AS A PLAYER, ALAN BUCKLEY MOVED AROUND THE LOWER LEAGUES PLYING HIS TRADE AS A FORWARD. NOTABLY, HE REPRESENTED WALSALL OVER 400 TIMES, SCORING 174 GOALS ACROSS TWO SPELLS AT THE CLUB WHICH MADE HIM THE RECORD GOAL SCORER, OFTEN BEING A THORN IN VALE'S FLESH.
He also went on to manage the Saddlers, his long relationship with Walsall has made him synonymous with the club. However, there are many at Grimsby Town who have taken Buckley to heart. Across three different spells as manager between 1988 and 2008, Buckley became the most successful in the Mariner's history. He is also one of fourteen managers to have overseen 1,000 matches, however the only member of that illustrious group not to have managed in the top division.
During his time at Blundell Park, Buckley oversaw three promotions and was never relegated. He was first appointed for the 1988-89 season and was a great success during his first six seasons at the club. He lifted the unfashionable Cleethorpes outfit from the Fourth Division, winning consecutive promotions in 1990 and 1991. His exciting passing football captivated the Grimsby supporters and his side found the second tier of English football within two seasons. The dream was to make one more step and get Grimsby Town into the First Division. He managed to secure their status in the second tier, but they seemed more likely to battle for relegation than promotion.
It appeared that Buckley had taken Grimsby as far as he could. Despite brief spells where they flirted with promotion, they looked to be in a repeated battle to stay in the league. Buckley's success and style of play unsurprisingly attracted suitors. West Bromwich Albion came calling and his heed was turned in 1994. The Baggies were certainly not a significant step up from Grimsby, they too were playing third tier football as recently as 1993. Buckley was no longer their manager, although he was in West Bromwich his heart was still with Grimsby.
West Brom began the 1995-96 season in fine form, Buckley's style of play had been replicated on his new side and they were pushing for promotion after thirteen games. What followed was e record breaking losing streak of eleven consecutive matches. Buckley went from hero to zero and amid this losing run he returned to Blundell Perk. As Buckley watched his side lose their fourth successive game from the away dugout, he looked across at his vacated seat and felt jealous. Buckley said;
"It's strange isn't it? I walked out on that team but still felt jealous. Crazy, I suppose deep down was still this feeling of regret at leaving Grimsby which was very wrong".
It is always easier to feel regret when things are not going well, however it seemed like Buckley had a genuine bond with the Mariners and was already longing for a return. He was still contracted to manage West Brom and he oversaw a team that failedto challenge for promotion. Come 1997 he was invited back to the Mighty Mariners as they had fallen into the third tier. Buckley met the opportunity with open arms and returned for his second spell.
His return brought with it the immediate success the Grimsby fans had previously sampled. Two trips to Wembley in his first season back. Buckley delivered the Football League Trophy and promotion back to the second tier. His already assured fan favourite status was cemented following a monumental season back with Town. He remained in charge from 1997 to 2000 until he was again dismissed following a poor start to the 2000-01 season. Buckley illustrated his prowess to get teams into the second tier of English football but repeatedly failed to take the next step.
Buckley again drooped down the leagues and spent the next five years with short and unsuccessful spells at Lincoln City and Rochdale. It appeared his talents were only ever to be best displayed at Grimsby, which remarkably led to his third appointment as manager in 2006. The task was to keep Grimsby in the league, this was comfortably achieved during his three gears back at Blundell Park. He once again got the Mariners to Wembley, but they fell to a 2-0 defeat by MK Dons in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy Final. Their league form was severely inhibited following the defeat and Buckley was again discharged in 2008. He made a third return for one season in 2012 as the Under-17 manager.
For many Grimsby supporters. Alan Buckley is a legend. His exciting brand of football brought success, he lifted the team from the doldrums into the lofty heights of the second tier. His main failure was that he could not take the final step and deliver top flight football. Loyalty was certainly a characteristic that he possessed, and this is exemplified by his three stints as Grimsby manager. Buckley will always be remembered fondly at Blundell Park and he certainly deserves the admiration he receives.
