NORTHERN Ireland's Green and White army are expected to descend on the Cote d'Azur in force this weekend.

Sunday's opening European Championship group clash with Poland in Nice will be the first time in 30 years that the "wee country" has appeared in the finals of a major tournament.

Michael O'Neill's group of underdogs, unfortunately minus Bantams defender Rory McArdle, have the chance to make names for themselves.

But I wonder if any of those players will be able to boast their own personal fan club among the natives – not like Bobby Campbell.

City's record goal-scorer was a member of the Northern Ireland squad that went to the World Cup in Spain in 1982.

And he probably had more personal support than anyone – despite not kicking a ball in anger in the whole tournament.

The "Bobby Campbell fan club" had its roots in Bordeaux where an old friend from Huddersfield, Stevie Fallon, had settled.

In his excellent autobiography "They don't make them like him any more", Campbell recalled how the group was 30-strong and had travelled in numbers to Madrid for Northern Ireland's decisive clash with France.

Having won their group on the back of that unforgettable win over hosts Spain – the game that made Gerry Armstrong's career – Billy Bingham's side knew that victory over the French would clinch a spot in the last four.

Campbell had not featured in their previous four outings but was down to be on the bench behind first-choice front two Armstrong and Billy Hamilton.

The City hitman, who had only made his international debut two months before against Scotland, had a typically strong opinion on both strikers ahead of him.

On Hamilton: "I would have scored three against his one." And on Armstrong: "He couldn't score a goal to save his life. But Gerry is a lovely man and I won't hear a bad word said about him."

Campbell finally got the nod for a substitute's role on a night that could make history; only to tweak his groin in a training run that morning.

For a player who prided himself on never getting injured, it was terrible timing. But he did not let the disappointment get him down for long.

So instead, in true Campbell fashion, he flashed his "access all areas" team pass to leave the dressing-room area and met up with his fan club in a bar nearby.

It had to be the first example of a World Cup player going for a drink with fans before a match – and the punters predictably lapped it up. Two hours later, he ended up watching the game from an area packed with French supporters because it was the nearest available entrance.

That turned out to be Campbell's final involvement with the national team.

Bingham had overturned his "life" ban after high-jinx at an international youth tournament involving a barman's car. Following a seven-year exile, he had got Campbell back into the fold.

An assist on his debut against Scotland – where he had locked horns with Alex McLeish and Alan Hansen – got him on the plane to Spain.

But he wasn't Bingham's cup of tea and, once they flew back to Belfast after that defeat to France, was never picked again.

Campbell had his best season for City after that with 30 goals in 49 games but his country never picked up the phone.

By 1986, when Northern Ireland never made it beyond the group stage in Mexico, he was watching it on telly like the rest of us.

Now a lifetime on, they are back at the sharp end of another tournament – having gone over a year without defeat.

In a group that also contains Ukraine and a Germany side lacking the invincible air of the World Cup winners, Northern Ireland should have genuine reason to be optimistic.

Campbell admits he has been caught up with the excitement gripping the second-smallest nation to be involved.

He said: "I'm really looking forward to watching it. I never thought I'd see the day again with Northern Ireland in the finals.

"They've always had players who can score a few goals but would slip up against 'Mickey Mouse' teams. You'd see them losing against Estonia, the Faroe Islands, silly teams like that.

"I think they'll have done well to get through the group because Germany are tournament boys. But just to be there again is incredible. I just hope there's no trouble because that would spoil a great day."

The Campbell clan will be represented – though maybe not in quite the same numbers as 1982.

Campbell said: "My nephew is 20 and this is the first time in his lifetime anything like this has happened.

"He's a Rangers fan and goes over on the ferry with his mates to matches. He's obviously made up that they are back in the top division.

"But this is his chance to see the top teams because you don't get them going over to Northern Ireland to play the friendlies like they used to.

"You would get Liverpool and Manchester coming over every year. But now you're lucky to get a reserve team.

"This is going to be great for all those fans to see Northern Ireland playing the best again and I can't wait."

Just don't expect to see any of the squad boozing it up with the locals pre-match.