Achille Campion

Achille Pierre Camille Campion (born 10 March 1990) is a French former footballer who played as a forward.

Achille Campion
Personal information
Full name Achille Pierre Camille Campion[1]
Date of birth (1990-03-10) 10 March 1990[2]
Place of birth Levallois-Perret, France[2]
Height 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)[3]
Position(s) Forward
Youth career
2004–2010 USL Dunkerque
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2010–2011 Belhaven Blazers 36 (21)
2012–2013 UC Santa Barbara Gauchos 25 (13)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2011 Baton Rouge Capitals 15 (10)
2012–2013 Ventura County Fusion 1 (0)
2014 Norrby IF 6 (1)
2014 → Port Vale (loan) 2 (0)
2015–2016 Port Vale 10 (1)
2015 → Torquay United (loan) 3 (0)
2016 Sligo Rovers 11 (4)
2016–2018 Cork City 17 (1)
2018 → Linfield (loan) 15 (2)
2018 St Patrick's Athletic 5 (2)
Total 85 (21)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

He played youth football for USL Dunkerque, before playing college football in the United States for Belhaven Blazers, UC Santa Barbara Gauchos, Baton Rouge Capitals, and Ventura County Fusion. He signed with English club Port Vale via Swedish club Norrby IF in 2014. He was loaned out to Torquay United in November 2015, and after being released by Port Vale signed with Irish club Sligo Rovers in August 2016. He switched to Cork City three months later, and helped the club to win the League of Ireland Premier Division, the FAI Cup, and the President of Ireland's Cup in the 2017 season. He joined Linfield on loan in January 2018, before transferring to St Patrick's Athletic in August 2018.

Early life and education

Campion was born on 10 March 1990 in Levallois-Perret, France.[4][5] He played in the youth sides of USL Dunkerque from 2004 through 2010 and captained the under-18s in the Coupe Gambardella.[5][6]

He left his native France to attend college in the United States at Belhaven University in Jackson, Mississippi. He was a student-athlete, playing for the Belhaven Blazers men's soccer team while on campus. In his two years there, he appeared in 36 games for the Blazers, scoring 21 goals and assisting on 5 others.[7] Campion then enrolled at the University of California, Santa Barbara, where he played for the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos men's soccer team for his final two years of eligibility. With the Gauchos, he appeared in 25 games, collecting 13 goals and 3 assists.[8][9]

After ending his playing career in 2018, he went on to further his education by studying for a master's degree in Business Administration.[10]

Playing career

Amateur US clubs

Campion played with amateur USL Premier Development League sides Baton Rouge Capitals and Ventura County Fusion while in college.[11][12] While with Baton Rouge, he appeared in 15 games and scored 10 goals with 3 assists.[13] Campion was named to the PDL's Southern Conference Team of the Year in the 2011 season.[14] He stayed two seasons with Ventura County, but only appeared in one game without recording any points.[15][16]

Norrby IF

Campion signed with Swedish Division 1 side Norrby IF in 2013 after leaving UC Santa Barbara and made his debut on 21 April 2014, scoring in extra time.[17]

Despite being under contract at Norrby IF, Campion went on a number of trials in Summer 2014 with Sheffield Wednesday,[18] Yeovil Town,[19] Ipswich Town,[20] and Bradford City.[21]

Port Vale

He was signed on-loan by Port Vale on a deal until 1 January 2015.[22][23] A thigh injury caused a delay in his debut for the club,[24] but made his first appearance with the Port Vale Reserves on 15 October 2014 in a 5–1 win over Wigan Reserves with Campion scoring twice.[25] He made his debut in the Football League on 29 November, coming on for Ben Williamson 81 minutes into a 2–2 draw at Gillingham.[26] His transfer to Port Vale from Norrby was made permanent on 2 January 2015.[27] Manager Rob Page handed him an 18-month contract and stated that he hoped to turn the player into an asset for the club.[28] He scored his first goal in professional football at Vale Park on 7 February, in a 2–2 draw with Bradford City.[29] After the game Page defended his decision to restrict Campion's playing time despite his success at reserve level, saying he did not want to "throw him in the deep end straight away".[30]

Page announced he would look to loan him out at the start of the 2015–16 season as Uche Ikpeazu, Louis Dodds, Ebo Andoh and A-Jay Leitch-Smith were all preferred ahead of Campion on the opening day of the season, and JJ Hooper also joined the club two days later.[31] He began training with National League side Torquay United on 22 October,[32] and agreed a one-month loan deal with the club seven days later after "Gulls" manager Kevin Nicholson was impressed by his character.[33] After making one substitute appearance he had a chance to establish himself in the first team following a three-game suspension to Tyrone Marsh.[34] However, he broke his nose on his second start for the club and had to be taken off early in the second half, and the injury then left him unable to feature for the rest of his loan spell.[35] He was released by Port Vale in May 2016.[36] Chairman Norman Smurthwaite used Twitter to express his view that Campion had been treated unfairly by former manager Page and said he hoped to bring the striker back for pre-season.[37]

