Gerry Jackson
{{Short description|British speedway rider}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2023}}
{{Infobox Speedway rider
| name = Gerry Jackson
| image =
| nationality = British (English)
| birth_date = {{birth-date|14 October 1925}}
| birth_place = Teddington, England
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1997|7|2|1925|10|14|df=y}}
| death_place =
| career1 = Rayleigh Rockets
| years1 = 1950–1956
| career2 = Wembley Lions
| years2 = 1956
| career3 = Wimbledon Dons
| years3 = 1957-1964
| career4 = Hackney Hawks
| years4 = 1965-1967
| indivyear1 =
| indivhonour1 =
| teamhonour1 = National League
| teamyear1 = 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961
| teamhonour2 = National Trophy
| teamyear2 = 1959, 1960, 1962
| teamhonour3 = Southern League Champion
| teamyear3 = 1952, 1953
| teamhonour4 = Britannia Shield
| teamyear4 = 1959
}}
Gerald Richard Jackson (14 October 1925 – 2 July 1997) was a motorcycle speedway rider from England.{{cite web |url=https://britishspeedway.co.uk/docs/Ultimate_Index_1929-2022.pdf |title=ULTIMATE RIDER INDEX, 1929-2022, Gerry Jackson |website=British Speedway |access-date=31 May 2023}}{{cite web |url=http://www.speedwaymuseumonline.co.uk/geraldjacksonsframe.html |title=Gerald Jackson’s Frame |website=Speedway Museum online |access-date=31 May 2023}}{{cite news |title=Commonwealth Star is fine winner |work=Weekly Dispatch (London)|date=31 May 1953 |access-date=31 May 2023 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003359/19530531/176/0011 | via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }}
Career
Jackson started his British leagues career during the 1950 Speedway National League Division Three season, where he rode for Rayleigh Rockets. He was part of the Rayleigh team that won the 1952 Speedway Southern League. The following season Rayleigh repeated the success and Jackson finished second in the league averages during the 1953 Speedway Southern League, recording a 9.68 average.{{cite web |url=https://wwosbackup.proboards.com/thread/1442/gerry-jackson |title=Gerry Jackson |website=WWOS Backup |access-date=31 May 2023}}
Jackson's performances gained the attention of the big London clubs and he rode for the Wembley Lions during the 1956 Speedway National League. He then joined the Wimbledon Dons and rode for them for eight years. He helped Wimbledon seal four league titles and three cups from 1958 to 1962. By the end of the 1950s he was one of Wimbledon's top riders.{{cite news |title=Speedway test win no fluke |work=Sports Argus |date=9 September 1961 |access-date=31 May 2023 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000653/19610909/160/0007 | via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }}{{cite web |url=https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/1959nlaverages.pdf |title=1959 averages |website=Speedway Researcher |access-date=31 May 2023}}
In 1965, he joined Hackney Hawks for the new 1965 British League season and would spend the remainder of his career there. He top scored for Hackney in 1965 which meant that he represented them in the 1965 British League Riders' Championship.{{cite news |title=Speedway |work=Huddersfield Daily Examiner |date=28 July 1967 |access-date=31 May 2023 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000901/19670728/019/0019 | via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }}