Alan

Sir Alan has finally been acknowledged by the club . The re naming of the old board room in his name .

One of the main reasons I fell in love with football and GTFC.

Whether I should be thanking the great man for that or not, is another question.

Quoted from It Bites

Sir Alan has finally been acknowledged by the club . The re naming of the old board room in his name .

Very smart it looks too, now it's been brought into the 21st century.

The word “legend” is used far too often when used to describe ex players/mangers but there is no other word to describe Alan Buckley and what he did for this club. If I had my way it’ll be the new Alan Buckley stadium

I saw the new sign on the door yesterday when I was at McMenemy's but never thought anything of it. I remember the club asking for votes but I thought that had been done and dusted months ago.

Lovely, genuine man. Deserves every honour bestowed on him.

Double useless bits of information alert. When Alan and his family first moved locally, I was one of the removal men who shifted him temporarily into a small flat on New Road, Waltham, and then a week later, moved him out of the flat and into his big house on the High Street in Waltham just 250 yards away. Several years later I was also his gardener.

Seeing Alan lead the players out onto the Wembley turf for the first time in the club’s history is the happiest moment of my life .
Highly unlikely to be beaten .

Quoted from louth_in_the_south

Seeing Alan lead the players out onto the Wembley turf for the first time in the club’s history is the happiest moment of my life .
Highly unlikely to be beaten .

The happiest time for me was watching the 1980/81 season in the championship ( old div 2 ) where we finished 7th. A credible finish but I and many others thought that if the directors had splashed some cash then the prem ( old Div 1 ) was within our grasp.

After George Kerr's team Alan was the next best followed by his next stint and then Paul Hurst. As for the rest once Alan left they were all Fentyfillins, cheap as chips as the saying goes, to fill an empty chair.

I pretty much just missed out on the Buckley era, attended a couple of home games under the lights but was deemed 'too young' for the Wembley double (sore still) and didn't get my first season ticket (half season ticket at first) until Groves first game in charge, at home to Portsmouth I believe.

We all know what happened from there on, and growing up in Scunny at that time only galvanised my love for the escape of town games week in week out. I do still look back on Alans 2nd stint with nostalgia due to the stories from my Dad around that time and since, and have read his autobiography many, many times. It still sits next to my bed. That book has played its role many a time in keeping me connected to GTFC in times of disillusionment.

Very happy to see Alan getting the recognition, and as someone said earlier, would be more than happy for that to continue into stadium or stand naming in his honour.

Quoted from Sussexmariner

The word “legend” is used far too often when used to describe ex players/mangers but there is no other word to describe Alan Buckley and what he did for this club. If I had my way it’ll be the new Alan Buckley stadium

I've always thought the best honour if we had a new stadium would be to call the approach road....

The Buckley Way

Quoted from Sussexmariner

The word “legend” is used far too often when used to describe ex players/mangers but there is no other word to describe Alan Buckley and what he did for this club. If I had my way it’ll be the new Alan Buckley stadium

By the time we get a new stadium there will be no one left alive who remembers him

Quoted from Sussexmariner

The word “legend” is used far too often when used to describe ex players/mangers but there is no other word to describe Alan Buckley and what he did for this club. If I had my way it’ll be the new Alan Buckley stadium.

I think Frank Womack might be a bit miffed about that. He guided the club to our highest ever finish, 5th in the top flight in 1935.

I'd like a stand named after Buckley, but not the whole stadium.

Quoted from White_shorts

I think Frank Womack might be a bit miffed about that. He guided the club to our highest ever finish, 5th in the top flight in 1935.

I'd like a stand named after Buckley, but not the whole stadium.

I was about to ask if anyone knew how our current ground came to be so named.... but thought Dr Google might have a quicker answer and here it is

https://www.devonlive.com/spor.....ween-grimsby-1250836

Quoted from FishOutOfWater

I was about to ask if anyone knew how our current ground came to be so named.... but thought Dr Google might have a quicker answer and here it is

https://www.devonlive.com/spor.....ween-grimsby-1250836

Sch! don't tell Elliot or he'll claim it as a scoop in the GT/GL.

What a brilliant way to acknowledge the legend that is Alan Buckley.

Well done to everyone who made this happen.

