Nicholas Lane Jackson

By 1871, the young married couple were living in Isleworth with two infant children and a servant, with Jackson's occupation listed as "land steward".

In January 1884, Jackson investigated allegations that Preston North End had offered financial inducements to attract Scottish players.

[11] At the FA's meeting in February 1884, Jackson successfully proposed that "this meeting considers the existence of veiled professionalism and the importation of players are serious evils calling for prompt attention" and called for the creation of a committee to study the matter.

[12] Jackson led the resulting committee, whose hardline anti-professionalism recommendations were adopted by the FA for the 1884-85 season.

[13] In March 1885, when the question was once again considered by FA, Jackson supported a motion that "it is expedient to legalise professionalism".

[14] He served on the committee whose recommendations led to the FA allowing professionalism, with certain restrictions, in July of that year.