‘Rocket’ Campbell reflects on his senior career

WHEN Ryan Campbell quit senior football to sign for NFC Kesh last week the veteran striker was returning to where it all started – back in the Fermanagh and Western League.

Some 20 years ago a young Campbell’s goalscoring exploits came to the attention of others while playing for Killen Rangers. He joined Linfield Swifts and for the past two decades he has been banging in the goals right, left and centre during spells at Dergview, Institute and Ballinamallard United.

It seems he has spent a lifetime playing in the Championship and the Premiership and there was barely a season that went by that ‘Rocket’, as he is affectionately known, didn’t hit the 20-goal mark.

In terms of the numbers and his longevity at that level he’s been arguably one of, if not the best striker the local game has ever seen.

Season after season the sharpshooter delivered the goods and despite turning 40 next month his new club NFC Kesh will be hoping there’s plenty of life left in the old dog yet!

Work and family commitments are the main reasons for Rocket’s decision to take a step down but insists he is not ready to go out to grass just yet.

“I started out at Killen all those years ago and there was a suggestion by some that I would go back there for a season before I would retire but I signed for Kesh because the club is just five minutes from my house,” said Campbell.

“ I can still train two nights a week and keep in good shape. Kesh have a decent wee team and for me it certainly won’t be a case of going out and going through the motions every Saturday. I still have the desire to win things. I still want to push on. I think they were saying that Kesh hasn’t won a trophy in 20 years so it would be nice to push on and help them get that trophy.”

In an interview with this newspaper during lockdown Campbell hinted that his playing days at senior level were numbered.

Even when restrictions were relaxed and it was confirmed that the Mallards’ Irish Cup game against his former club Dergview would go ahead, Campbell admits that he wasn’t feeling the usual level of excitement.

Following discussions with Ducks boss Harry McConkey, the attacker played that much-anticipated cup-tie but defeat brought yet another break and that left the striker contemplating his future at Ferney Park.

“I had a notion in my head for a long time and even before the Irish Cup this year I had texted Harry letting him know that I wasn’t feeling it and I thought it was time to step back,” he continued.

“He convinced me to come back and give the Irish Cup a go and see how I felt. I was glad to get back but with the break then again I couldn’t shake the feeling that I had.

“I’ve had a good run, I’m 39 now so my time has come.”

Over the best part of two decades Campbell has experienced his fair share of highs and lows but the one constant was his goals. Almost without fail he hit the 20-goal mark.

In one season at Institute the talisman netted 26 and in another at Darragh Park he bagged 28.

FULL STORY IN LAST WEEK’S ULSTER HERALD