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Kevin Campbell was the man that Frank Clark turned to following the
departure of Stan Collymore and a deal was done with Arsenal to the tune
of £2, 500, 000. Filling crowd favourite Collymore's boots was never
going to be an easy task and, troubled by injuries, Campbell endured
something of a nightmare first season. His 21 league appearances
produced just three goals, although he did manage a further three in the
F.A. Cup. One bright spot was his first goal for the Reds, as it came
in a 1-1 draw against former club Arsenal at Highbury in August. The
1997/98 campaign was one to forget for both club and player as Forest
crashed out of the Premiership and Campbell, once again hampered by
injuries, managed just 17 League appearances.
It had all looked so
different on the opening day of the season as Forest romped home 3-0 at
Coventry City with a lean looking Campbell bagging a stunning hat-trick.
Things went downhill from there, however, as the Reds went 17 League
games without a win and suffered the inevitable relegation. The Forest
faithful finally saw what the muscular hit-man was capable of during the
club's immediate return to the top-flight. He formed a lethal
partnership with Dutchman Pierre Van Hooijdonk, with Campbell
contributing 23 of the pairs 52 League goals.
The powerful striker
looked a completely different player from those first two injury-hit
seasons and his goals helped Forest carry off the First Division title.
For reasons best known to themselves the Forest board then sold Campbell
to Turkish club Trabzonspor for a fee of £3, 000, 000 but it proved to
be a short stay and the Londoner was back in the Premiership with
Everton in March 1999. (David Scranage)
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