, the place he received the second division, to Turkish Trabzonspor after which to Everton. He was there for six seasons. Campbell completed his profession at West Bromwich Albion (2005/2006) and most lately at Cardiff Metropolis (2006/2007).
After the lively profession, Campbell appeared within the media and was a highly regarded particular person.
Earlier in June it was reported that he had been hospitalized and yesterday, after a brief sickness, he died.
Kevin’s son, Tyrese, who spent the final seven seasons enjoying at Stoke Metropolis, mentioned on Saturday:
– The ache of that is indescribable and as a son you see your father as invincible. He’s my idol, the one I wished to be once I grew up. He was the life and soul of each social gathering and each room he blessed, a one-in-a-million particular person liked by all. A particular, particular particular person. I’ll miss you dad. I’m now asking that our household’s integrity be revered as we mourn the lack of an irreplaceable father, brother, uncle and an incredible human being.
A lot of Campbell’s former teammates have written very properly about him on social media and he’s mourned by all of Soccer England.