Perry Groves 'devastated' as he pays emotional tribute to Kevin Campbell following ex-Arsenal teammate's death
06/15/2024 06:58 AM
Kevin Campbell was not just a fantastic player, but he was an even better human being.
Those were the words talkSPORT pundit and ex-Arsenal star Perry Groves used to his describe his former teammate and friend, who has sadly passed away at the age of 54.
The news was confirmed on Saturday morning after it emerged earlier this month that Campbell was seriously ill in hospital.
Groves, who won the first division title alongside Campbell in 1991, spoke to talkSPORT shortly after the news broke and gave an emotional tribute to his friend, stating his spirit will always be with him and everyone who knew him.
“Devastated doesn’t cover it mate,” he said on the Euro GameDay Warm-Up.
“Even though we all knew he was ill and was taken poorly a couple of weeks ago, and we know Kev’s a fighter, so we’re willing for him to pull through.
“You get this news and it just… life is just so unfair. You think about things in your own life that go wrong. I’ve got to be honest I’m still trying to process it.
“Most of us, 99 per cent of us, have character defects. Super Kev didn’t have one. He didn’t have one. All the clubs that he played for will say what a fantastic player he was.
“But he was an even better human being. Everybody who met him – he lit up the room when he walked in, he was very humble.”
Groves and Campbell both played for Arsenal in the late 1980s and early 1990s, with the former joining from Colchester United in 1986 and the latter rising from the youth set-up in 1988.
They remained friends as they went on different paths in their career, with Groves moving on to Southampton in 1992 and Campbell leaving Arsenal for Nottingham Forest in 1995.
Campbell made 542 club appearances and scored 148 goals across a lengthy career which saw him win five major trophies with Arsenal, while he also earned legendary status at Everton, too.
“I’ve known him since he was a teenager,” Groves continued. “You know, I’ve known him for 38 years. We lost Alan Miller a couple of years ago at a very young age.
“This sounds really… If people pass away when they’re 75, 80, I can sort of process that and go ‘OK’. When someone I’ve known from when I was at Arsenal in the youth team and passes away…
“And you know, for Kev’s family, his immediate family, his children, I really can’t comprehend.
“There will be a huge, huge outpouring of love and respect for Kev and everything will be heartfelt trust me. He was just such a fantastic person.”
Groves went on to say Campbell had sent him a message two months ago.
He added: “We’re in a group together, all the Arsenal boys. I got a message from him, he was ill in February and we knew and we all sent messages.
“Then I got a message from him in April and we thought, ‘Oh great, Kev’s out!’
“Then to think on one hand oh that’s great, Kev’s out, it looks he’s on the road to [recovery] and then hear two weeks ago that he’s struggling and he’s in hospital, then this…
“Honestly, his spirit and his soul will always be with us. Always.”
