Jim Campbell

NSL Career: Heidelberg, Melbourne Croatia 259 (60) / 1977 - 1987

Socceroos Career: 4 (1) A Internationals / 3 (0) B Internationals

During the 1970s and 1980s, Heidelberg was one of the premier football clubs in Australia and was represented by a number of national team players. English attacking midfielder Jim Campbell moved to Australia like many other British footballers at the time and became one of the best midfielders in the country during the early years of the NSL.

Quick, hardworking, skilful and creative - Campbell contributed greatly to Heidelberg's strong standing in the league. Campbell's goal scoring prowess from midfield was matched only by Sydney City's Murray Barnes as he linked up with brilliant midfielders Jimmy Rooney and Ken Taylor and prolific scorers Gary Cole and Jamie Paton.

An England Youth international, Campbell made his first team debut at the age of 17 for Bedford Town in the Southern Football League (non-League) after coming up from Bedford's "Eaglets" in the United Counties League, which served as a second grade for the club. Campbell signed a professional contract with English Second Division side Oxford during the 1972/73 season but failed to break in to the first team before moving to Southern Football League side Chelmsford during the 1974/75 season.

The winger was loaned to Cambridge City during the season before returning to Bedford when the club reached the semi-finals of the FA Trophy and gained promotion to the SFL Premier Division. Campbell remained a regular in the side until Jim Adam, who was appointed coach of Fitzroy United Alexander  for the inaugural Phillips Soccer League season, noticed the talented young player while in England and made efforts to bring him to Australia.

Campbell was eventually persuaded and joined the club where he scored six goals in 19 games in his first season. Campbell helped the side finish third and continued to perform during the 1978 season, finishing runner-up in the golden boot standings behind Ken Boden and Clive Eaton with 12 goals in 26 games.

The Englishman moved in to a midfield role during the 1979 season as Heidelberg signed Scottish sharp shooter Jamie Paton from Victorian State League club Prahran Slavia. Heidelberg finished runners-up before coming third in the Play-Off Series. Campbell's form led to a Socceroos call up, making his full international debut against Czechoslovakia in January 1980.

Heidelberg continued to thrive during the 1980 season as Socceroos veteran Jimmy Rooney was player-coach for the first half of the season along with defender Pat Bannon. Len McKendry took the reigns for the second half of the season as Campbell scored the winning goal against Brisbane Lions in the final round, narrowly missing out on lifting the championship trophy as Sydney City won their match against St George on the same day.

Heidelberg reached the NSL Cup Final, losing three-nil to Marconi before going on to win the Play-Off Series, defeating Sydney City four-nil, with Campbell getting a secondary-assist in their fourth goal scored by Paton. Campbell's excellent form continued in 1981 despite the club falling to eighth place before finding career best form during the 1982 and 1983 seasons.

Campbell was the club's joint-top scorer with Gary Cole (12 each) in the 1982 season as the club climbed back up the ladder, finishing fourth, and scored the opening goal in the NSL Cup Final before APIA staged a comeback to defeat Heidelberg two-one. Campbell's ability to break the lines made him one of the best players in the competition during the 1983 season, scoring a hat-trick in the NSL Cup Quarter-Finals against West Adelaide before Heidelberg reached the final against Sydney Olympic, losing two-nil on aggregate.

The Englishman's form led to a Socceroos re-call, scoring a brilliant goal off the bench in Australia's four-two Merlion Cup Final win over Singapore. The Socceroos midfielder sought a move away from Heidelberg and signed for newly-promoted Melbourne Croatia the day before their 1984 round two match for $21,000.

 Campbell was instrumental in getting the Croatia side in to the final of the NSL Cup, where they lost one-nil to Newcastle Rosebud and in to the Southern Conference Preliminary Final. The experienced midfielder remained with the club for a further three seasons until he was transfer listed at the end of the 1987 season and moved to Croydon City in the Victorian State League. 

As one of the highest profile players in the league, Campbell helped the side finish runners-up to former club Heidelberg before moving down a level to help former NSL club Mooroolbark win promotion to the VSL. Campbell spent two seasons in the top division with Mooroolbark before hanging up his boots at the age of 36.