David Jack took a look at the masses of people covering the Wembley pitch on 28th April 1923 and said to his father 'If I don't get a goal in the first five minutes I'm coming off...'
He got one in the 3rd minute. The first goal ever scored at Wembley. So every football lover should know the name of David Jack.
He was , however, part of a footballing family that shows us a great deal about the game's development in the first part of the 20th century.
Bob Jack
David's father, Bob Jack, was a Scotsman. An outside right, he started playing for Alloa Athletic as a 15 year old. Like many Scottish professionals at the time he moved to England, where he played for Bolton Wanderers and Preston North End before stepping down in class to turn out for Glossop, Plymouth Argyle and Southend United.He had moved into management whilst still at Argyle (joining them in 1903 he became player manager in 1905) and was player manager during his 4 year stint with Southend (1906-10). On retiring as a player he returned to Plymouth, where he was in charge for 28 years (for a total of 1,093 games). In later life he carried out scouting duties for Southend (when David was managing them).
Bob Jack had three grandly named sons who were all footballers:
David Bone Nightingale Jack was one of the most well known footballers of his era.
An inside forward, he began his career at Plymouth Argyle when his father was the manager. After just one season he moved to Bolton Wanderers in 1920. He was the club's top scorer for five of the eight seasons he was there, scoring 144 goals in 295 league matches. In 1928 Bolton were facing financial problems. David Jack then became the world's most expensive footballer when Herbert Chapman paid £10,890 to take him to Arsenal (the previous world record was £6,550).
Rollo
Robert Rollo Jack was an inside right. 3 years younger than David, he began his career with Plymouth Argyle at the age of 20. Having made 15 league appearances he was sold to Bolton Wanderers (where he joined David) for £1500. Rollo was a fringe player at Bolton, and in six seasons he only made 29 League appearances. In 1929 Rollo joined Clapton Orient and was a regular for 3 seasons. He drifted into non league football before joining Swindon Town in 1934. Donald Atrill Jack. Donald didn't reach the level of accomplishment achieved by his brothers. He was a reserve player with Argyle, also turning out for Torquay United. He joined Bolton Wanderers in 1922, but only played for the reserves. He also served Bradford City, but was not a first team player.
After giving up football to pursue a career in accountancy Donald played as an amateur with Finchley.