Former Huddersfield Town boss Peter Jackson on new venture with wife Alison

Dec 18 2010 by Kevin Core, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

IT’S a different form of management – but former Town boss Peter Jackson is loving it.

After a playing career which notched up 600 league games and two spells in the hot seat at Town, the 49-year-old has gone into business with his wife Alison as a director of the home care franchise Caremark Calderdale.

Based at the Elsie Whiteley Innovation Centre in Hopwood Lane, Halifax, it provides care at home for elderly and disabled people as well as people with terminal illnesses across Calderdale.

Peter said: “I had a fantastic time in football, I managed in every division but the Premiership.

“If something became available in football I would definitely look into it. I enjoyed my time at Lincoln and they stuck by me during my treatment for throat cancer, but they sacked me six games into the new season despite them being at the bottom of the football league when I took over. It was strange.

“I wasn’t prepared to sit at home and mope, and I wasn’t going to go to games where the manager is under pressure and hope that they lose, which some people do.

“We decided to go into business together, Alison has worked in business and was a ward sister in Bradford so she’s a registered nurse.

“As a football manager so much is out of your hands but this was the chance to really build something for ourselves and our children.

“We opened seven months ago and it has been intensely hard work. Our areas will include Dalton, Deighton, Bradley and Fartown, we have 25 carers and aim to get that to 100.

“The regulation in the care industry is so strict, and rightly so. Our whole attitude is about quality, we have set really high standards. All you have to do is to think how you would like your own parents to be treated, you are entering someone’s home and that’s a big responsibility so we are working hard to make sure the service is excellent.”

Having recently completed his own NVQ in Health and Social Care some of his clients have been surprised to see their club’s former manager delivering their care.

Peter added: “The reaction is always so friendly here. I loved my time at Huddersfield, they sacked me twice but I could still never knock them. Whenever I go back there’s a friendly reception from the staff and the fans.

“When I was diagnosed with throat cancer I didn’t announce it until I had dates for radiotherapy. I expected some well wishers but there were thousands of letters and emails from across the world, I was amazed and very touched.

“Football has given me so much, not just in my playing career but I’ve got great memories of things like promotion with Town, meetings with Alex Ferguson and a hand written note from Jose Mourinho after we went to Chelsea in the FA cup.

“At the moment however we’re focused on building this business and making it successful.”