Jackson: Mark Graham (Mark)

1995-2000 (Player Details)

Defender

Born: Barnsley: 30-09-1977

Debut: v Middlesbrough (h) (Substitute): 30-03-1996

6’0” 12st (1983)

England Youth International Jackson joined Leeds as a trainee professional and soon earned a Premiership debut in the wake of United’s disastrous 3-0 Coca-Cola League Cup Final defeat by Aston Villa. The eighteen-year-old came off the bench the following week against Middlesbrough, late in the game as a replacement for John Pemberton, as Howard Wilkinson gave a chance to several young prospects late in that season. Jackson’s next involvement with the first team was under George Graham, who used him to strengthen the midfield and had ten consecutive appearances in which he played the full ninety minutes in that role, followed by two games in which he was replaced before dropping out of the team altogether. He played regularly, and was often captain, for the Leeds Pontin’s League team in the 1997-98 season when they won the championship. However, a first team place seemed to get further away as Leeds recruited more defenders and Jackson was allowed to go on loan to Huddersfield Town in October 1998, where he made five appearances. He had trials with Norwich City in early December 1999. He played for the Canaries Reserves alongside fellow triallist Michael Stephen in the 2-2 draw with Leyton Orient on 7th December 1999. After a poor performance in the Reserves' defeat by Gillingham in January 2000, Bruce Rioch decided not to take him on. Once again after his return it was back to the Reserves for Jackson and he was again loaned out to his home-town team Barnsley in January 2000, where he made a single appearance. After a month, he returned to Leeds but immediately began interesting other sides. Bristol Rovers manager Ian Holloway commented that "Mark looks good but he's on a lot of money". As Rovers had a surplus of right sided centre backs, Holloway decided not to pursue this move. On Thursday 24th February 2000, Mark was at Scunthorpe negotiating a move and it was reported that a fee had been agreed. However this was scuppered by a late bid by John Benson’s Wigan and Jackson played as a triallist for them in a Reserve match against Chesterfield. Preston North End were also said to be interested. After a spell of flu, he finally signed for Scunthorpe on 9th March 2000, on a free-transfer. With the Iron he became a regular and racked up one hundred and fifty-nine League appearances, scoring five goals, in the next five years. On October 5th 2004, Conference side Carlisle United made a bid to bring Jackson to Brunton Park on loan. On 13th February 2005, he joined Kidderminster Harriers on a contract until the summer of 2006. Although he had scored four goals and made one hundred and thirty-six League appearances, including nine from the bench,together with eleven games in the F.A. Cup and three in the League Cup, as well as scoring one goal in five starts and one game as a substitute in the Football League Trophy and two games in play-offs for the Iron, he had rarely figured in their first team in his final season following injury. Scunthorpe manager Brian Laws recognised that Jackson needed first team action and so let him go. Harriers boss Stuart Watkiss was pleased to add Jackson to his squad, as Kidderminster were four points adrift from safety at the foot of the table. He managed forty five games and scored three goals. Along with teammate Iyseden Christie, Jackson returned to League football on 31st January 2006 when they joined Rochdale for a combined fee of £35,000. Jackson remained at Rochdale, making a total of twenty-six appearances, including five substitute appearances, until the end of the 2006/7 season when he was one of two players not to have their contracts extended. He joined Blue Square Premier (formerly Conference) ‘new boys’ Farsley Celtic in June 2007 and scored once in twenty-six starts and five games from the bench in his first season. He was appointed Assistant Manager to Neil Parsley and scored two goals in forty-seven appearances. Farsley Celtic went out of the League after administration on 12th March 2010. They were reformed as Farsley FC in June 2010 and Jackson was appointed Player-Assistant Manager by the new club.