A team-mate of both Tom Finney and Stan Matthews
Leslie (Les) Campbell 1935-2019
Les Campbell was that rare breed of player who, at some point in his professional football career, was a team-mate of those great friends and rivals Tom Finney and Stan Matthews. He played with Finney at Preston North End and Matthews during his relatively short spell at Blackpool.
He was born at Wigan on 26 July 1935 and after junior football, as a winger, playing either outside left or outside right, he was offered trials at Football League club Notts County but he chose not to sign for them. Instead he joined Crompton Recreation's FC before moving to Lancashire Combination side, Wigan Athletic. He played only five games for Wigan Athletic before he was spotted by Preston North End, who signed him in June 1953 for a fee of £1,250. He went on to play 64 League games, scoring six goals, for Preston. He had also been a regular member of the RAF team during his national service days.
After seven seasons at the club Preston transferred him to Blackpool for a fee of £1,500 on 9 July 1960. Blackpool considered Stan Matthews to be coming to the end of his career (how wrong they were!) and with outside left Bill Perry injured, Campbell, being capable of playing on either wing, was an ideal substitute for either of them. His weekly wage at Blackpool was to be £16 in the summer, £17 in the winter plus an extra £3 when playing in the first team.
He made his League debut for Blackpool at outside left against Leicester City on 20 August 1960 when the game was drawn 1-1. He played in the following game against Tottenham Hotspur on 22 August 1960 but then an injury, that he was later to say he carrying when he signed for Blackpool, kept him out of the following three League games. He returned to action in a 4-1 defeat by Everton on 5 September 1960.
He was in and out of the side for the following few League games but he did play in Blackpool’s first-ever League Cup tie against Leeds United on 28 September 1960 when the game was drawn 0-0. He also played in the replay on 5 October 1960 (a game that I attended) when Blackpool lost 3-1.
Perry returned after injury so he was left out of the side until what turned out to be his final League game at outside left for Blackpool, an exciting 4-3 defeat by Newcastle United at St James's Park on 12 November 1960 (another game I attended and well remember Newcastle's very late winner). Thereafter he played irregularly in the Central League side until being recalled to League action to replace the injured Matthews at outside right.
His first game in that position proved to be the first victory he experienced as a Blackpool player after having appeared in the side on 10 previous occasions. Blackpool defeated West Ham United 3-0 on 4 February 1961. With Matthews out for two further games, he played in a 2-2 draw with Chelsea and then, ironically, what turned out to be his final League game for Blackpool was against his former club Preston North End on18 February 1961 when Preston won 1-0.
With Blackpool having then signed the flying South African winger Des Horne and with Matthews being fit once again, his place in the side looked in jeopardy. Reluctantly, therefore, the directors decided to place him on the transfer list on 10 March 1961. And after the 1960/61 season he was transferred to Tranmere Rovers for a fee of £900 on 13 June 1961. He had played 11 League games and two Football League Cup games during his one-season stay at Bloomfield Road and in addition he had played 19 Central League games, scoring two goals. He did receive £100 as his share of the transfer fee.
During his time at Blackpool he had become friendly with Stan Matthews and when Matthews went to Toronto and later to Africa he wanted to take Les with him on both occasions but Campbell chose not to go. And after Matthews had returned to Stoke City in October 1961, he later approached Campbell about joining the Potters but once again Campbell declined the offer.
He remained three seasons with Tranmere Rovers and he played 99 League games, scoring nine goals, for the club up to his departure at the end of the 1963/64 season, when his persistent knee injury ended his League career. Overall he had made 174 League appearances, scoring 15 goals, for his three clubs.
He later played for Wigan Athletic, under former Blackpool player Allan Brown, Altrincham, where he was captain for three years, Oswestry and Netherfield [Kendal], where he was player-manager. He had a sparkling career in non-league football and won the Cheshire League title three seasons in succession, once with Wigan Athletic and twice with Altrincham.
On his retirement from football he returned to his trade as an electrician and in later life he became a church organist.
