Alan Jackson’s Loughborough University entrance photograph, 1960.		Trojans HC win the National League play-offs in 1990.

12.06.1939 – 20.02.2022

Alan was born in Southampton on 12 June 1939 to parents James and Vera Jackson. He had an elder brother Peter who was 6 years older.

Alan resided in Southampton for a short while before being evacuated in 1939 with his mother to Blackpool to live with an auntie until they returned in 1945. He spent time in a couple of local schools until 1953 when he was moved to the Royal Masonic School in Bushey Park. It was here that he flourished and found his love of sports, frequently being recounted as one of the most talented allrounders the school had produced. Alan’s primary sport was rugby and late in his teens he made the choice to pursue a career in hockey – his pragmatic analysis was that hockey had fewer injuries and therefore would provide some longevity!

He completed his teacher training degree at Loughborough University between 1960 and 1963, and then spent four years teaching at King Edward VI School in Southampton where he specialised in Games, Geography and Drama. During his time living back in Southampton Alan played for Trojans Hockey Club and was an instrumental player in their 1st XI. This led to him being selected to play in the Great Britain tour of Australia in the summer of 1966 where he was part of a very successful team, managed by the knowledgeable and well-respected LSE ‘Jonah’ Jones and captained by the enigmatic David Prosser who sadly passed away in January 2021.

After his years of teaching Alan returned to his studies and completed both parts of his diploma in Management Studies as well as an MSc in Recreation Management. A job opportunity in Manchester in 1974 saw the family move to Bramhall and Alan then played for a spell with Alderley Edge Hockey Club.

Having been frustrated with working under the confines of a local council, Alan purchased a hotel in the Polygon, Southampton in 1977 and the family, now including 3 children Claire, Graham and Christopher, moved back to Southampton shortly after. Alan and his wife Wendy ran the hotel very successfully for many years. Later, Alan purchased two large Victorian houses on the edge of Southampton and created the ‘Pimms’ and ‘Hollies’ Hotel Apartments. Both ran very successfully until his retirement in 1999.

Alan spent his remaining years overlooking the sea in Hill Head, Fareham where his son Graham and wife Wendy still reside.

Coaching at Tojans Hockey Club

Alan had a big impact as a hockey player. His representing Great Britain in 1966 was a mark of his talent and the dedication and passion he had for the sport. He contributed a great deal to Trojans in the 1960s and 1970s as a player, but his contribution to coaching hockey could be viewed as even more impactful. In the late 1980s he took over as first team coach at Trojans to bring the club back into the highest league in the country. At the time the first National League was being formed and Alan saw a place for Trojans in it. He was always an incredibly creative thinker and wasn’t afraid to challenge the status quo and push things forward. He was one of the first coaches to extensively use video analysis of both the Trojans team and, frequently from a covert location, their future opposition! He used instant playback analysis of short corners and walkie talkies to communicate, as well as being one of the first coaches in the country to utilise his Australian connections to head hunt specific international players and employ them to play for the club. In latter years sports psychologists, nutritionists, physiotherapists and even an infamous athletics sprint coach formed a normal part of team life. Pre-season tournaments at the Racing Club de France and other more local teams helped build the team spirit needed to win. Trojans were frequently the underdogs, and yet his coaching presence and approach allowed the team to achieve far beyond what the ‘on paper’ comparisons to their opposition might predict. This approach saw a mighty rise for Trojans who, in the space of three short years gained promotion to and through the National League and into the top division. Alan worked closely with David Whittle as part of the England coaching set-up travelling the country and reporting back on potential talent. Indeed, at one point before this Alan was lined up as Great Britain Assistant Coach, but this was sadly curtailed as the family were involved in a serious car crash meaning he was unable to make the commitment.

Alan was a fantastic player, an inspirational coach and was devoted to his wife and children. He was a man of few words, but the thought and relevance of what was said was (nearly!) always worth listening to. His passing is a not only huge loss to his immediate and extended family, but also to a long list of teammates and players, both in the UK and abroad, who had the privilege of his thoughtful and creative guidance.

Chris Jackson, March 2022