Campbell broke through at Arsenal with a host of young black talents from south London including Michael Thomas, Paul Davis and David Rocastle before they were joined by Ian Wright, who joined in 1991.
That quintet made over 1,300 appearances for Arsenal collectively, helping black fans across London identify with the club during the 1980s and ‘90s. Campbell himself scored 59 goals in 213 appearances.
“What Arsenal did back in the ‘80s and ‘90s was a fantastic feat in terms of bringing young black footballers across to north London and giving them an opportunity,” Lorna adds. “It created a special link with south London and Arsenal which has never been forgotten, and has been built on.
“Arsenal allowed those young black players to be themselves. For example, Ian Wright doing the bogle dance after a goal or the fantastic haircuts Kevin used to have with the lines in his hair.
“Arsenal allowed them to celebrate their blackness and that has always been embraced by Black London, whether you’re from north, east, south or west.”
The Kevin Campbell Foundation’s aim is to empower young lives and they have built partnerships with Arsenal in the Community, Everton in the Community, the PFA and the London Youth Games to do so.
The mural has been erected to ensure that Campbell’s belief that football has the power to change lives is proven right.