Quoted from FishOutOfWater

I was about to ask if anyone knew how our current ground came to be so named.... but thought Dr Google might have a quicker answer and here it is

https://www.devonlive.com/spor.....ween-grimsby-1250836

I knew of the Blundell link but hadn’t thought about Tiverton Street.

PS if you’re interested in the development of Grimsby and Cleethorpes there’s a pair of very good books by the late Dr Alan Dowling (ex-librarian of Grimsby central library).

I still like the dulcet tones of Mr. Buckley on the radio; especially when he pluralizes 'goals'.

God

I see the red cross brigade are out in force


Fenty 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

Quoted from KingstonMariner

I knew of the Blundell link but hadn’t thought about Tiverton Street.

PS if you’re interested in the development of Grimsby and Cleethorpes there’s a pair of very good books by the late Dr Alan Dowling (ex-librarian of Grimsby central library).

Definitely interested in how the area developed.....one day if/when I get back I'd like to check things out a bit better ( having lived as a kid on Lovett Street, which was right next to Tiverton Street )

Thoroughly deserved.

A true club legend.

He's even more of a legend at Walsall, he banged goals in for fun during his time there, also highly regarded at Birmingham city.
I almost forgot about his great record as a forward thinking about how good he was as a manager.

Phil The Cod - Yes Alan Buckley is a legend at Walsall not only for the 205 goals scored for Saddlers but also, just like as in the case of Grimsby Town, the quality of football was superb. In his first season as player - manager at the age of just 29 steered Walsall to promotion from the old 4th Division to the 3rd and still scored 18 goals!  He also became the first manager to lead the club to a semi final of a major competition and in total had 13 years as player and manager. I'm a personal friend of AB and have been for a number of years and he alerted me to the GTFC news article and this excellent board.  He's a proud man and proud of his 45 years in the game and why not!   I do follow the fortunes of Town from afar and hope the club gets back into the FL  as soon as possible. The supporters bar at Bescot was refurbish during the close season and a large picture of the Goal King is on the wall area as you walk in!

It's not going too far to say that to some degree Sir Alan influenced who I am today - as a teenager my first season as a town fan was his first year as manager. My love for football, my love for football played the right way, and my love for Grimsby Town owes so much to him and especially his first 3 years as manager.

So pleased that the new board has done this, just the sort of thing I've come to expect from them.

Quoted from TheBuckleyBabes

Phil The Cod - Yes Alan Buckley is a legend at Walsall not only for the 205 goals scored for Saddlers but also, just like as in the case of Grimsby Town, the quality of football was superb. In his first season as player - manager at the age of just 29 steered Walsall to promotion from the old 4th Division to the 3rd and still scored 18 goals!  He also became the first manager to lead the club to a semi final of a major competition and in total had 13 years as player and manager. I'm a personal friend of AB and have been for a number of years and he alerted me to the GTFC news article and this excellent board.  He's a proud man and proud of his 45 years in the game and why not!   I do follow the fortunes of Town from afar and hope the club gets back into the FL  as soon as possible. The supporters bar at Bescot was refurbish during the close season and a large picture of the Goal King is on the wall area as you walk in!

He used to or still lives near me, haven't seen him around in a long time.
Hope Walsall do well too, whenever I hear the word Walsall, can't help but think of another legend........Noddy holder.and Slade.

Quoted from toontown

It's not going too far to say that to some degree Sir Alan influenced who I am today - as a teenager my first season as a town fan was his first year as manager. My love for football, my love for football played the right way, and my love for Grimsby Town owes so much to him and especially his first 3 years as manager.

So pleased that the new board has done this, just the sort of thing I've come to expect from them.

How does this warrant red crosses, obviously not Grimsby fans, or most likely fentyist physcophants. Some real saddos around.

Quoted from Phil the cod

He used to or still lives near me, haven't seen him around in a long time.
Hope Walsall do well too, whenever I hear the word Walsall, can't help but think of another legend........Noddy holder.and Slade.

Cheers Phil. Noddy Holder born a mile away from where I grew up.  I have met him, at Bescot, a few years ago when he was special guest. A lot smaller than I imagined.  

