William (Billy) Campbell
There was sad news today as we learnt, with deep regret, of the passing of one of the “greats” from our 1962/1963 Irish League winning side, Billy Campbell, who was 81 years of age.
The respected winger also went on to gain six international caps with Northern Ireland.
William Gibson Campbell played his first game for Distillery at The Brandywell, on 29th April 1961, in a 0-1 defeat by Derry City. His first goal for The Whites was against Glenavon (a 2-2 draw) at Grosvenor Park on 03rd March 1962, and a month later he was capped at Youth International level.
The outside-right scored two goals against Ballymena United in the semi-finals of the 1963 Irish Cup, but didn’t play in the final against Linfield where Distillery were extremely unfortunate to lose 2-1.
However he etched his name in Distillery’s history several weeks later on the 18th May 1963 when The Whites beat Linfield 4-2 at Grosvenor Park to win the Irish League and lift the Gibson Cup.
Billy scored two of those goals, one from the penalty spot. and many decades later it was great to be able to watch highlights from that game on a specially produced CD. And at the end of the 1963 season he was capped at Junior and Amateur International levels against Scotland, and he played for the Irish League against the Italian League in Arezzo.
His only Distillery hat-trick was against Ards (January 1964), and he scored the winning goal against Glentoran when we won the County Antrim Shield that same season (2-1). Further Amateur International caps were awarded for appearances against Wales and Scotland (where he scored) and once again he represented the Irish League, this time against the League of Ireland.
He scored in his last game for Distillery against Bangor (a 2-2 draw in the City Cup – 05th September 1964) before being transferred to Sunderland for £10,000 (about £180,000 in today’s money).
Billy made 70 appearances for Distillery and scored 25 goals between 1960/61 and 1964/65.
After Distillery, he played for Sunderland, Dundee (where he gained his international caps) and Motherwell. He then returned to Northern Ireland and an 18 months stint as player-manager at Linfield where he guided them to 1974/75 league title.
We were delighted to last see him at the club in March 2013 when he travelled from Scotland to New Grosvenor Stadium to attend a 50th Anniversary Dinner for that famous Irish league-winning Distillery team. He is pictured at that event.
At this very sad time we extend our very deepest sympathies to Billy’s family, family-circle and friends. He will be remembered fondly.
