The Irish Football Association is saddened to hear of the passing of former international Billy Campbell.
Campbell won six caps at senior international level, scoring once. He also picked up three Under-23 caps and was capped three times and scored once for the Northern Ireland Amateur international side.
Born and raised on Belfast’s Shankill Road, Billy came through the Distillery ranks to make his first team debut in April 1961 aged 16 and would go on to win a league title with the Whites as well as a Co Antrim Shield. He also played against Portuguese giants Benfica when Distillery famously drew 3-3 against them at home in the first round of the European Cup (first leg).
He moved from the Whites to Sunderland in September 1964 before moving to Scotland in 1966, signing for Dundee. In 1967 he helped the club to the League Cup final where they lost out to Celtic.
Billy made his senior debut for Northern Ireland in October 1967 on the right wing in the famous 1-0 ‘hammering’ of Scotland at Windsor Park when George Best, on the left wing, tore the Scots apart.
Two years later it was Campbell’s turn to be the star of the show, this time in a 4-1 win over Turkey in which he scored his only international goal.
Within days of the Turkey match Campbell suffered a dislocated hip playing for Dundee in a match against Hearts. It was an injury that meant he was never the same player, causing him pain for the remainder of his career.
Midway through the 1969-70 season he signed for Motherwell. His wing trickery endeared him to the Fir Park support.
In March 1974, after four and a half seasons with Motherwell, Campbell was appointed player-manager of Linfield.
Campbell spent a successful 18 months at Windsor Park, leading the Blues to the Irish League title in 1975.
He then returned to Scotland, finishing his senior playing career with Hamilton Academical. He later played with Lossiemouth in the Scottish Highland League and was briefly coach at Motherwell.
The Association sends its sincere condolences to Billy’s family circle at this sad time.