Ross can chart rise back to his time at Spartans

Published on Thursday 26 November 2009 08:37

A FAMILIAR face will line up for the opposition when Spartans take on Forfar Athletic in the Active Nation Scottish Cup third round on Saturday – and what's more, it will belong to Scotland's top goalscorer!

Ross Campbell, the former Heriot-Watt University and Spartans player, has scored 11 league goals for the Station Park club, currently sitting in fourth place in the Third Division.

The striker has also scored two Scottish Cup goals plus another two in the Co-operative Insurance Cup to take his tally to an impressive 15 for the season so far – a strike rate matched only by only Norwich City's Grant Holt in the whole of Britain.

"I'm fairly happy with my goals tally so far," said Campbell, ahead of the weekend clash against his former club. "I always scored ten or more goals per season from midfield although I don't suppose I could ever be called a prolific goalscorer.

"I have been very fortunate to have played in some great sides at Heriot-Watt, Spartans and now Forfar.

"I know and am friends with so many people at Spartans that it will be quite strange lining up against them on Saturday. I found out the draw had brought us together when I was coaching Heriot-Watt 2nds against Edinburgh University, who are coached by Spartans' Dan Gerrard. He received a text in the middle of our game and told me we were playing each other. It seems really weird but nonetheless it is a good draw."

The game will be played at Ainslie Park where Campbell has only played once before, a pre-season testimonial game for former colleague Mark Burns. "I know that all the players and supporters of Forfar will be impressed with Spartans' facilities," added Campbell.

"However, our intention is to get as far as we can in the Scottish Cup. Last season, we played Rangers live on Sky Sports in the fifth round and I know how good that felt.

"We know that it will be difficult because every SFL club in Scotland knows about the reputation of Spartans.

"My intention is to score and help Forfar into the next round but before then the manager has to pick me!"

Forfar's manager is, of course, Ross' dad, Dick Campbell, who has had a long managerial career with Cowdenbeath, Dunfermline Athletic, Brechin City, Partick Thistle and Ross County.

"I enjoy working with my dad, my uncle Ian, who is assistant manager, and my brother Iain, who also plays at Forfar.

"I'm 26 and mature enough to work alongside them.

"We know that Spartans will have prepared well and they will be really up for the game. Their players want to play in big games and everybody at Forfar is of the same opinion so we are looking forward to three o'clock on Saturday afternoon." Dick Campbell, ironically, was the Master of Ceremonies at Spartans' Annual Dinner last Sunday and said: "Ross is the top goalscorer in Scotland yet he was a substitute last Saturday when we beat Elgin City 2-0 so, if even he can't make it into our team, Spartans have a problem!"