‘He wanted me to go on’ – Son of Arsenal legend Kevin Campbell trying to follow his footsteps and reach Premier League
TYRESE CAMPBELL grew up idolising his legendary football dad Kevin Campbell.
And now he wants to follow his father into the Premier League by winning promotion with Sheffield United.
Former Arsenal, Everton, West Brom and Cardiff star Kevin Campbell tragically died last June aged 54 after illness and complications following a heart and kidney failure.
And although the loss of his role-model was difficult Campbell has thrown himself at the very thing his dad gave him… football.
The striker has been in good form for the Blades — scoring 10 and adding an assist in his 19 starts since signing in the summer from Stoke.
His brilliant form in March in particular — scoring four goals in five games — won him the SkyBet Championship player of the month award.
He told SunSport: “My brothers and I are very much his sons. We’re strong minded and strong willed.
“For me I had a day away from football when my dad passed and it was back to work. I didn’t have a club at the time and was training with a personal trainer and a few other lads.
“As sad as it was, life does go on and he’d have liked me to do that. He wanted me to go on, work hard and play football and be the player he knows I can be.
“For me football helped me take my mind off stuff and softened the blow. I had a great support network around me and I have to give them a lot of credit.”
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Campbell was born in 1999 so caught the tail-end of his dad’s glittering career with his earliest memories watching him turn out for Everton at Goodison Park.
Kevin Campbell had all his major success with Arsenal before Tyrese was born — winning the title in 1991, the FA Cup and League Cup in 1993 and the European Cup Winners’ Cup in 1994.
In total he played 213 games for the Gunners, scoring 59 goals. He won promotion with Nottingham Forest to the Prem in 1998 and, after a short spell playing in Turkey for Trabzonspor, went on to play 160 times for Everton, scoring 48 goals.
He then had two seasons with West Brom in the Prem before winding down his career in the Championship with Cardiff.
Campbell said: “As soon as I could walk, I was kicking a ball. From then on there was no doubt in my mind I was going to be a footballer. It was when not if.
“I never even contemplated doing anything else. When you grow up and see your dad play football that is all you want to do. You want to be like your dad, don’t you?
“He was the reason I picked football. I’m grateful for that because I’m certain I’d not be able to do anything else!
“My earlier memories were at Goodison, watching him from the box, although I’d mainly be playing football in the corridor!
“I’ve some good memories of him playing for Everton and going into the changing room afterwards, going on the pitch with him. There are memories I’ll cherish forever.”
Campbell says his dad’s biggest asset was his personality — his ability to make people happy and to engage.
The Sheffield United ace even laughed that his own loudness as a person comes from his father.
He said: “Dad’s personality was just great. He as loud and bubbly. If you were in a room with him, everyone was included.
“Whether you were a little shy or nervous he was always getting everyone up and dancing. He got the party going. You couldn’t miss him. You’d always see or hear him. I’ve taken that trait from him!”
Although Campbell has dedicated himself to football these past 10 months, the one thing he misses is not having his dad around to talk to.
And during the Blades’ recent three-game losing run which has seen the team slip outside the two automatic promotion spots his dad would have been giving his son the pearls of wisdom he garnered during his great career.
Campbell said: “When times were tough in football he was normally the first person I’d speak to. He’d give me the harsh truth and tell me if he thought I was good enough. He’d tell me how it was.
“Sometimes I didn’t like what he was saying but then you’d think, ‘Oh actually he was probably right.’
“So the two things I miss most is his advice and him.”
The Blades travel to Turf Moor today to take on Burnley in a huge win-or-bust game in the race for the two automatic spots. Chris Wilder’s men sit five points behind the Clarets and Leeds with three games left.
United lost three games on the spin — their first real dip in form all season — before bouncing back to beat Cardiff 2-0 on Good Friday.
And Campbell said: “We cannot be too disheartened. We’ve had a great season and everything is still to play for.
“As a kid I wanted the Premier League, watched my dad play at that level and I’ve come off the bench four times for Stoke seven years ago before they got relegated.
“It’s always been my goal to be an established Premier League player. I want to get there with Stoke.
“And I will see my dad again one day — and I just want to make him proud of me.”
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