A midfielder who was highly rated at the club, Johnnie Jackson had a good appetite for the game. Having had time at Colchester United and Swindon Town on loan during 2002-03, Jackson had some experience of life in the lower leagues and his position as reserve team captain showed that he was tipped as one for the future.
He possesses a sweet left foot, which can whip balls into the box from the wing and he is also the sort of player who does not fear a tackle, the majority of which see him emerge with the ball. As a midfielder with an appreciation of the defensive side of his game, Johnnie could have been the man to win a place in Steffen Freund's role in the first team after the German left.
Won his right to a debut after impressing on loan at Coventry City and was called back to play against Portsmouth on Boxing Day 2003, but his performances in the first team were good while not outstanding. On occasion he showed his ability to speed down the line, but sometimes his final ball was not as telling as you might have hoped and in some games when you might have expected him to shine (Oldham Athletic away in the League Cup), he struggled. it may have been these performances that persuaded Jol that he was not going to make it under his stewardship.
Further loan spells in the Championship with Coventry City, Watford and Derby County, which were all successful, made him a target when Tottenham released him in the summer of 2006 and he left on a free transfer to join Colchester United, playing a part in their rise to their highest league finish in the Championship of 2006-07.
Moved to Notts County for a short spell at the Meadow Lane ground, before coming back to London with Charlton, who he skippered to the League One title in 2011-12, becoming noted for his driving midfield performances and his ability from free-kicks. In 2017, he was made a player coach by new manager Karl Robinson.