Newcastle United record holder returns to North East with surprise move

Former Newcastle United striker Adam Campbell has returned to the North East to join National League club Hartlepool United.

Campbell was viewed as one of the most promising players to come through the Magpies academy system in recent years and become the youngest player to appear in a European competition when he made his competitive debut at the age of 17 years and 236 days in a Europa League win against Atromitos in 2012.

Campbell went on to make a further three appearances for the Magpies before embarking on a series of loan spells with the likes of Gateshead, Fleetwood Town, St Mirren and Carlisle United. The Geordie striker’s time with his boyhood club came to a close in the summer of 2015 when he joined Notts County on a permanent basis before heading to Morecambe just two years later. Campbell enjoyed something of a renaissance in non-league football when he enjoyed a productive spell with National League North club Darlington - but it was with Gateshead where he won the first silverware of his senior career as he played a lead role in helping the Tynesiders win the same division during the 2021/22 season.

Campbell’s form for the Heed earned him a return to the Football League with Crawley Town last summer and he scored seven goals and provided six assists in 48 appearances as the Red Devils secured promotion into League One with a play-off final win against Crewe Alexandra. However, Campbell will now return to the North East with Hartlepool after the National League club saw off interest from elsewhere to make the former Magpies forward their latest summer addition.

After putting pen-to-paper at the Suit Direct Stadium, Campbell said: "I'm really excited to be here. I know some of the players and staff here already, and from meeting the gaffer I can't wait to get going. I play better football when I'm happy and settled, so moving back home was a big factor in the move. But I wouldn't come here if the ambition didn't align with mine - I want to help get this club back into the Football League."

Pools manager Darren Sarll added: "I think we can all appreciate the conditions around this - it is a real coup for Pools when a player such as Adam agrees to sign, given that he has just experienced promotion to League One with another Club that he could have stayed on with. He also had a great deal of interest from other league clubs following an excellent season. I watched Adam live on several occasions last season. I was surprised and delighted by his evolution out of possession in a team that executed high pressure very well. His ability in and around the box is very strong, and he gives us great flexibility in four offensive positions.”

Campbell is not the only former Magpie signed by Sarll during his first summer in charge of Pools after he added one-time United Under-21s captain Jack Hunter and former academy striker Luke Charman to his squad earlier this month.