Wattie Jackson
Encyclopedia
Walter “Wattie” Jackson was a Scottish soccer center forward
who spent five seasons in the Scottish Football League
, at least one in the Football League and two in the American Soccer League
.
Born and raised in Renton, West Dunbartonshire, Scotland
, Jackson, and his brother Alex
, both played professionally. In 1920, Jackson began his career with Kilmarnock F.C.
of the Scottish Football League
. In 1923, while visiting relatives in Detroit, Michigan
, he came to the attention Bethlehem Steel F.C.
who had recently lost center forward Daniel McNiven
to the New York Field Club
. The team tracked down Jackson in Michigan and offered him $25.00 per week to play for Bethlehem. This was nearly triple his salary in Scotland and on August 25, 1923, signed with the Steelmen. After one season in the United States, Jackson returned to Scotland where he played the next two seasons with Aberdeen F.C.
In 1925, he joined Preston North End in the Football League. In 1927, he returned to the United States were he resigned with Bethlehem Steel. He played only thirteen games that season before moving to the Philadelphia Centennials
of the Eastern Professional Soccer League.
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
who spent five seasons in the Scottish Football League
Scottish Football League
The Scottish Football League is a league of football teams in Scotland, comprising theScottish First Division, Scottish Second Division and Scottish Third Division. From the league's foundation in 1890 until the breakaway Scottish Premier League was formed in 1998, the Scottish Football League...
, at least one in the Football League and two in the American Soccer League
American Soccer League
The American Soccer League has been a name used by three different professional soccer leagues in the United States. The first American Soccer League was established in 1921 by the merger of teams from the National Association Football League and the Southern New England Soccer League. For...
.
Born and raised in Renton, West Dunbartonshire, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, Jackson, and his brother Alex
Alex Jackson
Alexander Skinner Jackson was a Scottish footballer.Alex Jackson was born in Renton in 1905. A highly-talented winger, known as the Gay Cavalier, he was particularly adept at dribbling and free kicks. He initially played for Renton Victoria Football Club but was transferred to Dumbarton F.C. in...
, both played professionally. In 1920, Jackson began his career with Kilmarnock F.C.
Kilmarnock F.C.
Kilmarnock Football Club is a Scottish football team based in the town of Kilmarnock, Ayrshire. Founded in 1869, "Killie" is the oldest club currently in the Scottish Premier League. Home matches are played at Rugby Park...
of the Scottish Football League
Scottish Football League
The Scottish Football League is a league of football teams in Scotland, comprising theScottish First Division, Scottish Second Division and Scottish Third Division. From the league's foundation in 1890 until the breakaway Scottish Premier League was formed in 1998, the Scottish Football League...
. In 1923, while visiting relatives in Detroit, Michigan
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
, he came to the attention Bethlehem Steel F.C.
Bethlehem Steel F.C.
Bethlehem Steel Football Club was one of the most successful early American soccer clubs. Known as the Bethlehem Football Club from 1911 until 1915 when it became the Bethlehem Steel Football Club, the team was sponsored by the Bethlehem Steel corporation and played their home games first at East...
who had recently lost center forward Daniel McNiven
Daniel McNiven
Daniel “Big Dan” McNiven was a Scottish football center forward who led the American Soccer League in scoring in 1922-1923.McNiven began his professional career in 1921 with Partick Thistle of the Scottish Football League. He played only five games before leaving Scotland for the United States....
to the New York Field Club
New York Field Club
New York F.C. was a successful early American soccer club.The club was originally a member of the amateur National Association Foot Ball League then became an inaugural member of the professional American Soccer League in 1921.The club won the Southern New York State Football Association in...
. The team tracked down Jackson in Michigan and offered him $25.00 per week to play for Bethlehem. This was nearly triple his salary in Scotland and on August 25, 1923, signed with the Steelmen. After one season in the United States, Jackson returned to Scotland where he played the next two seasons with Aberdeen F.C.
Aberdeen F.C.
Aberdeen Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Aberdeen...
In 1925, he joined Preston North End in the Football League. In 1927, he returned to the United States were he resigned with Bethlehem Steel. He played only thirteen games that season before moving to the Philadelphia Centennials
Philadelphia Centennials
The Philadelphia Centennials of 1875 were a short-lived baseball team in the National Association. They won 2 games, lost 12, and did not finish out the season. Their home games were played at Centennial Grounds....
of the Eastern Professional Soccer League.