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Fullname: John James Campbell
aka: Johnny Campbell, John Campbell
Born: 12 Sep 1871
Died: 2 Dec 1947
Birthplace: Glasgow, Scotland
Signed: Easter 1890; 1 May 1897
Left: 1895 (to Aston Villa); 22 Aug 1903 (to Third Lanark)
Position: Forward, Striker
Debut: Celtic 7-1 Battlefield, Glasgow Cup, 20 Sep 1890
Internationals: Scotland
International Caps: 12 Caps
International Goals: 4 goals

Biog

A wonderfully gifted and clever forward Johnny Campbell signed for the Bhoys from Benburb in the spring of 1890 and made his debut in a Glasgow Cup tie at Parkhead when Celtic defeated Battlefield 7-1 on September 20th.

He started off strongly and in 1891 he scored 12 goals in a Celtic reserve game. Coupling bravery and skill he originally played on the left wing and forged a memorable partnership on the flank with Sandy McMahon.

Campbell was part of the Celtic team which lifted the Scottish Cup for the first time ever in 1892 (scoring two of the goals in a 5-1 win) and he was also integral to the League Championship triumphs of 1893 and 1894.

After one raucous match v Abercorn, when a riot occurred (Feb 11th 1893), Johnny Campbell knocked three teeth out of a Paisley fan's mouth! The police brought the man in who wrongly identified Jerry as the culprit! Crazy.

He was then surprisingly sold to Aston Villa in 1895 (something that Willie Maley described as "through the stupid action of a very prominent committee man") and he helped the Birmingham side claim a League and FA Cup double in season 1896-1897 (and was the first scorer of a goal at Villa Park) before gladly returning to Celtic Park that summer for his second spell with the Bhoys. It wasn't his only landmark in England. As well as scoring the first goal at Villa Park, he also scored the first goal at St James Park (Newcastle United's ground) on 3rd September 1892. Celtic won 1-0 and 6,000 watched the game.

Having paid Campbell the then astronomical signing on fee of £70 the player made sure he provided value for money and his wonderful talent and goals soon brough more glory back to the east end of Glasgow with a League title in 1898 and the Scottish Cup in 1899 and 1900.

A huge favourite with the support Campbell eventually left Celtic for Third Lanark in 1903, helping them to a league title in his first season.

In his two spells at Celtic he scored an impressive 109 in 215 appearances although his contribution to Celtic's success could not be measured in goals alone. As a Celt, Campbell won three league championships, three Scottish Cups and 12 caps for Scotland. Campbell retired from football in April 1906.

In his first-class career in Scotland and England he had scored a phenomenal 141 goals in 264 games.

He holds some good records: first and likely only Celtic man to score 12 goals in a game (a reserve game admittedly), first man to be sued for "palimony" (and lose) and the one and only ex-Celt to win the Scottish Cup with Third Lanark.

Unquestionably a Celtic great, but also one of the first true greats of the game as a whole.

Playing Career

Major Honours With Celtic

Scottish League

• 1892-93, 1893-94, 1897-98

Scottish Cup

• 1892, 1899, 1900

Pictures

• Picture Gallery

Links

• Grave & Memorial
  
• The KDS Greatest All Time Celt