Archibald (Archie) Jackson was born in Rutherglen in 1909 and his parents, like many other contemporary Scots sought a new life overseas, emigrating to Australia in 1913.  They settled in Balmain, a working-class suburb of Sidney involved in coal mining, engineering, metal working and shipbuilding. 

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As a young schoolboy Archie excelled in football and cricket.  Such was his talent that, as a teenager he succeeded in joining the prestigious Balmain Cricket Club.  The captain, Arthur Mailey recognised his talent and nurtured him so that by the age of of 15 he was playing in the first eleven. 

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He rapidly established a reputation as an outstanding batsman and at the age of 17 was selected to play for New South Wales against Queensland.

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He continued to play in first class cricket and, in 1929 played for Australia in the test match against England at Adelaide aged 19. Partnering a young Don Bradman he excelled by scoring 164 runs before dismissal.  Australians lionised the young man for this outstanding performance in his first test match.

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He continued to impress his supporters but his career was interrupted by periods of ill health.  Nonetheless, he was selected to represent Australia in the 1930 series of test matches in England.  During the visit, he was plagued by ill health but, in the final test match he scored a creditable 73 runs. 

Despite his disappointing performance, he was selected for a series of test matches against the West Indies and scored 70 runs in the first match. Thereafter his health deteriorated and his career in in first class cricket came to an end.