… but a potential playoff catalyst? 35-year-old, pint-sized winger Jamal Campbell-Ryce has terrorised defences as high as the Championship down the years. In fact, so direct was his wing play in a Rotherham shirt one night at Ipswich that the Portman Road faithful gave him a standing ovation as he was substituted in the second half.
In the latter stages of his career, some may prefer to label the Lambeth-born wide-man as a League Two journeyman; loan spells at Notts County and Chesterfield, before a two-year stint at Barnet and a short-lived stay with Carlisle United. In the close season, Campbell-Ryce completed his 18th transfer in professional football; joining his 14th league club in the shape of the Boro’.
Campbell-Ryce: The Sprinkle of Pixie Dust We Need?
Boss Dino Maamria has tried hard to assemble a squad that will entertain and excite the Stevenage faithful this season. Campbell-Ryce could be the sprinkle of magic pixie dust this squad needs to come out on top in close, hard-fought encounters.
At the end of October, Campbell-Ryce played an integral role in Boro’s 2-0 away win at struggling Cheltenham Town. His incisive right wing run and cross found the head of Kurt Guthrie to open the scoring at Whaddon Road; Boro’ never looking back, and going on to close out a comfortable 2-0 win.
It was during a three-year stint at Barnsley (2007-2010) when Campbell-Ryce was really in his pomp. The Championship betting tipsters and pundits had the Tykes tipped for relegation year-on-year. Yet, the South Yorkshire side defied the odds for some time; Campbell-Ryce a key man on the flanks.
He even enjoyed something of an Indian summer while playing for League One promotion hopefuls Sheffield United between 2014 and 2016; the Jamaican playing his part in helping the Blades back into the second tier. After that, there was a successful spell with League Two strugglers Barnet.
Carlisle’s loss is almost certainly Stevenage’s gain this season. It’s a move closer to his home in the capital and a great opportunity for him to prolong his professional league career. And there’s maybe even a chance to earn a last season in League One in 2019-20. The Jamaican recently criticised his fellow professionals for lacking the drive to seek out regular first-team football, citing some players that have, in the past, chosen to sit on three-year contracts and can’t be bothered to “move their family”.
Campbell-Ryce: A Playoff Catalyst For Boro’?
Sitting on contracts is something that Campbell-Ryce has never been happy to do in his career; clocking up almost 2,000 miles in transfer moves is testament to that. With almost 500 career league appearances under his belt, the Jamaican has been there, done it; receiving countless t-shirts at League Two level too!
Now back to full sharpness after an injury-hit spell in Cumbria, it will delight Maamria to have a lad able to produce in big games when it matters. The end of November sees Boro come face-to-face with one of the main title contenders; MK Dons visiting the Lamex Stadium. If Maamria and the Boro boys can keep touch with the top seven before that game, it will be an excellent acid test for their promotion credentials.
