Darren Jackson helped stop their ten and won over the Celtic support

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The Celtic Star

·14 October 2025

Darren Jackson helped stop their ten and won over the Celtic support

Darren Jackson was at one point a somewhat unpopular figure amongst the Celtic support, but one dramatic season on and off the park changed all that…

Darren Jackson celebrates as Celtic stop the ten. Photo The Celtic Wiki

When Wim Jansen took the reigns at Celtic Park back in 1997 he faced an uphill task from the word go, what with it being an all important campaign, not to mention an urgent need for new faces. So it surprised more than a few when one of Wim’s first signing was revealed to the a very familiar name and face in Darren Jackson.

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Approaching 31, Jackson was heading into the latter stages of his career, a career that started at the now defunct Meadowbank Thistle, via Newcastle United, before moving back north to make his name with Dundee United and Hibs.

Scottish Premier League. Aberdeen 0-2 Celtic.Darren Jackson (right) celebrates alongside Tom Boyd after doubling Celtic’s lead. 9 December 1995. Photo The Celtic Wiki

Darren was also a full Scottish international so he had the pedigree, but still it was a rather unexpected signing, and it didn’t help that he wasn’t exactly a popular figure in the eyes of the Celtic support. He was one of those players who you couldn’t take to if he wasn’t in your side, indeed he wasn’t a popular figure with supporters of most clubs apart from Hibs.

12 August 1998: Darren Jackson scores Celtic’s winning goal during the qualifiying match between Celtic v Croatia Zagreb in a Champions League Cup played at Celtic Park. Celtic won the match 1-0. Photo Clive Brunskill /Allsport

It came as no surprise to learn that he recently revealed that he followed Rangers when he was younger, especially if you are happened to read the popular football magazine ‘Shoot’ in your youth, as this eagle eyed blogger did, and remember Jackson being asked in one of those question pieces, ‘what club did you support as a boy?’ and it was no surprise his answer was ‘Rangers’.

FRANCE – JUNE 16: FUSSBALL: WM FRANCE 98 Bordeaux, 16.06.98, Nationalmannschaft/TEAM SCHOTTLAND/SCO, hintere Reihe v.lks.: Craig BURLEY/Colin CALDERWOOD/Gordon DURIE/Christian DAILLY/Torwart Jim LEIGHTON/Colin HENDRY, vordere Reihe v.lks.: Darren JACKSON/Kevin GALLACHER/Tommy BOYD/John COLLINS/Paul LAMBERT (Photo by Marcus Brandt/Bongarts/Getty Images)

However Darren choose to sign for the green half of Glasgow so was naturally welcomed by the Celtic supporters just like any other signing, but like every other player he would be under extreme pressure in a ever so vital campaign, one like no other.

Darren quickly hit the ground running and scored his first goal on his home debut in a UEFA cup qualifier against Welsh minnows Inter Cable Tel at Celtic Park. He didn’t have to wait long for his next effort as he found the net against Berwick Rangers, the same game a certain Henrik Larsson scored his first Celtic goal in a 7-0 league cup romp at Tyncastle.

He added a further effort, a superb finish in a vital 2-0 win against St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park. Things were starting to look up for Darren until he was forced to go to hospital before a European clash with Tirol Innsbruck at Celtic Park at the end of August, after suffering from a severe migraine.

Darren then received the devastating news that he had a serious brain condition, but the good news was that it wasn’t life threatening, but needed treatment all the same, and he immediately underwent surgery to correct the issue.

12 August 1998: Darren Jackson of Celtic fights for a 50/50 ball with Zagreb player Dario Stimic during the qualifiying match between Celtic v Croatia Zagreb in a Champions League Cup played at Celtic Park. Celtic won the match 1-0. Photo: Clive Brunskill /Allsport

Naturally he would miss all football related activities for the next three months as he recovered, but football would be the last thing on his thoughts as quite rightly his number one priority was fighting back to full health.

Darren received nothing but well wishes from the Celtic support and everyone in the Scottish game as he battled back to full health, and battle back he did, as he made his long waited return in a pivotal midweek November games against Rangers, at Celtic Park, and as he entered the array as a substitute, he received a warm and rapturous reception.

Darren didn’t have to wait long until his first goal since his illness which arrived against Aberdeen at Pittodrie a few weeks later, and showed how much it meant as he got momentarily lost whilst celebrating amongst the Celtic supporters behind the goal, and the travelling support loudly chanted his name as he made his way back to the centre circle. Never ever would we have imagined that scenario just 12 months previously.

With the signing of Harald Brattbakk and good form of Simon Donnelly and Henrik Larsson, Darren struggled to command a regular place but still contributed to our title win by making 31 appearances and scoring six goals in all competitions as we won the League Cup, and more importantly stopped the dreaded ten by winning the league title.

Darren Jackson scores

Sadly that was as good as it got for Darren and he struggled to command a regular place at Celtic and spent a loan stint at Coventry City before returning to Edinburgh but this time in the maroon of Hearts where he would spend two years before winding his career down with Livingston, St Johnstone and Clydebank.

Darren Jackson may have once upon a time been an unpopular figure amongst our support, but thanks to his contribution to one of our most important and memorable title wins, he will always have a wee soft spot in our hearts. After all he helped stop their ten.

Just an Ordinary Bhoy

Don’t miss the chance to purchase the late, great Celtic historian David Potter’s final book. All remaining copies have been signed by the legendary Celtic captain Danny McGrain , who also wrote the foreword for Celtic in the Eighties. And you’ll also receive a FREE copy of David Potter’s Willie Fernie biography – Putting on the Style, plus you’ll only be charged for postage on one book. Order from Celtic Star Books HERE.

Celtic in the Eighties and Willie Fernie – Putting on the Style both by David Potter. Photo The Celtic Star

Danny McGrain has signed the remaining batch of David Potter’s outstanding final book Celtic in the Eighties so hurry to get your signed copy!

Ordering is simple, just place your order for Celtic in the Eighties at celticstarbooks.com/shop and we’ll do the rest, ensuring your copy is signed by Danny PLUS you’ll also receive a complimentary Willie Fernie book dispatched by the next working day, whilst stocks last.

Danny McGrain signing copies of Celtic in the Eighties by David Potter. Photo: Celtic Star Books

Please note that stocks are now running very low indeed and the book will NOT be reprinted. Click on the image below to order. Also postage will only be charged on ONE book, not per item so if you are in Britain or the six counties you will pay £24.50 for both books – one side by Danny McGrain and that includes the postage costs for speedy delivery. As always the books are hardback and are of the highest quality.