Alec Jackson (footballer, born 1937)

Alec Jackson was born on 29 May 1937 in Tipton, Staffordshire.^[3] He joined West Bromwich Albion as an amateur in May 1954 and turned professional in September of the same year. He became the youngest player to score a league goal for the club when he scored on his debut against Charlton Athletic in November 1954.^[3] He spent another decade at Albion, a First Division club; the season before Jackson made his debut, they had won the FA Cup and finished as League runners-up, but they won no more trophies during his time with the club.^[4] In March 1962, Jackson was a late replacement for the injured John Connelly in the Football League XI to face the Scottish League XI;^[5] according to the Daily Mirror's match report, he had "a tough time in his first representative match, continually running into trouble" as his side lost 4–3,^[6] and he was not selected again.^[1] He scored 52 goals in 208 appearances for Albion before moving to Birmingham City in 1964 for a fee of £12,500.^[1]

Jackson was a regular member of the Birmingham team that suffered relegation from the First Division in 1965, and stayed at the club for a further 18 months. After playing little during the 1966–67 season,^[7] he submitted a transfer request which was accepted,^[8] and signed for Third Division club Walsall in February 1967.^[9] At the end of the 1967–68 season, with the Walsall club needing to cut costs, he was allowed to leave on a free transfer.^[10][11]

He went on to spend another decade in non-league football, playing for Nuneaton Borough,^[11][12] Kidderminster Harriers,^[13][14] Warley,^[14][15] Oldbury Town, Warley County Borough, Darlaston,^[16][17] Blakenall,^[17][18] Lower Gornal (as player-coach),^[19][20][21] Rushall Olympic,^[22] and Bush Rangers.^[3]

After his professional football career was over, Jackson went on to work on the track, making cars at the Austin works in Longbridge, Birmingham.^[23]

Jackson died on 10 August 2023 at the age of 86.^[23]

• Matthews, Tony (1995). Birmingham City: A Complete Record. Derby: Breedon Books. ISBN 1-85983-010-2.
• Matthews, Tony (2005). The Who's Who of West Bromwich Albion. Derby: Breedon Books. ISBN 1-85983-474-4.