The Thistle Archive

Wee John Campbell was a dual-sided winger of some renown and had two personally succesful spells with Thistle, playing two full seasons at Inchview between 1894 and 1896 then a full season at Meadowside in 1906-07. His good form had led to a move to Blackburn Rovers in the close season of 1896, and he made his Football League debut against WBA that September. He missed only 5 matches over the next two seasons and, although he did well, it was always a struggle at Rovers in the lower reaches of the First Division. The summer of 1898 brought a move back to Glasgow, with Rangers. At Ibrox, he gained the most success in his career, playing a big role in four successive league titles (1898–99, 1899–1900, 1900–01 and 1901–02). John was a near ever-present (16/18) when Rangers returned a 100% win rate in the first of these. John won four Scottish international caps whilst at Rangers, netting a double in Scotland's biggest ever win – an 11–0 defeat of Ireland in February 1901.

John was sold to West Ham in 1902 to raise funds following the Ibrox disaster. He was a regular in the West Ham forward line in 1902-03, but did not score his first goal until his 15th game. Manager Syd King was unimpressed and he was allowed to leave the club in 1903. John spent the best part of three seasons back in the Scottish top-flight with Hibernian, before a spell in the English Southern League at New Brompton from the winter of 1905-06. He rejoined Thistle in June, 1906. Interestingly, John played alongside John Wilkie at four clubs; Partick Thistle, Blackburn Rovers, Rangers and Hibernian. John remained a registered Thistle player until he retired in 1910, although convivial arrangements were made with Bo’ness and Dumbarton Harp in his last few playing seasons. After his football career he became a ship's steward, but died aged just 41 from tuberculosis.