I was interested in the article about Major Carlo Campbell (The Argus, June 30) but I must pick you up on the period of his tenure as chairman of The Albion.
He was not in office in the Thirties as you state. He was chairman from 1951 to 1958, taking over from Charles Wakeling.
Unfortunately, he died early in 1958 and never saw the team get promotion for the very first time from the third division.
I knew Carlo Campbell personally and he still rates with me as one of the best chairmen this club has had. He was a very nervous man at matches and you could find him walking up and down behind the stands in tight games.
When we were clearing the area under the South Stand for a bike park, he found time to come and chat to us. When we had a benefit match for Jess Willard, we had a cake made representing a football pitch, complete with players and stands, to raffle at a dance we organised for Jess.
My mother won the cake and he asked if he could buy it so he could give it to the children's hospital.
He was let down by other directors when he offered to sell the greyhound stadium and put the money into the club if they would match his contribution. They wouldn't. If they had, we might have gone higher than the second division.
Carlo Campbell was a gentleman and a good chairman. When Billy Larne left the Albion, he said he had never worked for a better chairman - he always backed any function the supporters arranged and he insisted the players backed us as well.
I still have contact with some of the players from that era and still support and work for the club.
-Bernie Dawes, Lancing
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article