March 23, 1988
A lad from Liverpool’s Scotland Road area was today handed the tough job of keeping Chelsea in the First Division. Bobby Campbell, who started his football life kicking a ball about Penrhyn Street, went to St. Anthony’s School and played for Liverpool Boys.
Now he takes over as caretaker manager of the strife-torn club until the end of the season after the departure of John Hollins last night.
Back on Merseyside, there will be plenty of support for 50-year-old Campbell, especially from his mother in Tuebrook.
Bobby is married to a former Miss Liverpool, Susan Pritchard. They have a daughter and three sons, the eldest of whom, Greg, had a spell with West Ham and is now playing on the Continent.
A youth international Campbell made 14 League appearances with Liverpool before joining Wigan in 1961. He returned to League football at Portsmouth, where he spent five seasons, them moved on to Aldershot.
At 30, he quit playing to become assistant trainer-coach with Portsmouth, became coach at Queens Park Rangers and in 1973 coach at Arsenal in succession to Steve Burtenshaw.
He later became Fulham manager, where he built a team for around £300,000 in three years.
Among his managerial chores have been handling stars like Bobby Moore and George Best in their veteran days.
He also managed Portsmouth where he was succeeded by the youth team coach, Alan Ball.
The split with Hollins was the only way out following events which had left his position untenable.
First there was the dismissal, against Hollins’ wishes, of coach Ernie Whalley, and the appointment of Campbell in his place.
Then chairman Ken Bates a £1,2 million deal which would have taken striker Kerry Dixon to Arsenal.
Campbell will be looking to put Chelsea back on course starting against Southampton on Saturday.
Hollins, meanwhile, is expected to collect £100,000.
(Source: Liverpool Echo: March 23, 1988)
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