He died on 10 November 2019.
Les Campbell was that rare breed of player who, at some point in his professional football career, was a team-mate of those great friends and rivals Tom Finney and Stan Matthews. He played with Finney at Preston North End and Matthews during his relatively short spell at Blackpool.
He was born at Wigan on 26 July 1935 and after junior football, as a winger, playing either outside left or outside right, he was offered trials at Football League club Notts County but he chose not to sign for them. Instead he joined Crompton Recreation's FC before moving to Lancashire Combination side, Wigan Athletic. He played only five games for Wigan Athletic before he was spotted by Preston North End, who signed him in June 1953 for a fee of £1,250. He went on to play 64 League games, scoring six goals, for Preston. He had also been a regular member of the RAF team during his national service days.
After seven seasons at the club Preston transferred him to Blackpool for a fee of £1,500 on 9 July 1960. Blackpool considered Stan Matthews to be coming to the end of his career (how wrong they were!) and with outside left Bill Perry injured, Campbell, being capable of playing on either wing, was an ideal substitute for either of them. His weekly wage at Blackpool was to be £16 in the summer, £17 in the winter plus an extra £3 when playing in the first team.
He made his League debut for Blackpool at outside left against Leicester City on 20 August 1960 when the game was drawn 1-1. He played in the following game against Tottenham Hotspur on 22 August 1960 but then an injury, that he was later to say he carrying when he signed for Blackpool, kept him out of the following three League games. He returned to action in a 4-1 defeat by Everton on 5 September 1960.
He was in and out of the side for the following few League games but he did play in Blackpool’s first-ever League Cup tie against Leeds United on 28 September 1960 when the game was drawn 0-0. He also played in the replay on 5 October 1960 (a game that I attended) when Blackpool lost 3-1.
Perry returned after injury so he was left out of the side until what turned out to be his final League game at outside left for Blackpool, an exciting 4-3 defeat by Newcastle United at St James's Park on 12 November 1960 (another game I attended and well remember Newcastle's very late winner). Thereafter he played irregularly in the Central League side until being recalled to League action to replace the injured Matthews at outside right.
His first game in that position proved to be the first victory he experienced as a Blackpool player after having appeared in the side on 10 previous occasions. Blackpool defeated West Ham United 3-0 on 4 February 1961. With Matthews out for two further games, he played in a 2-2 draw with Chelsea and then, ironically, what turned out to be his final League game for Blackpool was against his former club Preston North End on18 February 1961 when Preston won 1-0.
With Blackpool having then signed the flying South African winger Des Horne and with Matthews being fit once again, his place in the side looked in jeopardy. Reluctantly, therefore, the directors decided to place him on the transfer list on 10 March 1961. And after the 1960/61 season he was transferred to Tranmere Rovers for a fee of £900 on 13 June 1961. He had played 11 League games and two Football League Cup games during his one-season stay at Bloomfield Road and in addition he had played 19 Central League games, scoring two goals. He did receive £100 as his share of the transfer fee.
During his time at Blackpool he had become friendly with Stan Matthews and when Matthews went to Toronto and later to Africa he wanted to take Les with him on both occasions but Campbell chose not to go. And after Matthews had returned to Stoke City in October 1961, he later approached Campbell about joining the Potters but once again Campbell declined the offer.
He remained three seasons with Tranmere Rovers and he played 99 League games, scoring nine goals, for the club up to his departure at the end of the 1963/64 season, when his persistent knee injury ended his League career. Overall he had made 174 League appearances, scoring 15 goals, for his three clubs.
He later played for Wigan Athletic, under former Blackpool player Allan Brown, Altrincham, where he was captain for three years, Oswestry and Netherfield [Kendal], where he was player-manager. He had a sparkling career in non-league football and won the Cheshire League title three seasons in succession, once with Wigan Athletic and twice with Altrincham.
On his retirement from football he returned to his trade as an electrician and in later life he became a church organist.
He died on 10 November 2019.
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