In this series at Everything Orient, we take a look back at ex-Orient players and see where their careers have taken them since their departure from Brisbane Road.
Player Profile
John Keith Jackson,born in Hammersmith on 5 September 1942, was the Leyton Orient goalkeeper for six years, making 226 appearances for the club. When he joined the O’s in 1973 he had already been the number one at Crystal Palace for nine years, amassing 346 appearances.
Nicknamed ‘Stonewall’, Jackson became a firm favourite with Orient fans and is still considered by many to be the best goalkeeper the O’s have ever had. The club itself, through its Twitter feed (see image above), has acknowledged Jackson as one of Orient’s ‘Greatest Eleven’.
Where Have They Been?
Jackson began his career as a junior with Crystal Palace, signing from St Clement Danes School in March 1962. He also spent time with Brentford as a junior.
Having won the position of first choice goalkeeper at Palace, he went on to make 222 consecutive appearances and was ever present in the 1968–69 season which saw Palace reach the top flight for the first time.
Then in 1973, Palace were relegated and Jackson was sold to Leyton Orient, where he had a highly successful six years. He was a member of the 1978 team that famously reached the semi-finals of the FA Cup for the first and only time in the club’s history, under the management of Jimmy Bloomfield.
During this run, The O’s knocked out Norwich (1-0), Chelsea (2-1) and Middlesbrough (2-1) after replays, as well as Blackburn Rovers (3-1) to make it to the last four. Orient then took on Arsenal in the semi-final at Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge, but the Gunners ran out 3-0 victors.
In his later years at Orient, Jackson spent two seasons on loan in the US, playing for St. Louis Stars (1977) and California Surf (1978) of the North American Soccer League. After that, two years at Millwall was followed by a year with Ipswich.
His one league appearance for Ipswich was in a high-pressure match against Manchester United, with Ipswich needing to win to stay in with a chance of winning the League Championship. Jackson received a standing ovation at the end of his first top flight match for seven years, having made three important saves in Town's 2-1 win. Ipswich manager Bobby Robson said:
"We have paid him a year's salary to make those saves, but it was worth it!"
John Jackson’s international career featured appearances for the England youth team, and in March 1971 he represented the Football League in a match against the Scottish League.
Jackson finished his career playing for Hereford United, after an amazing 19 year career in which he featured in a total of 656 games.
Where Are They Now?
After retiring from football, Jackson had many jobs including working for a golf magazine, then selling golf equipment. After that he was, for a time, goalkeeping coach for Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. and subsequently worked as a courier for Lewes district council.
Written by Paul Harrison
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