| Full name: | George Wallace Campbell |
| Position: | Outside left |
| Date of Birth: | 29 January 1920 |
| Place of Birth: | Dumbarton, Dunbartonshire |
| Date of Death: | |
| Place of Death: | |
| Height: | 5’8″ |
| Weight: | 11st. |
Playing career:
| Season | Club | Gpd | Gls |
| 1938-1939 | Vale of Clyde | ||
| 1938-1939 | Partick Thistles | 3 | 0 |
| 1939-1940 | Albion Rovers | ||
| 1940-1941 | Vale of Leven | ||
| 1941-1942 | Vale of Leven | ||
| 1942-1943 | Vale of Leven | ||
| 1943-1944 | Vale of Leven | ||
| 1944-1945 | Dumbarton | ||
| 1945-1946 | Dumbarton | ||
| 1946-1947 | Dumbarton | 3 | 0 |
| 1947-1948 | Stirling Albion | 2 | 0 |
| 1948 | Hamilton Westinghouse | ||
| 1949 | Hamilton Westinghouse | ||
| 1950 | Hamilton Westinghouse | ||
| 1951 | Hamilton Westinghouse | ||
| 1952 | Hamilton Westinghouse | ||
| 1952-1953 | Rochester Celtics | ||
| 1953 | British Imperials | ||
| 1953-1954 | Rochester Celtics | ||
| 1954 | British Imperials | ||
| 1955 | British Imperials | ||
| 1955-1956 | Rochester Celtics | ||
| 1956 | British Imperials |
Bio:
George Campbell started his soccer career with the Benoni club in South Africa. He was said to have been the “third reserve” for William Henry Strauss. “Billy” Strauss joined Scottish League club Aberdeen in 1935.
George then joined a long list of South Africans who wanted to break into football in Britain. He started to make his mark in Scottish junior football in the 1938-1939 season with Vale of Clyde. In December 1938 it was reported in the Sunday People that Arsenal and Glasgow Celtic were showing a “lively interest” in the Glasgow junior outside left. Later in December 1938, according to the Sunday People, the list of interested clubs now included Arsenal, Celtic, Crystal Palace and Ipswich.
On Monday 26 December 1938 he a trial at outside left with Partick Thistle Reserves in a game against Clyde Reserves. As was common in those days players on trial were listed under a different name, and George’s name in this game was listed as a “Smith”.
He signed for Scottish First Division club Partick Thistle on 4 January 1939. Played in three Scottish League games and two Scottish Cup games at outside left for Thistle. Given a free transfer at the end of the 1938-1939.
In August 1939 George joined Scottish League First Division club Albion Rovers. However, the First Division was suspended due to the outbreak of war, and the Rovers played in the Regional West League in the 1939-1940 season.
On 15 August 1940 it was announced by Scottish junior club Vale of Leven that George had signed for that club.
George joined Dumbarton from Vale of Leven in October 1944. In the 1946-1947 season he played in three Scottish League games for Dumbarton. He played at right half before returning to South Africa in August 1946 to take up a job there.
In October 1947 he signed for Stirling Albion. George played in two Scottish League games for the Albion at left half.
Joined National Soccer League club Hamilton Westinghouse late in the 1948 season. Played in the 1948 Atholstan Cup Finals, emblematic of the NSL play-off championship. Westinghouse lost to Montreal Carsteel in the two-game cup final.
At a meeting in March 1949 George was picked as the Hamilton Westinghouse captain for the 1949 season. Played for the Ontario All-Stars against Newcastle United on 24 May 1949 in front of a crowd of 17,000. Helped Westinghouse reach the 1949 Dominion Cup finals.
On 10 May 1950 the Hamilton Westinghouse outside left played for the National Soccer League All-Stars against Manchester United. A crowd of 12,500 watched the exhibition game at Canadian Exhibition Stadium in Toronto.
Played at outside left for Ontario All-Stars against the touring English Football Association team on 24 May 1950 in front of 10,000 soccer fans in Toronto. On 17 June 1950 he played at outside left for the Ontario All-Stars against the touring English F.A. team at Jackson Park in Windsor, Ontario.
On 25 June 1950 George played for the National Soccer League All-Stars against Swedish club Jonkoping.
Signed for Rochester Celtics in October 1952 to help the club in the United States National Open Cup. Also helped the club win the Northwestern New York State Open Soccer Cup championship.
Returned to Hamilton in August 1953 to play for the British Imperials.
In October 1953 he rejoined Rochester Celtics, and played for the Celtics in the 1953-54 Inter City Soccer League.
Then followed a return to Hamilton British Imperial. Rejoined Rochester Celtics in January 1956.
Coach of Hamilton Italo-Canadians in the National Soccer League in the 1958 season.
Started the 1959 as coach of Kitchener-Waterloo Concordias in the International Soccer League. He resigned as Concordia coach in July 1959.
Ps! The place of birth could be South Africa.
Additional info here:
George Campbell – The Thistle Archive
Photo source: