From hearsay and connections in North East football the tale came out of a lad who wanted a chance and felt with the signings Newcastle made he would never get it without a move, and with Chris Brown being his cousin the Doncaster connection was strengthened.
The signing was a complicated one, we got to see him in youth and reserves last season and although not a big lad he looked the part even then.
This season he has been a revelation, goal after goal in Youth and Reserve matches have seen him grow from strength to strength. His creative play and finishing improves game by game and a partnership seems to be forming between him and young Chris Beardsley already.
Clyde Whinjard swung it for me, when he was on trial.
A triallist game against Scarborough, bringing Steve Burton back to the Cantley Park training ground signalled this lads potential. Clyde was noisy, he shouted a lot of encouragement and tried to look the part but he was utterly eclipsed by Ben Jackson. We stood and watched an aggressive attacking display which left you wondering if the lad shouldnt have been in the ring with Ricky Hatton rather than on a wet training pitch in Cantley. His pace and close control was backed up with a total lack of fear and an almost desperation to beat the next man. And when he beat the last man and the angle was too tight? He looked up and laid the ball off with split second decision making. What more can you ask?
Since then he had an excellent game in the LDV against Lincoln, his hard work resulting in the keeper spilling his shot for Beardsley to pounce (teamwork?). The last time I saw him was Wednesday in the Reserves against Grimsby. As though it was scripted he gave Steve Bould the run around and then set up Chris Beardsley for a clever little goal.
Ben Jackson will never replace Paul Barnes, but could he be the next in line to be our goal getting hero?