Ireland

Campion signed with League of Ireland Premier Division club Sligo Rovers in August 2016.[38] Manager Dave Robertson said that "he really fits what we're looking for" as Campion scored on his debut, in a 5–0 win over Wexford Youths on 5 August.[39]

He signed with Cork City in November 2016, with manager John Caulfield saying that "he’ll create lot of goals and score a lot of goals, and that’s what we need".[40] He scored two goal in 23 appearances across the 2017 season, helping the "Rebel Army" to win both the Premier Division title and the President of Ireland's Cup, though he was an unused substitute in the final at Turners Cross.[41][42][43] On 4 November, he entered the final of the FAI Cup at the Aviva Stadium as a substitute in extra-time, and went on to score the equalising goal of a 1–1 draw; Cork went on to win the trophy on penalties.[44]

On 2 January 2018, Campion joined NIFL Premiership club Linfield on loan for the rest of the 2017–18 season; manager David Healy said "he's a player we know well and have seen play live several times".[45] He scored two goals in 16 appearances for the "Blues" as they posted a fourth-place finish at the end of the 2017–18 campaign. He left Cork City on 26 July 2018.[46]

On 16 August 2018, Campion joined Dublin club St Patrick's Athletic on a contract to run until the end of the 2018 season.[47]

Style of play

In September 2014, the Port Vale website described him as "a strong target man, who is good at holding up the ball, can finish well when given the opportunity, and due to his size is also an aerial threat".[6]

Career statistics
Club Season Division League National Cup[lower-alpha 1] League Cup[lower-alpha 2] Other Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Baton Rouge Capitals2011[13]Premier Development League15100000001510
Ventura County Fusion2012[15]Premier Development League0000000000
2013[16]Premier Development League1000000010
Total 1000000010
Norrby IF2014[41]Division 16110000071
Port Vale2014–15[48]League One121000000121
2015–16[49]League One0000000000
Total 121000000121
Torquay United (loan)2015–16[49]National League3000000030
Sligo Rovers2016[41]League of Ireland Premier Division114100000114
Cork City2017[41]League of Ireland Premier Division171313000232
2018[41]League of Ireland Premier Division0000000000
Total 171313000232
Linfield (loan)2017–18[41]NIFL Premiership152100000162
St Patrick's Athletic2018[41]League of Ireland Premier Division5210002183
Career total 85217130219623
  1. Includes appearance/s and goal/s in the Svenska Cupen and the FAI Cup.
  2. Includes appearance/s and goal/s in the League of Ireland Cup.

