Simeon Jackson
A speedy Canadian forward whose last-gasp goal secured a historic promotion and cemented his place in English football folklore.
Born 1987 (age 39)·Canadian professional soccer player·Birthday: March 28·Millennials
Biography
Simeon Jackson's story is one of transatlantic ambition, from scoring goals in Ontario to becoming a cult hero in the lower leagues of England. After a stint with the Gillingham youth academy, he exploded onto the scene with Rushden & Diamonds, earning a move to Gillingham where his pace and finishing made him a star. The pinnacle came in 2010: on the final day of the League One season, his 94th-minute header against Swindon Town sent Norwich City into the Championship, triggering delirious pitch invasions and etching his name into Canaries history. His career thereafter was that of a valuable journeyman, with spells in the Bundesliga, Scotland, and across England. Jackson's legacy is that moment of pure, season-defining clarity, proving how a single kick can immortalize a player.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Simeon was born in 1987, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Simeon Was Born
The biggest hits of 1987
#1 Movie
Three Men and a Baby
Best Picture
The Last Emperor
#1 TV Show
The Cosby Show
Simeon's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1987Born
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1992Started school
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
2000Became a teenager
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2003Could drive
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2005Could vote
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2008Turned 21
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2017Turned 30
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2026Age 39 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Scored the 94th-minute winner for Norwich City against Swindon Town in 2010 to secure automatic promotion to the Championship.
- Earned 49 caps for the Canadian national team, scoring 6 goals between 2009 and 2017.
- Played in the German Bundesliga for Eintracht Braunschweig during the 2013-14 season.
- Won the Scottish Challenge Cup with Dundee United in 2017.
- Was the top scorer for Gillingham in the 2008-09 season with 20 goals across all competitions.
Did You Know?
He was born in Jamaica and moved to Canada at the age of 15.
Jackson holds both Jamaican and Canadian citizenship.
He played for a record eight different clubs in English football's top four divisions.
He returned to semi-professional football in England with AFC Sudbury, also taking on a coaching role.
“I always had to prove myself, to show I belonged at that level.”
