We would like to congratulate our Manager Dick Campbell who has been awarded a British Empire Medal in The King’s Birthday Honours list for his services to football and the Community of Angus.
The British Empire Medal is a British and Commonwealth award for meritorious civil or military service worthy of recognition by the Crown.
Whilst Dick is used to winning medals, this is a huge honour for Dick and his family and everyone at Arbroath FC is incredibly proud of our manager.
Before joining Arbroath, Dick had success at both Brechin City, Partick Thistle and Forfar Athletic but it is since arriving at Gayfield in March 2016 that Dick has really flourished.
When Dick took over Arbroath were only two places above the bottom of Division Two, but in his first full season he led Arbroath to the League 2 title, clinching it on the final day of the season after reeling in and catching local rivals Forfar Athletic who had who had built up a large lead with 10 games remaining.
The Scottish Championship beckoned and as an unfancied team of the only part-timers in the 2021/22 season Dick took the Lichties to the top of the Championship by Christmas where they narrowly missed out on the title by only two points. No other part-time team has ever challenged for the Championship.
Whilst season 2022/2023 was a challenging season, once again Dick kept his side in the Championship and in a few weeks, he will lead Arbroath again for their 5th consecutive season in Scotland’s second tier.
His BEM award will join his thirty-eight Manager of the Month awards, and his Championship Manager of the Year for 2021/22.
Of course, Dick will be the first to say that all awards are Team awards, and with his twin brother Ian Campbell, his coaching staff and his players behind him.
Away from football, Dick in partnership with Ian own and run 3 businesses and both show no sign of slowing down as they turn 70 later this year.
Dick’s achievements reach beyond taking our Club from the bottom of League two but the success on the pitch, with the vision of the Chairman and his Board of Directors has seen the Club grow off the pitch with a highly successful and ever-growing Community Trust, and from attendances of just a few hundred in League Two to over 1500 season tickets last seasons, attendances over 5000, and the average attendance at Gayfield surpassing other full time Championship Clubs.
Arbroath Chairman Mike Caird went on record to congratulate Dick;
“I’m delighted for Dick that he has been honoured in this way, there are too few characters in Scottish Football and having giving over 40 years to the game that he loves it’s fitting he’s been rewarded in the Kings Honours list.
The journey that the club is on to be the best that we can be needs successful, committed people and Dicks personally, enthusiasm, grit and determination to succeed helps drive the Club forward.“
We would like to once again congratulate Dick as his dedication to football and the community have been recognised.
Congratulations!
C’mon the Lichties
