Colin JACKSON

Colin Jackson is pictured playing football for Rangwers during their 'old firm'

match against Celtic.

He lived in Rutherglen for over 30 years. He died of leukaemia at his home on 6th June 2015.

Colin Jackson pictured in action for Glasgow Rangers during the Old Firm game

on 10th. April 1982.      Photo G. Herringshaw. ©

                                                 Biography 1962/1963 - 1981/1982.

Colin Jackson gave Rangers almost two decades of sterling service and is part of a small band of players that have made more than 500 appearances for the club. He joined Rangers straight from school in 1962 and, in common with most youngsters in this era, was farmed out to Aberdeenshire outfit Sunnybank Athletic for a year to gain some experience. Jackson, a tall, slim centre-half who was excellent in the air, returned to the Ibrox fold in 1963, but found opportunities to break into the first-team limited in the fledgling years of his Ibrox career as a result of the imperious displays of Ronnie McKinnon at the heart of the Rangers defence. However, after making his first-team debut against Partick Thistle on 2 January 1966 Jackson gradually became more of a fixture in the team and eventually secured a regular berth in the starting eleven.
He picked up his first medal in 1970 when he was part of the side that defeated Celtic to win the League Cup, and looked set to add a European gong to his collection when Rangers reached the European Cup Winners' Cup Final in 1972. Jackson had stepped into the breach at centre-half when Ronnie McKinnon broke his leg in the second leg of the second round tie against Sporting Lisbon, and played a pivotal role as the Light Blues overcame Torino and Bayern Munich to reach the Final. Indeed, his displays in the semi-final against Bayern when he helped to successfully nullify the threat of Gerd Muller are rated among his finest in a Rangers shirt. However, Colin's hopes of playing in the showpiece match against Moscow Dynamo in the Nou Camp were dashed when he too succumbed to injury. He picked up an ankle injury in training just twenty-four hours before the Final and his place in the starting eleven was taken by Derek Johnstone.

Colin's first-team outings remained sporadic until the beginning of the 1974/75 season after which he became more of a regular fixture in the team. Over the next four seasons he played an integral role in one of the most celebrated sides in Rangers' history. He missed just three league matches as the Light Blues powered their way to the League Championship for the first time in eleven years in 1975, and he missed only five as Jock Wallace's side claimed the domestic Treble in 1975/76 and 1977/78.

Although by no means a regular goal-scorer, Jackson still managed to post a respectable return of forty goals in his 506 appearances for Rangers. His height and presence made him a real threat at set-pieces and cross balls, and arguably his most significant strike for the club came from such a supply in the dying minutes of the 1978/79 League Cup Final against Aberdeen. With the teams deadlocked at 1-1 as the clock ticked on to the 90th minute, Tommy McLean flighted the ball into the penalty area and Colin towered above the Dons' defence to head home the winning goal and hand John Greig the first piece of silverware of his managerial tenure.

One of a clutch of Rangers players who have represented Scotland despite being born outside the country - Colin was born in London - Jackson's last match for Rangers was the 1982 Scottish Cup Final defeat against Aberdeen at Hampden. Awarded a testimonial match against Everton in 1981 in recognition of his loyalty and service to the club, Colin joined Morton on a free transfer in the summer of 1982, but only stayed in Greenock for a month before joining Partick Thistle. He returned to Cappielow ahead of the 1983/84 season before he eventually called time on his playing career. (Alistair Aird, Author of Ally McCoist - Portrait of a Hero)