Buckley Memories #6

By: Rob Sedgwick
Date: 31/10/2000

We've collected the thoughts and recollections of Town fans across the world's about their favourite memories of the Buckley era. Alan Buckley had two spells in charge of the Mariners before he was sensationally sacked on 22nd August 2000.

Moving to Blackpool to live some 20 years ago I find harder to get to the home matches but Mr Buckley did me proud and I guess he will come back one day in the future because he was the heart and the mouth of this club I love

Wakey

My favourite Buckley memory? Everything about the 97/98 season really. You just went into every game thinking that we were going to win, and more often than not, we did.

My five favourite memories were: 1.)The Wembley games (sorry, that's two memories in one) 2.)Newcastle away in 92/93. 3.)Sheffield Wednesday and Leicester in 97/98 (sorry, that's two again!) 4.)The signing of Mendonca. 5.)The run of just FOUR goals conceded in THIRTEEN games in December 97 & January 98.

So long Alan, and may your new club bring as much success as your old one did.

Steve

There are two games I remember both in the Wembley season, one the league game home to Northampton, they were riding high, we were just starting to play well. In the first half they just did not know what had hit them, they just watched us passing the ball around and Donovan scored one of his best goals for us (in the second half they had learnt a lot and it was a different story). Also our other Wembley opponents, Bournemouth, also at home in the league when a game that seemed lost was won by sheer team spirit. When Alan Buckley's team played well there was nothing better and we ought never to forget that.

The other thing I will remember Alan Buckley for is his signings, if we forgive him that he never seemed to sign anyone tall and fast up front, his signings were usually astute, there was very little money wasted and he generally made a profit. Who can ever say a word against the man who was able to sign Paul Futcher for £10,000 from Halifax reserves? I know supporters of clubs who are of a similar size to our's but languish in Division 3 can't believe we wanted him to go - but I think the time was right, his strength was also his weakness that he appeared to have total self belief in his way of managing. I find it so sad that a man who should be worshiped for everything he did for our club was not always totally respected. In truth it probably does not reflect well on him or the supporters but, as they say, time is a great healer and in a few seasons, maybe less, the debt owed to Alan Buckley by the supporters of Grimsby Town Football Club may well be more readily seen.

On a final point I hope Alan Buckley returns to management soon, I know which result I will look for first after Town's, and I wish him every success.

Mike Hubbert

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