Jackie Oakes (6 December 1919 – 3 December 1995) was a Scottish
footballer
A football player or footballer is a sportsperson who plays one of the different types of football. The main types of football are association football, American football, Canadian football, Australian rules football, Gaelic football, rugby ...
who played for
Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club (), commonly known as Wolves, is a professional football club based in Wolverhampton, England, which compete in the . The club has played at Molineux Stadium since moving from Dudley Road in 1889. The club's ...
Blackburn Rovers
Blackburn Rovers Football Club is a professional football club, based in Blackburn, Lancashire, England, which competes in the , the second tier of the English football league system. They have played home matches at Ewood Park since 1890. T ...
and
Manchester City
Manchester () is a city in Greater Manchester, England. It had a population of 552,000 in 2021. It is bordered by the Cheshire Plain to the south, the Pennines to the north and east, and the neighbouring city of Salford to the west. The tw ...
. Born in
Hamilton, South Lanarkshire
Hamilton ( sco, Hamiltoun; gd, Baile Hamaltan ) is a large town in South Lanarkshire, Scotland. It serves as the main administrative centre of the South Lanarkshire council area. It sits south-east of Glasgow, south-west of Edinburgh and nort ...
, his position was
left winger
A midfielder is an outfield position in association football.
Midfielders may play an exclusively defensive role, breaking up attacks, and are in that case known as defensive midfielders. As central midfielders often go across boundarie ...
. Oakes died three days before his 76th birthday.
Wolverhampton Wanderers
Oakes started his senior football career in England with Wolverhampton Wanderers in 1935 signed by
Major Frank Buckley
Franklin Charles Buckley (more commonly known as Major Frank Buckley) (3 October 1882 – 21 December 1964) was an English football player and, later, manager. He was the brother of Chris Buckley, who played for Aston Villa.
Early life
Buckle ...
. From official club records, there is no mention of any first-team appearances for Oakes whilst he was at Wolverhampton Wanderers.http://www.neilbrown.newcastlefans.com/player3/jackieoakes.html
Queen of the South (first spell)
In 1936, Oakes signed for
Dumfries
Dumfries ( ; sco, Dumfries; from gd, Dùn Phris ) is a market town and former royal burgh within the Dumfries and Galloway council area of Scotland. It is located near the mouth of the River Nith into the Solway Firth about by road from the ...
club Queen of the South for the first time signed by George McLachlan. Players at the club during this time included
Willie Savage
William Savage (1888–1961) was a Scottish footballer who played as a full back for Queen of the South from 1932 to 1946.
Early days
Savage was a native of Burnbank, Lanarkshire, who began his football as an inside forward at the local St Cu ...
Willie Ferguson
William Copeland Ferguson (13 February 1901 – 31 August 1960) was a Scottish footballer and manager best known for his time at Chelsea and Dumfries side Queen of the South. His position was usually as a left winger.
Early years
Ferguson ...
, Joe Tulip and Irish international Laurie Cumming.
His Queens career began with a reserve game against
Third Lanark
Third Lanark Athletic Club was a Scottish football club based in Glasgow. Founded in 1872 as an offshoot of the 3rd Lanarkshire Rifle Volunteers, the club was a founder member of the Scottish Football Association (SFA) in 1872 and the Scottish ...
on Christmas Day 1936. His first team debut was on 24 April 1937 with a hint of irony by playing
Hamilton Academical
Hamilton Academical Football Club, often known as Hamilton Accies, or The Accies, is a Scottish association football, football club from Hamilton, South Lanarkshire, Hamilton, South Lanarkshire who currently compete in the Scottish Championshi ...
. Willie Ferguson had recently become the Queen of the South manager. Oakes at this point played on the right wing despite being ultimately known for playing on the left flank.
Taking a pass from Phil Watson, the mighty Oakes opened the scoring in Queens 1937–38 season ending 3–2 victory against Rangers at
Ibrox Park
Ibrox Stadium is a football stadium on the south side of the River Clyde in the Ibrox area of Glasgow, Scotland. The home of Rangers Football Club, Ibrox is the third largest football stadium in Scotland, with an all-seated capacity of .
O ...
, Queens first ever league win against Rangers. Jackie Law scored the other two Queens goals that day.
Oakes was at Queens under Jimmy McKinnell Snr when they finished sixth in the league in 1939."The Queens" by Iain McCartney on Creedon Publications, 2004
Blackburn Rovers
Oakes joined Blackburn Rovers in February 1947 after turning down Manchester City. Blackburn Rovers paid £26,000 on three players in an attempt to buy the club out of relegation trouble. These players were Jock Weir, Frank McGorrigan and Oakes.
Oakes made his debut for Blackburn Rovers in the 1–1 draw at home to
Derby County
Derby County Football Club () is a professional association football club based in Derby, Derbyshire, England. In 2022, it was announced that DCFC was acquired by Clowes Developments (UK) Ltd, a Derbyshire-based property group.
