Shooting for socrates
Story of Northern Ireland’s JOHN LYONS on the incredible inspired... David Campbell – and the film it
David Campbell’s amazing story
IF YOU had the chance to make your full international debut against any opposition in any tournament, chances are that Brazil in the World Cup would be somewhere near the top of your list.
Well, David Campbell actually did it just ten days after turning 21 in 1986 – not a bad belated birthday present.
The midfielder went from being a virtual unknown at Nottingham Forest to playing against the Samba stars on the biggest stage of them all – and now his amazing story has inspired a film.
The gala premiere of ‘Shooting for Socrates’ took place at the Belfast Film Festival last month. The World Cup was present on the big night as well as most of the Northern Ireland squad of ’86.
It’s a far cry from early in the World Cup year when Campbell was trying to make his mark under the legendary Brian Clough at Forest – and gatecrash Billy Bingham’s squad for Mexico.
He recalled:“Martin O’Neill got injured and there was one place left in the 22. Billy Bingham came to watch me against Arsenal and Manchester City and I scored.
“Then I got called up for Northern Ireland for the last friendly at home before the World Cup against Morocco. I was playing for Forest against Watford on the Monday and the Northern Ireland game was just two days later on the Wednesday.
“Northern Ireland’s John McClelland was playing for Watford and I was up against him. He kicked lumps out of me all night!
“Cloughie said ‘Well done, you can go now’. Then Billy Bingham put me on as sub against Morocco for 30 minutes and I had a stormer.
“I was shattered afterwards, but I felt a lot better when I spoke to Billy. He said they were having a photo-call and recording the song for Mexico ’86 the following day – he said,‘Why don’t you come along?’”
It was a few weeks later when Campbell got the official call from Bingham to say he was in the squad, but even then he thought it was his pals back home winding him up.
Campbell sat out Northern Ireland’s opening two games against Algeria (1-1) and Spain (1-2), but then got the nod for the biggest match of all – against Brazil in Guadalajara.
Brazil had the likes of Socrates, Muller, Careca, Branco and Junior in their ranks – and Zico came off the bench! As it is, the favourites triumphed 3-0 with goals from Careca (two) and Josimar.
But Campbell said:“It’s every boy’s dream to play for their country and it doesn’t get much better than making your full debut against the best team in the world.
“I was opposite Socrates in the tunnel before the game. He looked across and must have known it was my debut. He reached for my hand and said,‘Good luck’. My arse was going already.
“Sunlight was shining down the tunnel and we walked up the steps into a cauldron of noise. It was like something out of Gladiator.
“There was the heat and altitude, the Brazilians looked impressive in their gold shirts and there we were, white-faced, pasty lads.
“You can’t breathe and you’re thinking,‘How are we going to face them’.
“I was playing right-wing and Jimmy Nichol was behind me. I asked him how we were going to play it, if he was going to get up in support and he just said,‘I don’t think I’ll be doing much overlapping!’
“It was Pat Jennings’ last-ever match and he turned round to me afterwards and said,‘It’s all downhill from here, it doesn’t get any better than this’.
“I was at Forest and thought I had the world at my feet, but what true words they were.”
On his return to Forest duty after Mexico ’86 had ended, Campbell was quickly brought down to earth by Clough.
He recalled:“I was lucky enough to play for two gods of football in Billy Bingham and Brian Clough. Cloughie was amazing – you couldn’t get big-headed with him around.
“He always called me ‘Irish’ and in preseason he said,‘Irish, congratulations on playing in the World Cup, but don’t be thinking you’ve cracked it.”
They turned out to be prophetic words because Campbell never really hit the same heights after that.