Ira Jackson

DOB: 28th January 1997

Position: Striker

Season of first appearance: 2016/17

Season of last appearance: 2016/17

Full Appearances: 9

Substitute: 1

Goals: 4

Also played for:

Faversham Town, Ashford United, Ramsgate, Canterbury City, Lordswood, Whitstable Town, Worthing, Dover Athletic, Leatherhead, Sittingbourne, Folkestone Invicta, Grimsby Town, Wealdstone.

Player Profile:

Ira had spells at Derby County, Gillingham and Burton Albion as a youngster, playing in a variety of positions.

He started his non-league career in 2013-14 with Isthmian League Faversham Town and Ashford United in the SCEFL. The following season he moved to Isthmian League Division One South Ramsgate before dropping back to the SCEFL with spells at Canterbury City and Lordswood.

In 2015-16, he had a brief spell at Whitstable Town before joining Worthing, helping them win promotion from Isthmian Division One South. His form there earned a move to National League side Dover Athletic in 2016-17.

Dover loaned Ira to Margate for a month in December 2016. In an interview with the Honest Football Podcast, Ira said that Dover demanded Margate pay Ira’s wages for the loan period up front and Margate manager Nikki Bull did so out of his own pocket.

Ira scored on his debut in a 5-1 defeat at Welling United on 1.1.17. His loan period expired but he returned for a new loan spell at the end of February.

It was Ira who ended Margate's 15-hour goal drought with both goals as a sub in a 2-0 home win over Gosport Borough on 11.3.17. It was Margate's first league win since 8 October the previous year. Ira also scored in a 1-1 draw at home to Eastbourne on 25.3.17.

Ira was then recalled from his loan spell by Dover but did not feature in any games for them in the final weeks of the season.

In 2017-18, Ira went to Isthmian League Premier team Leatherhead before returning to Ashford United, now of Isthmian Division One South. Ira broke his foot during a trial at National League club Guiseley.

He started 2018-19 at Sittingbourne before, in January 2019, stepping up a division to join Isthmian Premier Folkestone Invicta, where he was a prolific scorer. On 26.12.19, he scored twice as Folkestone beat Margate 4-0 at Cheriton Road.

In August 2020, Ira joined League Two Grimsby Town on a two-year contract. He made his debut on 8.9.20 in a 2-2 EFL Trophy group-stage draw with Harrogate Town, a match won by Grimsby 5-4 on penalties, with Ira scoring the winning penalty in the shootout.

Following Grimsby's relegation from the Football League at the end of the 2020–21 season, Ira was transfer listed and, in September 2021, was released from his contract by mutual consent. He had made 22 appearances for the club, scoring three goals.

Ira then signed for National League side Wealdstone, leaving the Stones at the end of the 2021-22 season.

He returned to Folkestone Invicta for 2022-23. In 2023-24, Ira scored three goals in three matches against Margate – one in a 2-0 league win at Cheriton Road on 28.8.23, one in the 2-2 FA Cup draw at Hartsdown on 16.9.23 and another in the 3-1 replay defeat three days later. In January 2024, Ira announced he was stepping away from football due to personal reasons while continuing coaching. Ira had roles with Corinthian's U23 side and Sheppey United.

In May 2025, Ira was named as the new manager of Hythe Town.