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Fullname: John William Buckley
aka: John Buckley
Born: 18 May 1962
Birthplace: East Kilbride
Signed: 1 May 1978
Left: 19 Aug 1983
Position: Winger
Only appearance: Arbroath home 4-1 league cup 1 September 1982
Internationals: N/A
International Caps:N/A

Biog

John Buckley made just one first team appearance for the Hoops during a four-year career at Celtic Park. He was dubbed as a cracking player and one of the fastest in Scottish Football.

The East Kilbride-born winger signed for the Celts in 1978 and his solitary appearance came at Parkhead in September 1982 when he started a League Cup group match against minnows Arbroath. Celtic won the match 4-1 but Buckley was soon to move across Glasgow to Partick Thistle, part of the Brian Whittaker deal, and never kicked another ball for the Bhoys.

Post-Celtic

Buckley left Partick in a £40,000 switch to Billy Bremner's Doncaster Rovers in summer 1984. He linked up with fellow ex-Celtic kids Jim Dobbin, Billy Russell and Colin Douglas. Did well enough in Division Three for Bremner to take him to Leeds United two years later for a £45,000 fee.

Never nailed down a place at Elland Road and went out on loan to Leicester City and back to Doncaster Rovers. Leeds got their money back on him when he joined Rotherham United early in the 1987/88 season. Was a regular for 'the Millers' over the next three years, featuring prominently on either wing.

Spent 1990/91 with Partick Thistle but was on his way back to England with Scunthorpe United in the summer of 1991. He returned to Rotherham United for £10,000 in February 1993 but suffered a fractured skull on March 13 1993 in a match at Plymouth Argyle. His life was endangered after suffering a blood clot on his brain when in a coma. Retired from pro football at the end of 1992/93 aged just 31 but having clocked up more than 350 league appearances at his various clubs.

He recovered but a comeback attempt with Yorkshire village-team Hatfield Main ended in another health scare and brain scan after a bump on the head in October 1995.

Buckley then moved into coaching and worked with the Leeds United and Hull City youngsters. He became manager of the famous ladies' team Doncaster Belles in 2003, a position he still holds as of April 2010. Has all the UEFA qualifications and runs coaching classes for the English FA.



Buckley has inculcated good habits in South Yorkshire...

Playing Career

Honours with Celtic

none

Pictures

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