STEVIE CAMPBELL

Following on from the interview with Mark McWalter, CFCWeb caught up with fellow Scotsman Stevie Campbell. Today is a big day for Stevie – he turns 40!!

Stevie was signed by Felix Healy to fill the problem left back role and he made his debut on the 13th August 1994 away to Newry. He only played 33 games, scoring 3 but in that short space of time became an instant hit with the supporters due to his silky left foot, little bit of class and hard work.

What did you do after you were released from Coleraine?

I went to Livingston; I spent almost 2 years there. We won the third Division, that was under a manager called Jim Leishman, then we went to the second division and just failed to win promotion by a couple of points. Then I left Livingston and joined Brechin, who were also in the second division and that is where I played for my last 3 years. At the same time I started on the coaching side and when I finished playing with Brechin in 1998, I was lucky enough to get full time (coaching) at Dundee with their under 19s.

So you retired from playing then?

I did yes, what happened was I done my cruciate ligament, and I’d had bother with my knees actually the year previous to coming to Coleraine and I think eventually, 6 or 7 years later it had just caught up with me. The Surgeon and I made a decision to say that I’d be better stopping playing all together. So it was a bit of a disaster but coaching is the next best thing and I have been lucky to do that for 7 years now as well.

So do you miss playing?

I do miss playing, I must admit there’s nothing like playing at all but I do admit the second best thing is to coach, so, you can pass on the experience. And now I am with the under 19’s at Dundee United – I spent 5 years at Dundee and then a year at Inverness. Then the manager at Inverness at the time Craig Brewster, who has actually since went back there, he brought me down with him to Dundee United – which is of course my home town and I am still here! This is my second year and I have thoroughly enjoyed it.

Do you think you’ll remain as an under 19 coach or will you take the plunge into managing a senior team?

I think maybe one day. But at the moment I’m quite happy to work at under 19’s and as I say pass on my experience. It is demanding and hard work but as I said it is still in football and I know how lucky I am and what opportunities that has given me. Actually while I was still working at Dundee we came across for the Foyle cup on a few occasions and I met up with Felix Healy, Kenny Shiels and I actually visited the Showgrounds.

Was it strange going back?

Well there is no way I would be in the area without going for a visit – honestly it was great I did it two or three times and just had a wee drive around Portrush and Portstewart. The ground was closed but I managed to sneak in and take a few photographs and that – it was great the memories came flooding back.

What year was it?

It was 1999, 2000 and 2001. It was always with the young Dundee teams, under 16 and the under 14’s.

You've never had an invite to the Milk Cup then?

We were invited at the last minute both years, last year and the year before, with Dundee United – I was desperate to come over, for obvious reasons, but both years we just couldn’t manage it – we had other things set up at the time, going on different tours – but I’m desperate to get the chance again, obviously I have a lot of feelings for the place.

You have continued your career in football – is that something that you always wanted to do?

Yes, I have been in football al long time – I left school at 17 and signed for Dundee, so that is 23 years involved in football – I know how lucky I am, there are a lot of people who would love to be involved and fingers crossed I can spend another 15 or 20 years in it.

I was reading your interview with the Coleraine fanzine and it brought a lot of memories from that time back – did you ever read it?

Yeah, I still kept some of the fanzines and have the odd look back now and again and have a wee laugh.

Yes there is a reference to your’s and Mark McWalter’s receding hair line!

(laughs) Well I still have more than him!! I still see Mark now and again

So how did your move to Coleraine come about and what attracted you to the Irish League and made you decide to give it a go?

Well I had been out of the game for a year actually, I’d had 4 knee operations, you know just cartilage ops but I wasn’t then offered a contract at Dundee. But the manager at the time Jim Duffy he brought the Dundee first team over to Coleraine and they played a game, and drew 2 all. I was nearing fitness again still training at the club albeit I wasn’t signed at Dundee. And he spoke to Felix and he was speaking to Mark McWalter, because myself and Mark go back a long way, he’s from Arbroath, near Dundee, we’re the same age.

Anyway Felix and Mark were speaking to Jim Duffy and had said we’re desperate for a left back and I was sitting in my house one night and the phone rang and it was Jim Duffy – he put me on to Mark and he asked if I would speak to the manager. And so Felix phoned and said do you fancy coming over for a month? There were 2 or 3 clubs in Scotland interested at the time you know, and I just thought why not, I was going to get games.

I came over and played my first game against Newry, we also played Portadown – I think we drew 2 each, I think I made a goal – Ricky Wade got the equaliser. I thoroughly enjoyed it – I must admit one of the biggest things was the manager Felix Healy, I thought he was an excellent manager; he came across really well and sold the club. Within 3 games they offered me a 2 year contract, so it was ideal at the time as I didn’t wasn’t to leave home but they were allowing me to train with Dundee with Jim Duffy and come across on a Thursday or a Friday and play the games. So really it was ideal for me to get back playing. As I said I thoroughly enjoyed my time there.

Had you heard of the Irish League before?

