# Ira Jackson Jr

Ira Jackson Jr. (born 28 January 1997) is an English former footballer who played as a forward.
Jackson notably played in the Football League for Grimsby Town during the 2020–21 season, prior to this he had played Non-League football for Faversham Town, Ashford United, Ramsgate, Canterbury City, Lordswood, Whitstable Town, Worthing, Dover Athletic, Margate, Leatherhead, Sittingbourne and Folkestone Invicta.

## Career
### Early career

Jackson played for Faversham Town, Ashford United, Ramsgate, Canterbury City, Lordswood, Whitstable Town, Worthing, Dover Athletic, Margate, Leatherhead and Sittingbourne before joining Folkestone in the 2018-19 season.

### Grimsby Town

On 11 August 2020, Jackson Jr. joined Grimsby Town on a two-year contract following a prolific season with Folkestone Invicta that saw him score 26 goals in 36 appearances in the Isthmian Premier Division. He made his debut for the club on 8 September 2020, in a 2–2 EFL Trophy group-stage draw with Harrogate Town, a match won by Grimsby 5–4 on penalties, with Jackson scoring the winning penalty in the shootout. He made his league debut on 12 December 2020, coming off of the bench in the 57 minute before opening the scoring just six minutes later.
Following on from Grimsby's relegation from the Football League at the end of the 2020–21 season, Jackson was deemed surplus to requirements and was transfer listed by manager Paul Hurst with the player being made available on a free transfer.
On 6 September 2021, Jackson Jr. was released from his contract by mutual consent, he left the club having made 22 appearances in all competitions scoring 3 goals.

### Wealdstone

On 7 September 2021, Jackson Jr. signed for National League side Wealdstone following his release from Grimsby. On 18 September, Jackson Jr. scored his first goal for the club on his full debut when he opened the scoring in a 2–2 draw with Aldershot Town. Jackson scored went on to score a total of 4 league goals in 23 appearances for Wealdstone, as well as finding the net in a Middlesex Charity Cup tie against Bedfont & Feltham. On 17 May 2022, it was announced that Jackson Jr. had left the club.

### Return to Folkestone Invicta

On 10 August 2022, Jackson Jr. returned to Folkestone Invicta.
On 31 January 2024, Jackson announced his departure from Folkestone Invicta, stepping away from football for personal reasons whilst continuing coaching.

## Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition :
| Club | Season | League | League | League | FA Cup | FA Cup | League Cup | League Cup | Other | Other | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Ashford United | 2013–14 | Southern Counties East League | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0 |
| Ramsgate | 2014–15 | Isthmian League Division One South | 16 | 3 | 2 | 1 | — | — | 2 | 0 | 20 | 4 |
| Canterbury City (loan) | 2014–15 | Southern Counties East League | 6 | 1 | | | — | — | | | 6 | 1 |
| Lordswood | 2014–15 | Southern Counties East League | 9 | 1 | | | — | — | | | 9 | 1 |
| Worthing | 2015–16 | Isthmian League Division One South | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
| Dover Athletic | 2016–17 | National League | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| Margate (loan) | 2016–17 | National League South | 10 | 4 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 10 | 4 |
| Leatherhead | 2017–18 | Isthmian League Premier Division | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Ashford United | 2017–18 | Isthmian League Division One South | 12 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 12 | 1 |
| Sittingbourne | 2018–19 | Isthmian League South East Division | 12 | 4 | 2 | 2 | — | — | 5 | 0 | 19 | 6 |
| Folkestone Invicta | 2018–19 | Isthmian League Premier Division | 15 | 7 | — | — | — | — | 0 | 0 | 15 | 7 |
| Folkestone Invicta | 2019–20 | Isthmian League Premier Division | 32 | 21 | 2 | 2 | — | — | 2 | 1 | 36 | 24 |
| Grimsby Town | 2020–21 | League Two | 20 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 22 | 3 |
| Wealdstone | 2021-22 | National League | 23 | 4 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 2 | 1 | 26 | 5 |
| Folkestone Invicta | 2022–23 | Isthmian League Premier Division | 42 | 10 | 4 | 1 | — | — | 4 | 1 | 50 | 12 |
| Folkestone Invicta | 2023–24 | Isthmian League Premier Division | 18 | 3 | 3 | 3 | — | — | 3 | 2 | 24 | 8 |
| Folkestone Invicta | Folkestone Invicta total | Folkestone Invicta total | 107 | 41 | 9 | 6 | — | — | 9 | 4 | 125 | 51 |
| Career Total | Career Total | Career Total | 235 | 62 | 15 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 21 | 5 | 274 | 76 |
* ↑ Appearance(s) in Alan Turvey Trophy
* 1 2 Appearances in the FA Trophy
* ↑ Two appearances in FA Trophy, three appearances in Alan Turvey Trophy
* ↑ Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy
* ↑ One appearance in FA Trophy, one appearance in Middlesex Charity Cup
* ↑ One goal in Middlesex Charity Cup
* ↑ Three appearances and one goal in FA Trophy, one appearance in Alan Turvey Trophy
* ↑ One appearance and two goals in FA Trophy, one appearance in Kent Senior Cup, one appearance in Alan Turvey Trophy