Alex Jackson
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| Alex Jackson | ||
| Personal information | ||
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Alexander Skinner Jackson | |
| Date of birth | 12 May 1905 | |
| Place of birth | Renton, Scotland | |
| Date of death | November, 1946 | |
| Position | Winger | |
| Professional clubs* | ||
| Years | Club | Apps (goals) |
| 1924-25 1925-30 1930-32 |
Aberdeen Huddersfield Town Chelsea |
? (?) 179 (70) 65 (26) |
| National team | ||
| 1925-30 | Scotland | 17 (8) |
|
* Professional club appearances and goals |
||
Alexander Skinner Jackson (12 May 1905 — November 1946) was a Scottish footballer.
Alex Jackson was born in Renton on 1905. Jackson was a highly-talented winger, known as the Gay Cavalier, particularly adept at dribbling and free kicks.and played for Renton Victoria Football Club. His skill as a winger soon saw him transferred to Dumbarton Football Club in 1922 for the pre-inflation price of a football. Alex went out to play in America before coming back to Britain to play for Aberdeen,and after an impressive debut season 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; his goal against Blackburn Rovers in the 1928 final was not enough to prevent a 3-1 loss, while in 1930 he was again on the losing side, this time against Arsenal.
He signed for 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's maximum wage structure was broken. 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 Aston Nationals and Margate. He later joined French side Nice.
It was Jackson's career with the Scottish national team for which is now perhaps best remembered. He won his first cap at the age of 19 and was one of the Wembley Wizards, the name given to the Scotland side which beat England 5-1 at Wembley in 1928. Jackson scored a hat-trick during the match. He also scored the winner against England two years earlier. His international career was later hindered by the ban on Anglos - Scots who played for English clubs - and he finished with 17 caps and eight goals.
He was killed in a road accident whilst serving with the army in Egypt in 1946.
