Peter Jackson started his playing career with his hometown club Bradford City in 1979 and spent seven years at the club, making 320 appearances , at the heart of defence, scoring 25 goals.
In his first season at the club, Bradford were inches away from securing promotion from the Fourth Division. They finished fifth, with goal-difference separating them and fourth-placed Portsmouth. At this time there was no play-offs and the top four sides were promoted.
Jackson did get to sample Third Division football two years later however, as in 1981-82 The Bantams finished second in the Fourth Division.
Jackson spent three years in the Third Division with his hometown team before securing promotion to the Second Division in 1985. It would be the first time Bradford had been above the Third Division in 48 years, and they did it in style, winning the championship.
Jackson would spend one season with Bradford in the Second Division, helping them to a 13th placed finish.
His form for the Bantams led to First Division Newcastle United securing his services in October 1986, for a fee of £250,000. The Magpies finished 17th in Jackson's first season there.
Jackson would spend only two years in the North East, before Bradford came calling again. The club that had sold him for £250,000 had to pay £290,000 to bring him back in September 1988.
His stay this time would be shorter, another two year stint, where he made a further 71 appearances, scoring five times. Bradford were relegated back to the Third Division in the summer of 1990, and four months later Jackson was on the move again, this time across West Yorkshire to Third Division Huddersfield Town on a free transfer.
Jackson had a good spell with the Terriers, making 197 appearances, scoring five times, in a four year spell.
In 1991-1992, he helped Town to third and the Play-Offs, but they couldn't end their four year spell in the division as Town lost 4-3 to sixth placed Peterborough on aggregate in the Semi-Finals. The Posh were eventually promoted.
Huddersfield didn't get anywhere near in Jackson's final two years at the club and in September 1994, he left with the club second in the league to join newly promoted Chester on a free transfer. Ironically Huddersfield were promoted at the end of the season whilst Chester finished second bottom, and therefore went straight back down.
Jackson would spend three years with the Blues, and in 1995-1996; they missed out on the play-offs by just two points. His final full season at the club- 1996-1997 saw Chester reach the play-offs, finishing 6th. After a home draw with fifth placed Swansea in the first leg, they were defeated 3-0 away. Jackson made 108 appearances for Chester, scoring three times before leaving in May 1997.
He ended his career with Conference side Halifax, signing in August 1997. He would make eight appearances for the Shaymen, helping them as they won the league that year.
After retiring from playing, Peter Jackson has gone on to manage Huddersfield Town and Lincoln City.
Rob Miles
