Peter Jackson (footballer born 1937)

Infobox Football biography
playername = Peter Jackson


fullname = Peter Jackson
dateofbirth = birth date|1937|1|23|df=y
cityofbirth = Stoke-on-Trent
countryofbirth = England
dateofdeath = 1991
cityofdeath =
countryofdeath =
height =
position = Half back
youthyears =
youthclubs =
years = 1954
1954–1955
1955–1961
1961–1965
clubs = Wrexham
Marine
Bradford City
Tranmere Rovers
Frickley Colliery
Altrincham
Hyde United
Macclesfield Town
Guiseley
caps(goals) = 007 0(1)
199 (15)
081 0(3)
nationalyears =
nationalteam =
nationalcaps(goals) =

Peter Jackson (23 January 1937 – 1991) was an English footballer whose career mirrored that of his twin brother David. Peter Jackson was a half back who started his career with his brother at Wrexham, where their father Peter senior was manager. The trio later teamed up at Bradford City, where the two brothers played a combined 449 league games. They also played together at Marine, Tranmere Rovers, Frickley Colliery, Altrincham and Hyde United. Peter died in 1991, aged 54.

Career

Twin brothers Peter and David Jackson were born on 23 January 1937 in Stoke-on-Trent, England. Their father was also Peter, a footballer and football manager.cite book
last=Frost
first=Terry
title=Bradford City A Complete Record 1903–1988
publisher=Breedon Books Sport
year=1988
pages=p. 110
isbn=0907969380] The brothers started their own football career, at Wrexham in 1954, where their father was manager. They made their debut together against Carlisle United at the Racecourse Ground in October 1954, but soon afterwards their father left for Bradford City. The pair soon also left Wrexham, having played seven games each, to join non-league Marine. They also played together for the Liverpool FA against a Football Association of Ireland side in 1955, before they teamed up with their father again at Division Three (North) side Bradford City.

Peter junior made his debut against Grimsby Town on 30 April 1955, ten days after his brother had made his City debut against the same side. Peter played two games during his first season at Valley Parade but they both spent six seasons at City, all in Division Three (North), or the newly-formed Division Three level. Peter played 199 league games, scoring 15 goals, while his brother played 250 league games. In total they played 492 league and cup games for City, scoring 83 goals between them. Peter was also awarded a benefit game in 1960, five months after he broke his leg in a home game against Southampton. In November 1960, they were part of the team that defeated Manchester United 2–1 at Valley Parade in the first season of the League Cup. [cite book
last=Frost
title=Bradford City A Complete Record 1903–1988
pages=p. 152] But just five months later, they left City, when their father was sacked in March 1961. [cite book
last=Frost
title=Bradford City A Complete Record 1903–1988
pages=p. 74]

Instead, the pair signed together for Tranmere Rovers for a combined fee of £3,000. Peter played 81 league games with Tranmere during a little more than three seasons, where he was also captain,cite book
last=Markham
first=David
title=The legends of Bradford City
publisher=Breedon Books Sport
year=2007
pages=p. 91
isbn=978-1-85983-572-2] and left to team up with his brother again at Frickley Colliery in 1965. They also played together at Altrincham and Hyde United, with Peter also playing in non-league for Macclesfield Town and Guiseley.

The pair also played cricket and golf. Like his brother, Peter was only ever a part-time professional, and after retiring, he became a partner in a firm of chartered accountants and was treasurer of the ex-players' association of Bradford City and Bradford Park Avenue. He died in 1991, at the age of 54.

References