Geordie Campbell

George Campbell... sports family (soccer son Bill “Bus”, hockey curator grandson Craig)... he was 19 years old when he emigrated from Scotland to Canada in September 1903... he was 67 years old when he passed away in Toronto on 21 February 1952 (he was buried at Westminster Memorial Park Cemetery)... his great grandson served as a ball boy at the FIFA U-20 World Cup Canada 2007...

posthumously honoured by the Canada Soccer Hall of Fame as a player (one of the first 11 former players honoured as part of The Soccer Hall of Fame’s inaugural Class of 2000)... was honoured on 29 September 1928 with a Testimonial Match at Ulster Stadium... named in his honour, Toronto & District League’s Campbell Cup was a knock-out competition... in 1950, he was one of 16 footballers shortlisted in a Best in 50 Years poll by The Canadian Press (Geordie Campbell and Art Halliwell were runners up to Dave Turner by a single vote)... as part of Canada Soccer’s Centennial in 2012, recognised in the Best XI from 50 Years (1912-1962)...

in 1924, served as Toronto captain in a testimonial match for Hamilton’s Albert “Tiny” Thombs...

as noted in 1912 in the Toronto Telegram, “regarded as the best right back in the Dominion”... wrote Billy Fenton in 1921 in the Toronto Telegram, Campbell proved he was “the strongest link on the Ossington Avenue team that would bind Scottish and the Connaught Cup together; now that he has earned his championship medal he can retire with honours heavy upon his shoulders, but I believe that blessed with good health he will take the field next year and assist Scottish to defend their title”... once noted as “highly regarded .. as noted in 1923 in the Toronto Telegram, he was “one of the best known players in Canada; 10 years ago Campbell and Billy Brownlie were regarded as the best defence pair in the Dominion; he may have lost a little of his speed, but the old skill is still there, too much so for a majority of the younger players; he is a good veteran, but good for years yet”... wrote Jack Sullivan in 1950, “many soccer fans look on Campbell as one of the greatest fullbacks ever to play in this country”...

as noted in 1952 after his passing, he was “renowned as the best rightback to ever play in Canada”...