Good guy v good guy on Boxing Day
Sunday, 26th Dec 2021“Dick and I always have a smile on our faces and we’re ready to see the funny side of things but speak to Dick about football and he knows what he’s talking about alright.
For members of the Dick Campbell Appreciation Society look no further than Dunfermline manager John Hughes. The Pars gaffer is always game for a laugh and he recalls as a player nicking the then Partick Thistle manager’s bunnet and donning it before he took a throw in. The 68 year old who is enjoying the sight of his Arbroath part timers topping the Championship at Christmas was acclaimed by Hughes as ‘one of the good guys in Scottish football’.
The pair meet head to head, not for the first time, on Boxing Day and the Pars boss revealed that he had received a call from Dick earlier in the week:-
“I actually had Dick on the phone a few days ago and it was priceless. I could barely get a word in — and I can talk! I have so much respect for him and everything he has achieved.
“He has to be in line for manager of the year, given what he has done with a part-time club. Sitting there, top of the league at Christmas, and he always seems to do it. Every time someone doubts him, he turns out results every year.”
Hughes and Campbell go back a long way with Dick being one of the tutors when John was doing his coaching badges. Hughes respect and admiration extends to Dick’s management team of Pink (Ian) Campbell and John Young and no one at Dunfermline needs reminding how lethal their side can be:-
“Put it this way, we’ve played Arbroath twice and they’ve gubbed us 3-0 and beaten us 4-2 so we know what we are up against. They are top of the league for a reason and are deserving of all the accolades they are getting.
“Away from the laughs and the jokes, there’s a serious side to football, and I think we both have that. I have so much respect for Dick, I cannot speak highly enough of him.”
Dick Campbell was appointed manager of Arbroath in March 2016. He led the "Red Lichties" to the Scottish League Two title in his first full season. In his second season, Arbroath finished 3rd and were narrowly beaten in the Championship play off semi final against Dumbarton. He then led Arbroath to the Scottish League One title in the 2018–19 season. Hughes hopes that Dick is able to be at East End Park on Sunday:-
“I know he’s been off with the Covid but he’s one of the good guys in Scottish football. Dick and I always have a smile on our faces and we’re ready to see the funny side of things but speak to Dick about football and he knows what he’s talking about alright. He knows this game like the back of his hand.
“I’ll always remember when he was manager of Partick Thistle. I was still playing for Falkirk and the ball went out for a throw-in while he was right at the touchline. So, I grabbed his bunnet and put it on my head to take the throw-in.
“He loves all that and you always knew you could have a laugh with him. That’s a big part of football and management. We don’t mind being in amongst it, having the people laughing at us, and we laugh at them. If it brings a spirit to the club then that’s a massive part of football. It is communication, comedy and joke that lets you get to know your players.”
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