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Sol campbell5/31/2023 ![]() On this day in 2009, Sol Campbell left Notts County, having his contract terminated by mutual consent after playing just one game. Just a few days after his first appearance for the club, Campbell quit and walked out on the club after training on the Tuesday. Notts County gave their star a day off to consider his options, but he’d ran out patience and had clearly already made his mind up. He was reportedly unimpressed with the facilities at the training ground and also claimed that the pitch was not too hard as it wasn’t watered properly. The defeat seemingly brought home the reality of the situation for Campbell, and he had quickly become disillusioned with life in League Two. However, that appearance would prove to be the first and last time that Campbell was seen in a Notts County shirt. Morecambe’s aggressive and direct style of play also seemed to be an eye-opening experience for the defender as County conceded two goals from set-pieces in a 2-1 defeat.Ĭampbell had endured a torrid afternoon, but fans thought that surely things could only get better. ![]() The ageing and rundown surroundings of Christie Park were a world away from the facilities at the Emirates or Wembley.Ī 34-year-old Campbell was still struggling for fitness and appeared rusty and lost in the muck and mire of Christie Park. They were coming off a 5-2 win at Morecambe when Campbell made his much-anticipated debut on September 19 away against Morecambe, but it proved to be a brutal reality check.Īfter all, this was a player who had spent the entirety of his career in the Premier League and was accustomed to some of the world’s best stadiums. The debutįans would have to wait to see Campbell in action as he built up his fitness, but County had a promising start to the season without him, winning their first two games 5-0 and 4-0. “He’s a great player and a great organiser, and his experience will be invaluable to our push for promotion this season,” Ian McParland said. Even the manager jumped on board the bandwagon. Season ticket sales soared, while fans flooded the club shop to get a ‘Campbell 32’ shirt. I have been guaranteed that the club is going to move forward and I believe that all the people behind this, from the manager to the hierarchy, will make that an achievable aim.”Īt that stage, fans were riding a wave of unrivalled optimism. “I want to be a part of that and I am genuinely excited by what the club is trying to achieve. And what a fantastic dream to have to keep winning promotions and get Notts County back into the Premier League. “It’s a challenge, but I think everyone connected with the club is prepared for that. ![]() “I am confident that something special is being created at the club which will yield a club and a team able to match the ambitions of the new owners, management and proud fans,” he said. Speaking at his unveiling, Campbell insisted the move wasn’t about money, citing the romance behind what the new owners were trying to achieve as his motivation to join. His £40,000 a week salary was more than any other player in League Two received in a year. The deal was a remarkable coup: just three years earlier, the 34-year-old was playing at the World Cup and had scored in the Champions League final.Ĭampbell signed a lucrative four-year deal at Meadow Lane, with the option of a fifth year, and was reportedly set to earn £10million over the course of the contract. ![]() Overnight, the League Two side had become the Galacticos of the English fourth division.Īnd in August, County made a real statement of intent with their first (and last) high-profile signing in the shape of ex-England defender Sol Campbell. They stunned the world by unveiling former England manager Sven Goran Eriksson as their director of football and were soon linked with a host of famous internationals, including David Beckham, Luís Figo and Roberto Carlos. In June 2009, Middle Eastern consortium Munto Finance completed a multi-million pound takeover of Notts County and announced their ambition to lead the club to the Premier League in just a matter of years. The former Spurs and Arsenal defender had enjoyed an illustrious career, winning two Premier League titles and playing in six international tournaments for England.Īfter leaving Portsmouth at the end of 2008-09, Campbell rejected offers from several Premier League clubs, but nobody could have predicted his next move. These days most top footballers finish their careers with one last big payday in America or China – but in 2009 Sol Campbell took a slightly different route.
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