Definitely there were quite a few Scottish players who had done the same as me – you know Steve Cowan, probably one of the most famous had went across early on to Portadown. I knew Ian Ferguson, who had also played for Dundee and Dundee United and he was also at Portadown. Garry Peebles was at Linfield at the time, Tony Sheppard, Sammy Johnston – I wouldn’t have said it got great coverage, but I had certainly heard of the Irish League. I had actually gone to a game – Dundee United versus Coleraine in the UEFA cup. I also knew Michael O’Neill – which I still do – really well. So I had certainly heard of the place and so I jumped at the chance when it came along.

What did you think of the standard then when you did come over?

I was pleasantly surprised – as I said I knew these players had gone across but it was unknown to me how it would be, but I knew within 3 or 4 games that you know it certainly wasn’t going to be a canter and I was really impressed with the standard of play. At the time at Coleraine you know boys like Tony Gorman, Stuart McClean – I think they could have come across and played in the Scottish league no problem at all, maybe not the premier league but certainly the First Division. I think Felix had the team playing really god football at that time as well I honestly really really enjoyed it – it was new to me having been at Dundee for 8 years – you know all the different grounds as well.

What did you think to Irish League Grounds?

I thought there was a great atmosphere – obviously the Showgrounds first and foremost I thought it was brilliant there, the fans really got behind you.

You sound like you enjoyed it!

It was all just new to me and was probably exactly what I needed at that time. I haven’t got anything bad to say about my time there at all. I know it probably went a wee bit sour towards the end when Kenny wanted to get rid of all the Scottish players but I have certainly nothing against Kenny and I have said that to him any time I have met him since.

Were you disappointed when Felix left, after him playing such a major role in persuading you to come over?

I was disappointed; I think that had he stayed we were on the verge of something good. We played a lot of good football – perhaps the results weren’t so good, we threw a few games away, I think it was Cliftonville we were 3 – 1 up and ended up drawing 3 – 3 and we drew a few games like Bangor etc and I think if we had of turned some of those draws into wins we’d have been up there challenging because we were never outplayed by anybody. I know that I let my self down a few times getting sent off and being suspended.

I remember you got sent off at Bangor – Until I saw it on TV I actually didn’t think it was a hand ball….

I didn’t think so either!!!!! Well I suppose now I can admit that it was a hand, it was a bit of a rush of blood to the head – the boy was about to score at the back post and I instinctively put my hand up so that was disappointing and I was actually back home suspended so I didn’t come across for the games when Felix left. So I think at the time that Kenny came I wasn’t playing my best, I had maybe shaded off a wee bit by not playing regularly. Though as I said, especially from being in coaching now, you have to make these types of decisions, I have nothing against Kenny at all. I would loved to have stayed but Kenny told me that with the club getting relegated that he wouldn’t be bringing the Scottish guys across and I appreciated that it was obviously costing the club money.

Do you think that Kenny gave you a fair chance?

To be honest no I don’t. Although I think that possibly his hands were tied, the decision was made in the fact that he had to cut costs, and you know financial restraints I think just made his mind up.

You became a fans' favourite very quickly – I think we appreciated that you certainly had a bit of class about you and were also hard working – Is that why you think you were so well liked?

You know that’s just the way I was – I was dedicated to my job, it is the same now in my coaching job and I hope anyway that I never let the fans or anybody down because I always gave it my all. I wish it had been for longer – I had signed a 2 year contract and I wish would have been able to have honour that but as I say that was out of my control. Though I certainly don’t look back with any regret, I prefer to look back at the times when the games were good and the fans were brilliant and I had a brilliant experience over there, I really did.

So did you have any favourite matches, you also got a few goals as well?

Yeah I did, it was 3 goals I got – I think I scored in a couple of games against Newry and a diving header, which is a rarity for me, against Larne! I remember at the time when I scored that I came home on a high, Felix always used to phone me on a Sunday night and have a blather about not just my own performance but the match as a whole, I think he put a bit of Trust in me – I had a great relationship with Felix, he talked about the whole game in general – I think he always knew I had an interest in the coaching side of things – but Felix told me that night that I was that slow in getting back – that’s why I was still in the box for a diving header!!!

It was a cross from the right back at the time, Eamon Doherty...he had worked the ball from the other side so it was unusual for 2 full backs to be forward like that. It was a 4 – 0 victory that day.

Overall there were some great games – though I wouldn’t say the Cliftonville game was a good memory as I got sent off in that one as well!! Funnily enough my brother and his wife and my mum and dad were there...obviously because I was playing in Ireland didn’t get a chance to see us. So they decided to come across on the Saturday, we lost 3 – 0 to Portadown, I didn’t play particularly well and had a hard old day against Joey Cunningham. I promised them that night that I would do better on the Monday, but I ended up getting sent off!!

That was one of the bad memories but there were plenty of good ones!! Not that I was a goal scorer but it was always great to score a goal, the one against Larne at the Showgrounds and the one against Newry there as well – I’ve still got the photograph of me jumping up on the fence after it!

