Dick Campbell (footballer, born 1953)

Did You Know?

• Campbell started his playing career in Dundee United's youth system.
• He played for Ross County when the club was in the Highland League.

Coaching career

Campbell has accumulated over 1,300 matches as an assistant manager or manager in Scottish football, winning four Manager of the Year awards and more than 40 Manager of the Month awards. His first managerial role was a brief stint at Cowdenbeath in 1987, after which he returned to coaching at Brechin City. He then became Bert Paton's assistant at Dunfermline Athletic, where they secured promotion in the 1995–96 Scottish First Division and achieved the club's highest league position in the new format, finishing fifth in the 1996–97 Scottish Premier Division.

Their team was noted for an adventurous attacking style and for handling the period following captain Norrie McCathie's death. When Paton resigned in early 1999, Campbell took temporary charge and was later made permanent manager, but left before the end of the year despite Dunfermline being top of the First Division, after new owners decided against keeping him. After several months out of the game, Campbell became Brechin City manager in 2000, with Paton as his assistant.

Over five seasons, he guided the part-time club from the Third Division to the First Division. In 2005, he moved to Partick Thistle to work with full-time players. He took over after Gerry Britton and Derek Whyte's joint reign, won a Manager of the Month award within a month, but the team finished ninth in 2004–05 and was relegated. The following season, Campbell led Thistle to promotion via the play-offs after a fourth-place finish in the Second Division. He was praised for signing Simon Donnelly in 2006–07, but a poor run led to his dismissal on 27 March 2007.

Personal life

Dick Campbell grew up in Hill of Beath. His twin brother Ian also played and managed in football. The pair spent years working side by side at Dunfermline, where Ian coached, and at Brechin City, where Ian served as Dick's joint-assistant. When Dick moved to manage Partick Thistle, Ian took charge at Brechin. They later reunited at Forfar, with Ian as assistant, and again at Arbroath. Campbell's son Iain, a left-back, left Alloa Athletic in 2009 to play for his father at Forfar, joining his brother Ross, who was already there. In the 2023 Birthday Honours, Campbell received the British Empire Medal for his contributions to football and the Angus community.