Darren Campion

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Darren Campion

| image =

| caption =

| fullname =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1988|10|17|df=y}}

| birth_place = Birmingham, England

| height =

| position = Defender

| currentclub =

| clubnumber =

| youthyears1 = 2003−2007

| youthclubs1 = Birmingham City

| years1 = 2007−2009

| years2 = 2008

| years3 = 2009−2010

| years4 = 2010

| years5 = 2010−2015

| years6 =2015

| years7 =2015–2016

| years8 =2017

| years9 = 2017

| years10 = 2017–2018

| years11 = 2018–2021

| clubs1 = Carlisle United

| clubs2 = → Workington (loan)

| clubs3 = Solihull Moors

| clubs4 = Redditch United

| clubs5 = Hednesford Town

| clubs6 = Worcester City

| clubs7 = AFC Telford United

| clubs8 = Hednesford Town

| clubs9 = Walsall Wood

| clubs10 = Hednesford Town

| clubs11 = Whitchurch Alport

| caps1 = 4

| caps2 = 1

| caps3 =

| caps4 = 3

| caps5 = 71

| caps6 =

| caps7 = 43

| caps8 = 1

| caps9 =

| goals1 = 0

| goals2 = 0

| goals3 = ?

| goals4 = 1

| goals5 = 6

| goals6 =

| goals7 = 0

| goals8 = 0

| goals9 =

| club-update =

}}

Darren Campion (born 17 October 1987) is an English retired footballer who predominantly played at left-back.

Footballing career

Campion started his career as a youth team player at Birmingham City, before being released in 2007 following City's return to the Premier League.

Campion had trials with Shrewsbury Town and Hereford United, but failed to earn a contract with the League Two clubs. Campion then had a trial with League One outfit Carlisle United, where unlike with his two previous trails, impressed Cumbrians manager Greg Abbott, to sign the defender on a short-term contract until December 2007, where he acted as cover for Zigor Aranalde at left-back.{{cite news|title=Carlisle swoop for ex-Blues star|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/carlisle_united/6989495.stm|publisher=BBC Sport|date=11 September 2007|accessdate=11 September 2007}} Campion impressed in training and reserve games enough to earn a contract until the end of 2007-08 season{{Citation needed|date=April 2008}} and he made his Carlisle United début on 26 April 2008 at Millwall as a 59th minute substitute replacing Scott Dobie, Carlisle lost the game 3–0.{{cite news|title=Millwall 3-0 Carlisle|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_2/7358668.stm|publisher=BBC Sport|date=26 April 2008|accessdate=26 April 2008}} He was released from his contract by Greg Abbott in January 2009.{{cite news|title=Carlisle striker joins Darlington |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/carlisle_united/7827940.stm|publisher=BBC Sport|date=14 January 2009|accessdate=15 January 2009}}

He returned to the West Midlands, turning out for Conference North side Solihull Moors in 2009 before finishing the 2009–2010 season at local rivals Redditch United

He joined Hednesford in October 2010, making his debut for the Pitmen in a 2-1 F.A. Trophy defeat to Whitby Town. After biding his time behind fellow left backs Louis Keenan and Aaron Gibson, Campion became an automatic pick for the Pitmen as they charged towards a second-place finish in the Southern League Premier Division, losing in the play-off final to Salisbury City.

The summer of 2011 saw Campion agree a new deal with the Pitmen, and was named as the club's captain by manager Rob Smith. Campion's season was split into two distinct parts; the first half was consistent and confident, the second frustrating and spent on the sidelines suspended, after picking up two red cards in quick succession – both for dissent

Campion agreed a new deal at Hednesford for the 2012-2013 campaign.

On 20 May 2015, Campion signed for National League North side Worcester City.{{Cite web|url=https://worcesterobserver.co.uk/sport/worcester-pull-off-signing-of-hednesford-captain-10447/|title=Worcester pull off signing of Hednesford captain|website=Worcester Observer|language=en|access-date=2019-08-16}} In September 2015, Campion signed for fellow National League North club AFC Telford United.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/34295922|title=AFC Telford United sign striker Ryan Rowe from Worcester|date=2015-09-18|access-date=2019-08-16|language=en-GB}}

On 23 May 2016, it was claimed that Campion played for Bilbrook F.C. in the West Midlands League Division Two cup final, which Bilbrook won 2–0, even though Campion was ineligible.{{Cite web|url=https://www.shropshirestar.com/sport/2016/05/23/afc-telford-defender-darren-campion-at-centre-of-row-over-claims-he-played-for-another-team/|title=AFC Telford defender Darren Campion at centre of row over claims he played for another team|website=shropshirestar.com|date=23 May 2016 |language=en|access-date=2019-08-16}}

Campion left Hednesford in June 2017, after a change in his work situation.{{Cite web|url=http://nonleague.pitchero.com/transfers/keeper-defender-hednesford/|title=Keeper In – Defender Out at Hednesford|date=2017-06-16|website=Pitchero Non-League|language=en-GB|access-date=2019-08-16}} On 22 June 2017, Campion signed for Walsall Wood.{{Cite web|url=https://twitter.com/walsallwoodfc/status/877979506513924096?lang=en|title=BREAKING NEWS:Signing of Darren Campion from Hednesford Town FC.|date=2017-06-22|website=Twitter @walsallwoodfc|publisher=Walsall Wood F.C.|language=en|access-date=2019-08-16}}