Jamal Campbell-Ryce

“Being from Brent has always given me a sense of pride.”

EARLY LIFE

Jamal was born in Lambeth and moved to Brent as a youngster where he attended the same school as Richard Langley. He started his footballing career playing at Barham Park as a young boy before joining St Joseph’s.

Being from Brent certainly inspired Jamal to follow in the footsteps of some of the names before him and gave him a target to achieve.

Jamal’s words

“Being from Brent has always given me a sense of pride. Proud that I followed in the footsteps of so many other icons in the area to go on to have an illustrious career in the game. Proud that it wasn’t always the easiest place to grow up as a child but with the correct mindset to achieve the things I wanted it shows the younger generations that all things are achievable.”

” Football to me is life, I honestly don’t know where I would be today without it. It has given me and my family a very good life but also shaped me as a man to when things have not always gone according to plan.”

“Barham Park was a park that I always visited and learned a lot. Having local parks to go and practice what you love was one thing I always look back on.”

“My fondest memory of Wembley has always been growing up only a stones throw away and always wanting to play there. Having achieved that playing in the FA Cup semi final was such a proud moment for myself & my family.”

“I would always remind myself that anything is achievable if you put your mind to it. Hard work is the greatest gift & skillset anyone can have and you will always be successful if you have these two strengths.”

6. Self belief, I don’t doubt myself. There will always be bumps in the road but strength of the mind will carry me through. Constant reminders of how I got here and what I had to do to get here.

Career highlights

As a winger, Jamal eventually signed for Charlton Athletic in 2001 after a number of exit trials. Loan moves preceded him signing with Rotherham in 2004. Later Jamal would sign for Notts County where he would end up playing alongside Jack Grealish, a player Jamal would later reflect on as ‘a knowing he would go on to be a big player’.

Jamal also achieved the dream of many a young Brent footballer by playing at Wembley Stadium for a FA Cup semi-final. He also for the opportunity to represent Jamaica playing in World Cup qualifiers and at Old Trafford during a friendly against England.

After ending his career at Colchester, Jamal began a coaching career at Stevenage and Colchester then Peterborough where he is inspiring the next generation of young players. He has combined that work with the England youth teams at U19s, U16s and U15s.