It is still considered a significant act of ‘disloyalty’ within the sport.
The decision made by Sol Campbell to depart Tottenham Hotspur and become a player for their major rivals, Arsenal, upon his contract’s termination in the summer of 2001, has become a prominent part of British soccer history.
At just 26 years of age and performing at his peak, Tottenham supporters were already upset by Campbell’s choice to leave without a transfer fee. However, it was his chosen destination that truly caused pain. Campbell proceeded to participate in over 200 matches for the Gunners, securing two Premier League championships and three FA Cups.
While each game against Tottenham resulted in the player being heavily criticized by the opposing fans, Campbell recalls that even his Arsenal teammates booed him during the preparations for his initial North London Derby while wearing the Arsenal jersey – a 1-1 draw at White Hart Lane in November 2001. This was revealed by Dennis Bergkamp and Ian Wright on a recent podcast.
‘I actually think the reaction inside the ground shocked a lot of my Arsenal team-mates’ Sol Campbell recalls a toxic return to White Hart Lane
“It was simply the guys joking around during practice, a bit of playful teasing,” Campbell explains to FourFourTwo representing Paddy Power. “But indeed, I believe they were attempting to mentally prepare me for the events that were to transpire.”
Campbell was met with an overwhelming barrage of jeers, whistles, projectiles thrown, and insulting chants throughout a challenging match that also involved opponents – who were previously his own colleagues – engaging in rough tackles.
“I genuinely feel that the atmosphere within the stadium greatly surprised many of my Arsenal teammates,” Campbell recalls, having represented England 73 times between 1996 and 2007. “I anticipated it, naturally. And my teammates were aware I would be jeered, but none of them foresaw the intensity of the reaction.
“Once the match commenced, the reality truly struck them,” Campbell continues. “I believe that was the moment they fully understood the extent of what I was going to face that day. That was their awakening. Personally, I doubt many of them could have endured the level of hostility I experienced during that game. I don’t believe they were capable of it. They were formidable individuals and exceptional players. However, enduring such intense abuse throughout an entire match is not something everyone can handle.
“The environment was dreadful, significantly more so than in typical North London Derbies. A profound level of animosity lingered in North London for a considerable period afterward.”
