Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Alexander Skinner Jackson | ||
Date of birth | 12 May 1905 | ||
Place of birth | Renton, Scotland | ||
Date of death | 15 November 1946 | (aged 41)||
Place of death | Cairo, Egypt | ||
Playing position | Winger | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
1922–1924 | Dumbarton | 29 | (2) |
1923–1924 | Bethlehem Steel | 28 | (14) |
1924–1925 | Aberdeen | 34 | (8) |
1925–1930 | Huddersfield Town | 179 | (70) |
1930–1932 | Chelsea | 65 | (26) |
1932–1933 | Ashton National | ||
1933 | Margate | ||
1933–1934 | OGC Nice | ||
1934–1936 | Le Touquet | ||
National team | |||
1925–1930 | Scotland | 17 | (8) |
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. |
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.
Alexander Skinner Jackson (12 May 1905 – 15 November 1946) was a Scottish footballer.
Alex Jackson was born in Renton in 1905. A highly talented winger, known as the Gay Cavalier, he was particularly adept at dribbling and free kicks. He initially played for Renton Victoria Football Club but was transferred to Dumbarton F.C. in 1922 for the pre-inflation price of a football. In 23, he left Scotland to play in the American Soccer League with Bethlehem Steel, alongside his brother Wattie, before coming back to Britain to play for Aberdeen. After an impressive debut season for the Dons he joined English side Huddersfield Town, then the reigning League Champions, for a record £5000. Jackson helped Huddersfield retain their league title in 1925–26 and the runners-up spot in the following two years. He also led them to two FA Cup Finals. He scored in the 1928 final against Blackburn Rovers, but it was not enough to prevent a 3–1 loss. In 1930 he was again on the losing side, this time against Arsenal.
Jackson signed for David Calderhead's big-spending Chelsea in September 1930 for £8,500, joining international team mates, Hughie Gallacher, Tommy Law and Alec Cheyne already at the club. His time at Chelsea was hampered by injuries, though he linked up well with the prolific Gallacher and himself scored 31 goals from 78 games for the club. Jackson's first-class career was then ended prematurely during the 1932–33 season. He and several other star players at the club were approached by French side Nîmes with a lucrative contract offer, which Jackson threatened to accept unless Chelsea broke their maximum wage structure and increased his salary. The club refused to budge and, in the days before the Bosman ruling, Jackson could do little. He was forced to finish his career playing for a series of non-league clubs such as Ashton National from Ashton-under-Lyne and Margate. He later joined French side Nice.