DAVID CAMPBELL

Born: 02 June 1965

Came from: Charlton Athletic   Went to: Charlton Athletic

First game: 11 March 1989   Last game: 11 March 1989

Appearances: 1 (1/0)   Goals: 0

Campbell was born in Eglington in Northern Ireland and was a full Northern Ireland International when he signed for Argyle – at a time when Argyle signing any capped players was rare. He started as a junior with the obscurely named Northern Irish non-league side Oxford United Stars FC, which brought him to the attention of Brian Clough's Nottingham Forest, to whom he moved in June 1981 as an apprentice, signing professionally in June 1983. With future England internationals Steve Hodge and Neil Webb in the Forest midfield, a regular berth was a challenge, limiting him to 41 appearances for Forest in three years. However, a run of 27 consecutive top flight games in 1985-86 gave him an opportunity with Billy Bingham's Northern Ireland, which he duly seized. Impressing in a pre-World Cup warm up against Morocco, he was selected for the 1986 squad to go to Mexico, playing in the 3-0 defeat to Brazil in the Guadalajara heat in April 1986. On return from the World Cup, he played briefly again for Forest before being loaned out to neighbours Notts County. A handful of appearances more for Forest on his return preceded a £75,000 move to Charlton Athletic in October 1987.

Campbell was now an established international and played in each of Northern Ireland's Euro '88 qualifiers. He was loaned to Argyle from The Valley in March 1989, completing a solitary 90 minutes in a fine 1-2 away win at Ewood Park. His loan spell was curtailed by Charlton to enable his transfer to Bradford City. He made 35 appearances scoring 4 in 18 months at Valley Parade before returning to Ireland with Shamrock Rovers, from whom he was loaned to Cliftonville. Returning briefly to English football with non-contract spells at Rotherham, Burnley and Lincoln between 1992 and 1994, he then returned to the province to play for Portadown. A final attempt at English football with Wigan Athletic in August 1994 was curtailed when Kenny Swain was dismissed shortly after signing him. He was released in the October after just seven games, and then joined Cambridge, playing once in a 6-0 defeat at Brentford, where he suffered a badly broken leg, which ultimately forced his retirement from professional football.