CAMPBELL, Calum 1989-91

Date Signed: 12th August 1989
Signed From: Airdrieonians
Position: Forward

Bio:
Forward. John Lambie signed the big bustling striker on the eve of season 1989-90 from Airdrieonians for a reported fee of £50,000. Calum immediately won over the Jags fans with a debut goal in a 2-1 win over Clydebank. His early career saw him sign for Motherwell as a schoolboy but he failed to make the grade at Fir Park, and moved into the Juniors signing for Ardrossan Winton Rovers in 1983. After two seasons he moved up the junior divisions and was transferred to Kilbirnie Ladeside, where League scouts began to take notice of his goal scoring rate. He signed for 1st Division Airdrieonians in July 1987 making his league debut the following month at Broomfield over East Fife. In two seasons with the Airdrie club he scored 29 league goals in 76 appearances. In his first season at Firhill he won various supporters Player of the Year awards, unfortunately his second season with Thistle was blighted with injury the only personnel highlight for the 6’ 1’’ Ft target man being a hat-trick over Kilmarnock at Firhill in January. As Thistle pushed to win promotion into the Premier League manager Lambie surprisingly accepted a reported £65,000 offer from Kilmarnock on transfer deadline day. Lambie stating that Thistle needed a full time squad for the promotion push and part time Campbell who worked as a Nurse was surplus to requirements. As Thistle edged out Hamilton Accies to runners up spot and automatic promotion, Campbell grabbed 4 goals in 7 games for Killie, including a vital win for Thistle over Accies. Season 1992-93 saw Kilmarnock win the 1st Division with Calum a vital part of the Rugby Park squad playing 24 games with 4 goals. Life in the Premier League for a part time player was hard for Campbell he made only 1 appearance before a loan spell at Sligo Rovers and a eventual reported £50,000 to 1st Division Dumbarton but he failed to register a goal in 14 appearances asthe Sonswere relegated. Dumbarton managed to bounce straight back winning promotion in their first attempt with Calum making 14 appearances with a solitarily goal but the big hit man failed to win his struggle with injury and retired from football at the end of the season. He surprisingly made a comeback 2 years later playing back in the Ayrshire junior leagues with Irvine Medow (1997-98), Saltcoats Victoria (1998-99) before becoming a player coach back at Ardrossan Winton Rovers in 1999. Away from football he continued his career with the NHS and has held several senior positions with various NHS trusts in Scotland & Wales.

Key Dates:

• July 1987 Signs for Airdrieonians from Kilbirnie Ladeside
• 8th August 1987 League Debut (Airdrieonians) v East Fife (H) 1-0, 1st Division
• 15th August 1987 1st League Goal (Airdrieonians) v Queen of the South (A) 2-2, 1st Division
• 12th August 1989 Signs for Partick Thistle from Airdrieonians for £50,000, Partick Thistle Debut (& 1st Goal) v Clydebank (A) 2-1, 1st Division
• 1989-90 Partick Thistle Supporter's Player of the Year
• 5th January 1991 Scored a Hat-Trick v Kilmarnock (A) 3-2, 1st Division
• 30th March 1991 Last Partick Thistle Appearance v Ayr United (H) 0-0, 1st Division
• 31st March 1991 Signs for Kilmarnock for £65,000 from Partick Thistle
• 1992-93 1st Division Winner, Kilmarnock
• 11th February 1994 Signs for Dumbarton from Kilmarnock for £50,000
• 14th March 1995 Last League Appearance (Dumbarton) v Stenhousemuir (H) 5-1, 2nd Division
• 1994-95 2nd Division Runner-Up (Promoted), Dumbarton