Boy From Brazil Bradford City Hall of Fame

Inductee September 2001

Bobby Campbell

Bobby Campbell was a terrific player. Forget all the stories for now, and we will get to them later, and concentrate on the man on the field.

Physical, he was the no nonsense centreforward. His physical power lay in his upper body, he was able to shrug off defenders, able to climb higher and win headers against taller men. When Bobby Campbell was on the ball he only gave it up when he was good and ready.

Which brings us to the second facet of Campbell the player, what he could do with a ball. His shot was frighteningly powerful, low very often and hard as you like keepers struggled to get down quick enough to stop Bobby's strikes.

Campbell came to City after a string of clubs had passed on him. During the early eighties he notched some 143 goals over two spells at VP including 121 in the league, 5 FA Cup, 11 in the league cup and six other.

Of all Bobby's goals one stands out, his single strike in the 1-0 home win over the might of Liverpool at Valley Parade in a 1-0 win in 1981. Campbell nipped to the ball to poke home securing him back page headlines, Those that saw it say that Campbell, on that day, looked like a player who could have gone much further in game. Indeed at one point he did. Campbell went to Spain for the 1982 World Cup as part of the Northern Irish squad that shocked the hosts 1-0 in the first round.

When Roy McFarland left City for Derby County he took Campbell with him to the Baseball Ground, handing cash strapped City a fair fee for his services. It did not work out, it never was going to, and Campbell returned cut price not long later.

But that is not the whole story of Bobby Campbell, that is not the reason why Campbell has the supporters bar at Valley Parade named after him.

For those who never saw him play Bobby Campbell is more legend than fact. Stories of Bob have been told and retold around the pubs of Bradford and without wanting to suggest there is any truth in any of the follow, here are some of the things that they said Bob did:

The legend of Bobby Campbell

• On match days Bob could be seen engaging in a strenuous work out to build up to the game as he sprinted from the town centre to Valley Parade, after seeking in an extra pint before the kick off.
• Young John Hendrie asks senior pro Bob what he was doing after training at Valley Parade, "I'm going up to the church" Bob replied. Further investigation revealed that the church was Belle Vue Pub/Strip joint at the top of Valley Parade and Bob was a very popular and regular visitor.
• Bob had been given a final chance to get his act together at Huddersfield. He was to get involved more in the club and start coaching the youth team. He took the young lads on a lengthy cross country in the mud of Kirklees returning to the training ground when he proceeded to lead the entire youth squad, mucky boots and all, through the passenger door, over the gear stick and out of the driver's side of the manager's car. Next day: transfer list.
• On the left wing, in front of the old shed like Midland Road stand and Bob puts over a cross, long , deep and out for goal kick. One wag in the crowd tells Bob exactly what he thinks of Bob's display in no uncertain terms, Bob leaves the field and lamps the fella.
• Bob runs back from a chance that has been snuffed out, the Keeper plants a kick on the ball from his hands to send it long downfield, it does not go far, smacking against the back of Bob's head and spinning away into the goal, Bob turns, not to celebrate, but to find out who has clocked him one, fist tight.
• Odsal and Wimbledon are ploughing a way up the league. Bob has the ball on the edge of the Dons box when John Fash The Bash Fashanu "tackles" him. Bob tracks Fash back to the other penalty area and, are a three way glance to check positions of the officials introduces Fash to floor.

Bobby Campbell left City for Wigan in October 1986 and finished top league goal scorer for Latics in both his seasons at Springfield Park.

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