Founded in 188 ...
on 15 February 1947. He was an ever-present for the remainder of the season, making a total of 16 appearances and scoring two goals. His first goal for the club came against that season's eventual league champions,
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough in Merseyside, England. With a population of in 2019, it is the 10th largest English district by population and its metropolitan area is the fifth largest in the United Kingdom, with a popul ...
, in a 2–1 defeat at
Anfield
Anfield is a football stadium in Anfield, Liverpool, Merseyside, England, which has a seating capacity of 53,394, making it the seventh largest football stadium in England. It has been the home of Liverpool F.C. since their formation in 1892. ...
on 8 March 1947. Oakes' second goal that season came in the 2–0 win against
Chelsea
Chelsea or Chelsey may refer to:
Places Australia
* Chelsea, Victoria
Canada
* Chelsea, Nova Scotia
* Chelsea, Quebec
United Kingdom
* Chelsea, London, an area of London, bounded to the south by the River Thames
** Chelsea (UK Parliament consti ...
at Stamford Bridge on 4 April 1947.
In season 1947–48, Oakes made 19 appearances in the league and two in the FA Cup, both against
West Ham United
West Ham United Football Club is an English professional football club that plays its home matches in Stratford, East London. The club competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football. The club plays at the London Stadium, hav ...
He scored seven league goals. His first of the season was also his first at
Ewood Park
Ewood Park () is a football stadium in Blackburn, Lancashire, England, and the home of Blackburn Rovers F.C., founding members of the Football League and Premier League, who have played there since 1890. It is an all seater multi-sports facili ...
, in the 4–0 win over
Grimsby Town
Grimsby Town Football Club is a professional football club based in Cleethorpes, North East Lincolnshire, England, that in the 2022–23 season will compete in , the fourth tier of the English football league system, following the victory in ...
on 20 September 1947. He scored a penalty in the 3–1 win at
Maine Road
Maine Road was a football stadium in Moss Side, Manchester, England, that was home to Manchester City F.C. from 1923 to 2003. It hosted FA Cup semi-finals, the Charity Shield, a League Cup final and England matches. Maine Road's highest atte ...
against Manchester City a week later and then made it three goals in as many games after scoring in the 3–2 defeat at home to Preston North End on 4 October 1947. He scored twice, one being a terrific 13th-minute dribble and drive and the other a penalty, as Blackburn Rovers defeated
Bolton Wanderers
Bolton Wanderers Football Club () is a professional football club based in Horwich, Bolton, Greater Manchester, England, which competes in . The club played at Burnden Park for 102 years from 1895 after moving from their original home at Pike's ...
4–0 on 1 November 1947. He then scored the only goals in defeats to
Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough ( ) is a town on the southern bank of the River Tees in North Yorkshire, England. It is near the North York Moors national park. It is the namesake and main town of its local borough council area.
Until the early 1800s, the a ...
at home on 29 November 1947 and at
Goodison Park
Goodison Park is a football stadium in the Walton area of Liverpool, England. It has been the home stadium of Premier League club Everton F.C. since its completion in 1892. Located in a residential area 2 miles (3 km) north of Liverpool ...
against Everton on 20 December 1947. His final appearance for Blackburn Rovers came in the 2–1 defeat at home to Liverpool on 10 April 1948.
In total Oakes played 35 leagues and two
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, more commonly known as the FA Cup, is an annual knockout football competition in men's domestic English football. First played during the 1871–72 season, it is the oldest national football competi ...
games for Blackburn Rovers scoring 9 goals. Playing alongside many Blackburn Rovers stalwarts, his best-known teammate was probably the England full-back, Bill Eckersley. As Blackburn Rovers were relegated from the top tier of English football at the end of season 1947–48, Manchester City stepped in to keep Oakes in the top flight.
Manchester City
Oakes joined Manchester City at the start of the season 1948–49, where he lined up alongside
Joe Fagan
Joseph Francis Fagan (12 March 1921 – 30 June 2001) was an English footballer and manager. He was a coach and manager at Liverpool for twenty seven years under Bill Shankly and Bob Paisley. As a manager he was the first English manager to wi ...
and also two highly distinguished goalkeepers in
Frank Swift
Frank Victor Swift (26 December 1913 – 6 February 1958) was an English footballer, who played as a goalkeeper for Manchester City and England. After starting his career with local clubs near his home town of Blackpool, in 1932 he was signed b ...
and
Bert Trautmann
Bernhard Carl "Bert" Trautmann EK OBE BVO (22 October 1923 – 19 July 2013) was a German professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper for Manchester City from 1949 to 1964.
In August 1933, (aged 9), he joined the Jungvolk, the junior ...
. When at Manchester City things were never dull. In that first season, he and his fellow Maine Road teammates improved on the previous season's 10th place by finishing 7th. In the F.A. Cup that season Manchester City were defeated in the third round by Everton, now the club of Dumfries born forward
Jimmy McIntosh
James McLaughlin McIntosh (5 April 1918 – 4 April 2000) was a Scottish professional association football, footballer and manager. As a player McIntosh was a fast, strong, stocky forward.1949–50. Near the season's end and battling for their top-flight survival, Manchester City defeated
Sunderland
Sunderland () is a port city in Tyne and Wear, England. It is the City of Sunderland's administrative centre and in the Historic counties of England, historic county of County of Durham, Durham. The city is from Newcastle-upon-Tyne and is on t ...
