Biography
Centre back Neil Anthony Buckley joined Hull City’s YTS scheme in July 1985, having played for Leo Schultz School, Hull Schoolboys and Schultz YC in his younger days. He was handed his first team debut as a fresh faced 18 year old in January 1987, manager Brian Horton calling up the youngster due to an injury crisis. He waited nearly two years for his second start at the end of November 1988, by which time Eddie Gray was in charge. Buckley had a run of starts between Boxing Day 1988 and mid-March 1989 but dropped out of the side after a run of five defeats (which became seven defeats in the next two games).
In the 1989/90 season new City boss Colin Appleton used Buckley sparingly during his three months in charge and he was treated similarly by replacement manager Stan Ternent, although Buckley scored his first senior goal in January 1990 as City came away from West Ham United with an unlikely 2-1 victory. Neil ended the season with a five game loan spell at Division Four side Burnley before returning to Boothferry Park in April 1990.
Ternent selected Buckley more regularly during the 1990/91 season and he scored three times – against Swindon Town and Bristol Rovers in the League, plus an FA Cup tie against Notts County. However City struggled for form all season, a slide that not even new manager Terry Dolan could arrest, and the Tigers dropped out of Division Two. Dolan rarely turned to Buckley in the 1991/92 season, his last two appearances in November 1991 coming as makeshift centre forward, and Neil left the club in the 1992 close season.
Buckley joined Northern Premier League side Guiseley in July 1992 but a year later he moved on to Brigg Town where he played for many years including the club’s successful run to the 1996 FA Vase Final victory over Clitheroe at Wembley, though Neil missed the final with an ankle injury. He nearly joined Tim Hotte’s North Ferriby United side in October 1996 but stayed at Brigg Town, hanging up his boots in the early 2000s. Buckley then had a successful five year spell managing Brigg Town Old Boys. He also managed North Ferriby United in 2008.
Details
Nationality: England
Date/Place of Birth: 25 September 1968, Hull
Hull City First Game: 3 January 1987, Plymouth Argyle A (Division Two), 18 years, 100 days old
Hull City Final Game: 23 November 1991, Leyton Orient A (Division Three), 23 years, 59 days old
Clubs
Hull City (1985-1992), Burnley (1990, loan), Guiseley (1992-1993), Brigg Town (1993-2001)
Hull City Record
Career: 69 apps, 4 goals
Neil Buckley| Season | LGE App | LGE Gls | FAC App | FAC Gls | FLC App | FLC Gls | EUR App | EUR Gls | OTH App | OTH Gls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1986/87 | 1 (0) | 0 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 1987/88 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 1988/89 | 13 (0) | 0 | 3 (0) | 0 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 1989/90 | 7 (3) | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1 (0) | 0 |
| 1990/91 | 30 (1) | 2 | 1 (0) | 1 | 2 (0) | 0 | – | – | – | – |
| 1991/92 | 4 (1) | 0 | 1 (0) | 0 | 1 (0) | 0 | – | – | – | – |