Dudley CAMPBELL (Blackburn Rovers)

D.O.B.

12/11/1981

Birthplace

Hammersmith

Height

1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)

Nickname

DJ

Position

SC

Signed

04/08/2011

Fee

Undisclosed

Former Clubs

QPR, Aston Villa, Chesham United, Stevenage Borough, Billericay Town (L), Yeading, Brentford, Birmingham City, Leicester City, Blackpool (L), Derby County (L), Blackpool

International

England C

Pen Pic

DJ Campbell's story to the Premier League is something out of a story book. Starting off his youth career at Loftus Road he ended up at Aston Villa where he was moved on afer three years in the midlands.

He built from the bottom at non-league Chesham United where he smashed 16 goals in 29 games, prompting upwardly-mobile Stevenage to snap up the forward.

Things did not go according to plan for DJ. He was loaned out to Billericay, where he netted six times. He moved out to the Ithsmian League with Yeading and really lit the spark of a promising career.

65 goals in 88 appearances for Campbell, including a game under the watchful eye of the TV cameras against Newcastle United in the FA Cup saw Brentford come in for his services.

Martin Allen paid £5k for Campbell who played 23 times before scoring a goal against Sunderland in the FA Cup to carry on a memorable run for the Bees.



It prompted Steve Bruce to shell out £500,000 for the forward, but it failed to yield the desired effect with Campbell scoring nine times in 43 appearances.

Leicester came calling again with Martin Allen buying Campbell back. The untimely demise the rapid firing of the ex-QPR man saw Campbell firmly in the cold at the Walkers Stadium and eyeing a move once more.

Several loan deals later to Blackpool and Derby County buoyed the striker who could not make it happen at Leicester - and he eventually signed for Blackpool.

The signature came off the back of a memorable promotion to the Premier League and despite Blackpool's immediate relegation, Campbell impressed many.

One of his long-term admirers was Neil Warnock, who snapped him up for QPR at the start of the 2011-12 campaign. A goal against Wolves was his only contribution as injuries and big-name signings saw him slip down the pecking order.

He was left behind as Rangers toured the far east pre-season prior to the 2012-13 campaign, paving the way for a potential departure.

A bright loan spell at Ipswich Town lifted his spirits, but he failed to impress Harry Redknapp in a couple of performances - he was loaned out to Blackburn Rovers until the end of the 2012-13 campaign. A foot injury curtailed his progress at Ewood Park.