Special feature on Huddersfield-born Fraizer Campbell
- ‘One of Our Own’ feature with Fraizer Campbell
- Huddersfield-born forward shows #HTTV where he grew up
- Town’s no.22 on inspiring the next generation
Huddersfield Town forward Fraizer Campbell looked back at where he grew up, his first experience at the John Smith’s Stadium and becoming a Town Foundation Ambassador!
In a special feature produced earlier in the season, the Huddersfield-born forward gave #HTTV an insight into growing up in Huddersfield, having returned to the Club back in August.
As a local boy, Fraizer was originally on the Club’s books before being scouted by Manchester United at the age of 10.
After making a name for himself in United’s Academy, a loan spell at Belgian side Royal Antwerp gave him a first real taste of senior football.
He made his senior United debut the following season before a season-long loan at Hull City in 2007/08. The following year saw him go on loan to Tottenham Hotspur before he joined Sunderland in 2009.
Spells with Cardiff City and Crystal Palace followed before a return to Hull City, this time on a permanent deal, in 2017.
After scoring 12 goals for the Tigers last season, Campbell’s contract at the KCOM Stadium expired. Upon becoming a free agent, he returned to Huddersfield to sign for his hometown, in the summer.
Just a month after coming back, Frazier showed us round the areas of Huddersfield that shaped him at a young age, including the street he grew up on, in Lowerhouses.
“It’s strange (being back here). I grew up just down the road and all my mates lived in the houses round here.
“It’s nice to come back and see it all from a different perspective – not being the 7/8-year-old kid, being close to 30!
“It’s crazy how it’s changed but still stayed the same. My mum lives just down the road so I’m always up here.”
In a feature that includes tales from his junior football days, mopeds and even horses, the Town forward explained how he originally played in a deeper area of the pitch.
“I started in midfield. Paul Ince and Paul Gascoigne were my heroes growing up, so I tried to copy them.
“As I got older, I went on the wing because I was quick, and I didn’t end up playing striker until I was a bit older. I started off as a midfield general!”
After signing for Town in August, Fraizer went on to make his debut for his hometown Club away to Cardiff City before his first appearance at the John Smith’s Stadium against Reading, just three days later.
Town’s no.22 has since made lasting memories on home soil, scoring both of his Terriers’ goals at the John Smith’s Stadium against Millwall and Birmingham City.
His first memories of the Stadium’s location were for reasons other than football, however.
“They used to have a fairground every year. It would come around about November-time and my gran lived in Dalton, the other side of this big hill, so we used to come down here.
“It was the place I first discovered that I didn’t like the Waltzers! (I used to come down with) my family mainly. Enjoy candy floss and all that jazz.
“If you’d have said to me then I would have been playing football here one day, I would have been like ‘what are you talking about?’
“It’s crazy how things can change. Fond memories – you couldn’t have a fairground here now!”
Having returned to his roots, Fraizer wanted to give something back to the area that he came from. The forward became an Ambassador for the Town Foundation, in attempt to help inspire the next generation.
“This is my community. I know what it’s like to grow up around Huddersfield, I know what the people are like and I know what it’s like for young people to meet someone that’s from the same area and gone on to do something they love doing.
“I want to inspire someone to do something good with their lives.
“This one is special to me because I’m from here; it’s a great way to bring everyone together and to strengthen that relationship. I wanted to be a part of it.”
One of Our Own. Watch the full feature with Frazier below on #HTTV!
