 Jackson was born in Kettleshulme, Cheshire, and was a mainstay of the Cheshire team in the Minor Counties Championship between 1958 and 1960.After taking 26 wickets for sixteen runs each in 1958, Jackson declined somewhat on the less favourable pitches of 1959 and 1960, but with Cheshire unable to afford any professionals, Brian Jackson was signed by Derbyshire for 1961.He debuted for the Derbyshire Second XI in the 1961 season in an innings-victory against Nottinghamshire in Epperstone.