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Sky Sports News’ Alan Myers pays emotional tribute to ex-Everton striker after his death aged 54

Former Arsenal, Everton and Nottingham Forest striker Kevin Campbell has died aged 54; he scored 148 goals in 542 club games across an almost 20-year career at the top; Sky Sports News’ Alan Myers pays tribute to his “good friend” and “a gentleman with a big heart”

Football is a strange game, you meet many people and have many acquaintances but the transient nature of the business means you lose touch with most of those you work with.

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But, with a very select few people it’s different, they leave an indelible mark on you. Kevin Campbell was one of those people.

Kevin’s personality, his character and his love was a commitment, he never allowed you to lose touch, he would make sure he called you regularly to merely ask, ‘How are you?’, or if you were doing ok. It was a genuine interest, not a call because he had a long car journey to get through, not a call because he wanted something, but he called as a friend.

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I first met Kevin when he joined Everton in 1999 on loan after a spell in Turkey with Trabzonspor. Walter Smith gave me a call to say we had signed both Kevin and Scott Gemmill on Transfer Deadline Day – little did we know how big an impact he was to have over the next few months.

Everton were in a bit of trouble at the wrong end of the table and suffered from a lack of goals. Kev’s impact was crucial in the club staying in the Premier League that season as he scored nine goals in eight games to lift them away from trouble, but it was his effect within the dressing room which was most telling. His positivity was infectious and brought the very best out of everyone at the club, players, staff and even the press officer. I started to enjoy my job again!

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Walter made the no-brainer decision to sign Kevin permanently the following summer for £3m – an absolute bargain looking back now. Kevin continued to be a huge character around the training ground and throughout the club.

However, it wasn’t what the public saw which left a lasting impression on me, it was who and what he was behind the scenes which meant more and why he became such a good friend.