About 9 years ago AB did a Q and A night at Walsall pub and was on top form didn't duck or dive any questions and was there for maybe 4 hours. There was a small interval and I went up to him and told him I'd done a few on-line articles that featured him and is there any way I could contact him? He told me to write to him c/o GTFC and true to his word, he emailed me back and corresponded with me to and forth.  About 6 months later his book was close to coming out and he and his ghost writer asked if I would help out supplying a few pictures for the book and FB page and if I could plug it a bit at the Walsall end. Of course I was honoured to help my all time hero in any shape or form.  There was meant to be a gala book sign event at Bescot just like you had at BP. Everything was arranged then WFC backed out of the event citing they were worried that they wouldn't sell enough tickets (as if!) Obviously Buck and his team were livid, and rightly so.  The secretary of a supporters group stepped in, got the Saddlers Club to do a book sign before and after a game and all the money was collected on the door by the fans secretary and his partner. So AB had 100% of the book sales and rightly so. WFC for their greed got nowt.

Quoted from Phil the cod

He's even more of a legend at Walsall, he banged goals in for fun during his time there, also highly regarded at Birmingham city.
I almost forgot about his great record as a forward thinking about how good he was as a manager.

I forget how many goals he scored but I had a conversation with him at the Q and A he did at Blundell Park and he said he could remember every one.
One of my first solo away games was Walsall in September 72. Town lost 1-0 and I'm almost certain the Buckley goal machine scored.

Quoted from barralad

I forget how many goals he scored but I had a conversation with him at the Q and A he did at Blundell Park and he said he could remember every one.
One of my first solo away games was Walsall in September 72. Town lost 1-0 and I'm almost certain the Buckley goal machine scored.

AB didn't join Walsall till August 1973. Just checked and it was a chap called John Woodward who got the only goal at FP in September 72.

Buck did score 2 against Grimsby in 73-4 . One in a 2-0 win at FP in 74-5. A penalty at FP in 75-6  Another pen at FP in 76-7 and one at BP in the return game.

He was only booked once in his entire career, and ironically that was at BP but he said he felt justified in retaliating at he was hacked down from behind and stamped on by the offending lad!

Quoted from barralad

I forget how many goals he scored but I had a conversation with him at the Q and A he did at Blundell Park and he said he could remember every one.
One of my first solo away games was Walsall in September 72. Town lost 1-0 and I'm almost certain the Buckley goal machine scored.

I was at that game, I was also there on the 4th October 1975 when we lost 0-2, not a particularly memorable game apart from a 16 year old coming on as a substitute for his Town debut.   

Quoted from TheBuckleyBabes

Cheers Phil. Noddy Holder born a mile away from where I grew up.  I have met him, at Bescot, a few years ago when he was special guest. A lot smaller than I imagined.  

About 9 years ago AB did a Q and A night at Walsall pub and was on top form didn't duck or dive any questions and was there for maybe 4 hours. There was a small interval and I went up to him and told him I'd done a few on-line articles that featured him and is there any way I could contact him? He told me to write to him c/o GTFC and true to his word, he emailed me back and corresponded with me to and forth.  About 6 months later his book was close to coming out and he and his ghost writer asked if I would help out supplying a few pictures for the book and FB page and if I could plug it a bit at the Walsall end. Of course I was honoured to help my all time hero in any shape or form.  There was meant to be a gala book sign event at Bescot just like you had at BP. Everything was arranged then WFC backed out of the event citing they were worried that they wouldn't sell enough tickets (as if!) Obviously Buck and his team were livid, and rightly so.  The secretary of a supporters group stepped in, got the Saddlers Club to do a book sign before and after a game and all the money was collected on the door by the fans secretary and his partner. So AB had 100% of the book sales and rightly so. WFC for their greed got nowt.

Yes, it's a good book, Chris Hargreaves book "where's your caravan" gives an insight into the Buckley man management ethos.
His style reminds me so much of the Brian Clough school of man management, his players would even be at Clough's house doing his gardening jobs for him they thought that much of him..... imagine that now.

Was so gutted after our performance/result yesterday that I forgot Sir Alan was going to be on the Football Forum after the game.

Anyone got a link ?

I've certainly have no axe to grind with Alan Buckley, thought the guy was superb for town,  however good the football was it became a little predictable towards the end of his first stint as manager.  I do recall the first time I met the guy, at an action 88 meeting, was introduced to the guy, with family members, and he was told at the time that between us we had collectively been supporting town for a 100 odd years plus, bearing in mind they wanted a grand from each of us, was a little surprised by Buckley's reply of " aye and they still won't know anything about football, you don't unless you've played professional football"   Didn't influence our decision,  but good advice to some on here.