The Linfield games were good because they were big games as well unfortunately I didn’t get to play at Windsor Park – that was disappointing but I loved playing at the Oval. Other great games were the Derby games against Ballymena – it was not just one or two I really did enjoy every game I played.

Were there any players that you played with at Coleraine that really stuck out?

Well I did mention Tony Gorman before, I’d say he was a class above if I am being honest. I enjoyed playing with Tony because being a full back he liked to take the ball from the back – also as you know he could score from 30 or 35 yards. And I think he had good vision as well in terms of when I was available he always seemed to find me.

I loved playing with Stuart as well, not just because he was Scottish but I loved the way he was whole hearted and his commitment as well.

I also remember Gacky. He was another player that week in week out you could rely on...you knew exactly what you were going to get from him. In this day in age it's unusual for someone to play 600 games for a club, so I take my hat off to him, I really do.

Also Funnily enough I was on the phone not long ago to Gary Beckett – a friend of mine from Dundee who helps me a bit at Dundee United – he is from Enniskillen and it very friendly with Gary.

He was a very good player, I loved playing with him. I think we had two good options up their with either him or Derek Cook as a target man and Beckett was great to dink it into his feet as well, he was good at holding it up and bringing other people in to play. He wasn’t blessed with the most pace but you know I think he was a good player as well.

I remember wee Johnny McIvor who played in front of me as well, he was a bit of an enigma, some days I’d just give him the ball and leave him to it and he’d beat three men. I know he was unpredictable but when he was on song he was exciting to watch.

There was a lot of people there I enjoyed playing with – of course there was the Scottish contingent. Paul Kinnaird, I know he only played 6 games but he was an eventful person – so to speak! Also there was Derek Cook, Alan Ewing, and of course Mark (McWalter). He was injured when I first went over there, but when he did get fit I enjoyed playing with Mark. I still keep in touch with Mark – obviously he played at a high level in Scotland but a bit like me he was a bit unlucky with injuries and it does take its toll.

What about players that you played against – who were your hardest opponent or were there any that you particularly remember?

Stuart McClean warned me all about Kirk Hunter!! I remember before the warm up, we were in the dressing rooms coming out of a wee tunnel in the Crusaders ground and I wasn’t aware of who this Kirk Hunter was until brushed past me in the tunnel. He was a difficult player to play against because of his sheer presence.

Joey Cunningham, probably because it was one of my first games and he was a decent winger. But I think I managed to snuff him out, I remember him grabbing me by the throat in that game as well.

The other guy was Soupy Campbell at Linfield, was it Raymond?

Yes - He is still playing

Is he still playing – well he was quite difficult. That is unbelievable that he is still playing!!!

Do you still keep an interest in the league?

I do still, as much as I can, especially these days with internet and that, I still keep tabs to see how the club was doing. Especially in Kenny’s time – I seen the great run they had after under Kenny. So I always keep an eye out for the results, I noticed that they had a horrendous result last Saturday (against Glentoran), so I’ll not dwell on that! Because it is one of my 5 former clubs it is one of the results I always look for on a Saturday night - I’d love to come back for a game.

I noticed Everton played there in the summer, I came home, we had a game that day and I stuck the TV on and said; oh my God I recognise that place!! It was looking great, the Showgrounds.

I always thought the pitch was excellent, you know especially early on in the season and I think as well the way it was with the fans it was a great atmosphere as well – I’m sure I’ll be back some time – maybe for the Milk Cup but I’d love to come back for a Coleraine game and see them play.

Do you still keep in touch with anyone from your time at Coleraine?

Well I did speak to Gary Beckett but I wouldn’t say I keep in regular contact. But the couple of times I was over I spoke with Tony Gorman, I have a good friendship with him, though I haven’t spoken with him in a while.

So just to finish up, you’re a Dundee man – so which of the Dundee’s do you support?

Unfortunately not the one I am working for at the minute!!

Dundee then!

Yeah, I have to admit I was brought up a Dundee fan.

So I take it that made it extra special to play for them?

Exactly – well it was the best thing; it is the best feeling in the world to play for the club you support. And I obviously have great memories of my time at Dundee and I have to admit also when I went back as a coach.

What about working for the enemy then?

Well it was quite an eye opener especially for some of my family who are died in the wool Dundee fans as well – two of my brothers are still not speaking to me!!! But I’ve certainly overcome that, when you’re a professional it doesn’t matter what club you’re at. I still keep in touch with a lot of people at Dundee...there is only 150 yards separating the grounds and it’s a great rivalry but with Dundee now being in the First Division we don’t get the chance to play one an other.

But I must admit having probably ‘hated’ the club I am playing for all my life I couldn’t be enjoying it more and there are great people working at Dundee United and now being on the other side, so to speak, I am thoroughly enjoying it. Though if you’d asked be 20 years ago if I’d be working at Dundee Untied I would have said no but that’s football and as I said, I am thoroughly enjoying it!!

CFCweb wants to thank Stevie for an honest and entertaining interview and hopes the weekend birthday celebrations in Dublin weren’t too emotional!