Soccer: Coach hopes for taste of glory days

By TERRY MADDAFORD

Clive Campbell would be kidding himself if he attempted to compare the 1979 Mt Wellington team and the University/Mt Wellington side he now coaches.

That does not mean there will be any less satisfaction if his team, already confirmed as the top qualifiers for the playoffs, go on to win the inaugural Ansett national soccer club championship.

The Mt Wellington sides of the late 70s and early 80s are still regarded as the best since the national league kicked off in 1970.

The 1979 John Houghton-coached team won the national league by 14 points.

Under today's points system of three for a win, that margin would have been a staggering 24.

Campbell, who played for Blockhouse Bay in their 1970 league-cup double, switched to Mt Wellington in the mid-70s, became the first player to notch 200 national league appearances and was in the 1979 Mount team and the side that won the league-cup double the following year.

He then headed to Australia, wound down his international career - which included the early games of the 1982 World Cup campaign - and eventually drifted out of the game.

But, like so many footballing fathers, he was drawn back when his son, Jeff, started kicking a ball.

He returned to New Zealand and did a bit of coaching at non-league Onehunga Mangere before crossing the bridge and pitching in at the fledgling Rangitoto Club in Torbay.

Among the 8 and 9-year-olds chasing the ball were Campbell's son, Leigh Kenyon and Michael Buhagiar - these days all under Campbell's wing at University/Mt Wellington.

"I coached them right through and they won everything in sight," Campbell said.

"I went looking for a senior club on the Shore, but got nowhere. I rang Ronnie [former team-mate Ron Armstrong with whom he had won the 1980 double] and we ended up back at the Mount. Things have just gone on from there."

Like his father, Jeff Campbell is most comfortable in the midfield - with one major difference.

While Clive played most of his football in a central or right-sided role, Jeff is a natural left-footer.

Hour upon hour of hard work has also seen him develop into one of the best dead-ball specialists.

Virtually from the time he first kicked a ball for the Football Kingz last season, he was entrusted with free-kicks and corners.

Then came a problem. Campbell, his season with the Kingz over, was keen to return to University/Mt Wellington.

"I faced a bit of a dilemma," Clive Campbell said.

"We were on top of the league and I could see problems if he came back and went straight into the team."

Campbell talked it over with his assistant, Andy Brown, called in his senior players and put it to them.

"They were adamant I should get him back as soon as possible, even if it meant they could lose their place.

"My thoughts were a little the other way, but I went with them.

"In many ways, I have been lucky. Jeff is very easy to coach. I'm always the rowdy one and I'm probably a bit harder on him. But, at the same time, I'm immensely proud of what he has achieved."

Currently in Malaysia with the All Whites, Jeff Campbell, who will turn 21 on August 25, has mirrored much of what his father achieved.

While there will be no league-cup double this year, he could at least savour success with another Mt Wellington league win before heading across town to link up again with the Kingz.