Honours
Individual
Cork City

References
  1. "The Football League Limited: Club list of registered players as at 16th May 2015" (PDF). The Football League. 16 May 2015. p. 55. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 6 July 2015.
  2. "FootballSquads - Port Vale - 2015/2016". www.footballsquads.co.uk. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  3. Fullerton, Gareth (3 January 2018). "What you need to know about Linfield's new signing". belfastlive. Retrieved 13 May 2018.
  4. "Achille Campion Player Profile - ESPN FC". ESPN FC. Retrieved 24 March 2016.
  5. "Achille Campion Player Profile - MLS". Major League Soccer. Retrieved 24 March 2016.
  6. "Achille Campion Signs on Loan". Port Vale F.C. Retrieved 1 September 2014.
  7. "Belhaven University Athletics - Achille Campion - 2011 Men's Soccer". Belhaven Blazers. Retrieved 24 March 2016.
  8. "2012 UC Santa Barbara Lineup". UC Santa Barbara Gauchos. Retrieved 24 March 2016.
  9. "2013 UC Santa Barbara Lineup". UC Santa Barbara Gauchos. Retrieved 24 March 2016.
  10. O'Connor, Tom (3 June 2020). "Achille Campion - From College to Cup Final hero". ExtraTime.ie. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
  11. "Campion and Brandao Join Baton Rouge Capitals". Belhaven Blazers. 7 April 2011. Retrieved 24 March 2016.
  12. "Gulls Take Valiant Frenchman on Loan". Football Conference. 15 October 2015. Archived from the original on 8 April 2016. Retrieved 24 March 2016.
  13. "2011 Baton Rouge Capitals roster and statistics". United Soccer Leagues. Archived from the original on 13 December 2014. Retrieved 24 March 2016.
  14. "2011 PDL All-Conference teams". Soccer America. Oakland, California. 1 August 2011. Retrieved 23 March 2016.
  15. "2012 Ventura County Fusion roster and statistics". United Soccer Leagues. Archived from the original on 20 August 2014. Retrieved 24 March 2016.
  16. "2013 Ventura County Fusion roster and statistics". United Soccer Leagues. Archived from the original on 26 August 2014. Retrieved 24 March 2016.
  17. "Norrby IF v. Lunds BK" (in Swedish). Swedish Football Association. Retrieved 15 October 2014.
  18. Parker, Simon (1 August 2014). "Campion happy to navigate trial by numbers". Telegraph & Argus. Retrieved 15 October 2014.
  19. Wilde, Josh (19 July 2014). "French Striker Campion on trial with Yeovil". Western Gazette. Archived from the original on 15 October 2014. Retrieved 15 October 2014.
  20. "French Striker Hints at Town Trial". twtd.co.uk. 21 July 2014. Retrieved 15 October 2014.
  21. "Transfer deadline day: Port Vale sign Frenchman Achille Campion". BBC. 1 September 2014. Retrieved 15 October 2014.
  22. Johansson, Arne. "Achille Campion klar för Port Vale". Norrby IF. Retrieved 15 October 2014.
  23. Baggaley, Mike (14 October 2014). "Port Vale: Achille Campion poised to return for Valiants". The Sentinel. Retrieved 15 October 2014.
  24. "Campion steps up recovery". Sky Sports. Retrieved 15 October 2014.
  25. "Port Vale reserves 5, Wigan Athletic 1: Match report and teams". The Sentinel. 15 October 2014. Retrieved 15 October 2014.
  26. "Gillingham 2 - 2 Port Vale". BBC Sport. 29 November 2014. Retrieved 1 December 2014.
  27. "Achille Campion signs 18-month contract". BBC Sport. 31 December 2014. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  28. Sharpe, Rich (31 December 2014). "Achille Campion signs 18 month deal with the Valiants". The Sentinel. Stoke-on-Trent. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  29. "Port Vale 2 - 2 Bradford City". BBC Sport. 7 February 2015. Retrieved 7 February 2015.
  30. Baggaley, Mike (10 February 2015). "Rob Page says he's been fair to Achille Campion". The Sentinel. Stoke-on-Trent. Retrieved 10 February 2015.
  31. Baggaley, Mike (10 August 2015). "Valiants complete signing of JJ Hooper". The Sentinel. Stoke-on-Trent. Retrieved 10 August 2015.
  32. Pilnick, Brent (22 October 2015). "Achille Campion: Port Vale striker trains with Torquay United". BBC Sport. Retrieved 22 October 2015.
  33. Pilnick, Brent (29 October 2015). "Achille Campion: Port Vale striker joins Torquay United on loan". BBC Sport. Retrieved 29 October 2015.
  34. "Torquay United: Achille Campion has chance to impress boss". BBC Sport. 3 November 2015. Retrieved 3 November 2015.
  35. Baggaley, Mike (27 November 2015). "Achille Campion heads back to Vale after luckless loan spell". The Sentinel. Stoke-on-Trent. Retrieved 27 November 2015.
  36. Baggaley, Mike (8 May 2016). "Achille Campion reveals Vale departure". The Sentinel. Stoke-on-Trent. Retrieved 8 May 2016.
  37. Baggaley, Mike (29 June 2016). "Achille Campion could return to Port Vale says chairman". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 10 February 2017.
  38. "Sligo Rovers sign French striker Achille Campion - Goal.com". Goal.com. 5 August 2016. Retrieved 5 August 2016.
  39. Baggaley, Mike (8 August 2016). "Port Vale: Sligo Rovers boss delighted with Achille Campion". The Sentinel. Stoke-on-Trent. Retrieved 8 August 2016.
  40. O'Mahony, Niamh (15 November 2016). "Achille Campion Signs For Cork City FC - Cork City Football Club". corkcityfc.ie. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
  41. Achille Campion at Soccerway
  42. Baggaley, Michael (20 October 2017). "Port Vale diary as former Valiant wins title, fans to meet manager and more". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
  43. "President's Cup Report: Cork City 3 - 0 Dundalk - ExtraTime.ie". ExtraTime.ie. 18 February 2017. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
  44. Spillane, Noel (5 November 2017). "Cork City win FAI Cup in penalty shoot-out thriller". The Irish examiner. Retrieved 6 November 2017.
  45. FC, Linfield (2 January 2018). "Interview: David Healy - 'delighted to welcome Achille Campion on loan for rest of the season'". The Official Website of Linfield FC. Retrieved 3 January 2018.
  46. "FAI Cup final hero Campion moves on from Cork City". RTE.ie. 26 July 2018. Retrieved 26 July 2018.
  47. "Club News : Campion Signs For Saints". www.stpatsfc.com. Retrieved 17 August 2018.
  48. "Games played by Achille Campion in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  49. "Games played by Achille Campion in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
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