2–1 and this ultimately cost Sunderland the title. Former Queen of the South player
Ivor Broadis
Ivan Arthur "Ivor" Broadis (18 December 1922 – 12 April 2019) was an English professional footballer.
During a career spanning nineteen years from 1942 to 1961, Broadis represented Carlisle United, Sunderland, Manchester City, Newcastle Unite ...
played for Sunderland at that particular time. Oakes scored the opening goal and this was the only double league defeat that Sunderland endured all season. This win, unfortunately, was not enough to save Manchester City from relegation.
Manchester City's visit to the second tier of English football, season 1950–51, was to be short-lived, as they were promoted back to the top tier for the start of season 1951–52, as they finished runners-up to Preston North End. Oakes clocked up 77 league appearances in which he scored 9 goals.
Queen of the South (second spell)
Oakes rejoined Queen of the South in the summer of 1951 signed by
Jimmy McKinnell Junior James McKinnell Jr. (1902 – 1995) was long-time secretary and manager with Scottish Football League club Queen of the South from Dumfries.
(McKinnell had replaced his father as manager in 1946 before Oakes' departure to England). Ahead of him lay many great times at Queen of the South, playing alongside in particular, goalkeeper Roy Henderson, the goals king of Queens Jim Patterson and sterling full backs
Dougie Sharpe
Dougie Sharpe (1926–1974) was a Scottish footballer who played for Queen of the South from the town of Dumfries.
Early years
Dougie Sharpe was a native of New Abbey. He played for St Michael's Primary School team in Dumfries and then Dumfrie ...
and
Jimmy Binning
James Binning (21 December 1922 – 1991) was a Scottish footballer who played for Arbroath and Dumfries side Queen of the South.
Career
From the season 1948–1949 until his departure, Binning scored six goals in his 84 league games for Arbro ...
. Bobby Black joined them a year later in 1952.
Oakes scored Queens goal in the game with the highest recorded attendance at Palmerston Park. On 23 February 1952 a staggering crowd of 26,552 squeezed very tightly in to see Queens play in a
Scottish Cup
The Scottish Football Association Challenge Cup,Hearts.
Late in his Queen of the South career, Oakes was joined by Ivor Broadis, previously of Oakes' tussles for Manchester City against Sunderland. Oakes played in the 7–1
Boxing Day
Boxing Day is a holiday celebrated after Christmas Day, occurring on the second day of Christmastide (26 December). Though it originated as a holiday to give gifts to the poor, today Boxing Day is primarily known as a shopping holiday. It ...
win against Queen's Park in 1959. Ivor Broadis scored four of the goals in this match.
Sir Alex Ferguson
Sir Alexander Chapman Ferguson (born 31 December 1941) is a Scottish former football manager and player, best known for managing Manchester United from 1986 to 2013. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest football managers of all tim ...
was the Queen's Park scorer. Sir Alex Ferguson recalled this match recently by saying "The other reason I remember that game was due to the average age of the Queen of the South forward line, which was probably about 34, with Black, Broadis, Patterson, Dunlop, and Oakes playing. I remember it all too well."
Shortly after in February 1960, Oakes was joined on the playing staff by another ex-opponent from his days in England's top division, goalkeeper
George Farm
George Neil Farm (13 July 1924 – 18 July 2004) was a Scottish professional football goalkeeper and manager.
Born in Slateford, a suburb of Edinburgh, Farm represented his country on ten occasions, the last three of which occurred after a ga ...
.
Twenty three years after his debut, Oakes played at Queens until the age of 40 in 1960, clocking up a total of 457 games for the club. Oakes is fourth highest in the club's record appearances list behind
Allan Ball
Allan Ball (26 February 1943 – 21 July 2018) was an English footballer. Born in Hetton-le-Hole in County Durham, Ball played as a goalkeeper, spending most of his professional career with Scottish club Queen of the South in Dumfries. Ball ...
and
Iain McChesney
Iain McChesney is a former professional association footballer with Scottish Football League club Queen of the South from Dumfries. McChesney is the longest serving player in the club's history, playing with them from 1960 to 1981. McChesney ...
and in between team-mates Jim Patterson and Dougie Sharpe. Oakes is twelfth in the ''Doonhamers'' all-time goalscoring charts with 81 goals. With the exception of his last season in
Dumfries
Dumfries ( ; sco, Dumfries; from gd, Dùn Phris ) is a market town and former royal burgh within the Dumfries and Galloway council area of Scotland. It is located near the mouth of the River Nith into the Solway Firth about by road from the ...
, Oakes time as a Queens player was spent in Scotland's top flight. Oakes then replaced Neil Gibson Junior to become the club trainer for three years.