CLIFF JACKSON

Born: 03 September 1941

Came from: Swindon Town   Went to: Crystal Palace

First game: 18 September 1963   Last game: 20 August 1966

Appearances: 85 (85/0)   Goals: 20

Born in Swindon, Wiltshire, and a forward, Jackson was a former England Schoolboy international who began his career as a youth with his hometown club. He initially joined the ground staff in June 1957, a common way of attaching young players to clubs at the time, whilst they tried to earn their first contracts. Jackson succeeded and signed his first professional contract in September 1968.

Primarily an inside-forward, in the parlance of the time, he progressed through the ranks to become an ever-present member of the team that won promotion to Division Two in the 1962-63 season, under manager Bert Head.

He was then surprisingly allowed to move to Home Park for £8,000 in June 1963. He was a key part of the side that reached the 1964-65 League Cup semi-final under Malcolm Allison, though he fell out of favour when Derek Ufton became manager and moved on to Crystal Palace in September 1966, reuniting again with Bert Head who was now managing Palace. In just under three years with Argyle he had played 85 times and scored 20 goals.

Changing roles under Head, from the inside-left (left winger) role he often played at Argyle, he played more as a classical centre-forward. Jackson became a legend for the Eagles, as he was essential in getting Crystal Palace promoted to the First Division in the 1968-69 season. That was the first time in the club’s history that they had reached the top-flight and he weighed in with 17 goals in 40 matches, finishing as the club's top scorer. He sealed promotion for the club with the wining goal against Fulham in April 1969. He was also remembered during this period for his distinct 'Gladiatorial' goal celebration - a simple, single arm up in the air, similar to that often used later by Alan Shearer in the Premier League.

In Palace's first season in the top-tier Jackson made 21 appearances scoring five goals and he would finish his time as an Eagle with a total of 30 goals in 120 appearances. He left the club in August 1970 and returned to Devon to play for Torquay United, who were then in Division Four. To make up for the decrease in wages, he bought and rented caravans to tourists. In four years at Plainmoor he played 127 games and scored 13 goals.

Jackson ended his professional career with Torquay before later moving to play for non-league Cambridge City in July 1974.

After ceasing playing, he returned to live in South Devon and later worked with community focused sports groups in the wider Torbay area before then moving to live in Spain during his later years.

Cliff passed away in Spain, in May 2018, at the age of 76 years old.