The Club learned yesterday of the death of former captain Jimmy Campbell (pictured in 1948), one of the classiest players in the Clyde teams of the 1940s and early 1950s.
“A superbly constructive half back who operated on the right” was how Tom Greig described Jimmy in the Clyde centenary brochure. Tom’s view of the experienced right half was formed in 1951. Five years earlier the S.F. A.’s international selectors acknowledged Jimmy’s abilities when he was picked to play for Scotland against Belgium in a 1946.post-uwar “Victory” international. It was the high point of his career.
Jimmy’s style of play has since been compared with another Clyde great, Archie Robertson. Apparently languid, Jimmy was still too fast for most of his opponents, but above all he had skill. This allied to a tremendous consistency of performance made Jimmy Campbell one of the finest players ever to wear the white shirt of the Bully Wee.
Eighty-three year old Jimmy died in his sleep on Friday night, having been ill for some time. His funeral will take place on Wednesday afternoon in Ayr.
Clyde Football Club extends the sincere condolences of everyone at Broadwood Stadium to Jimmy’s family.
