Paul Buckle

Paul John Buckle (born 16 December 1970) is an English football manager.

He currently owns his own consultancy business - PB Consultancy LLC in the United States.

His clients have included Hartford Athletic (USL) San Diego Loyal (USL), San Diego Wave (NWSL) & Sacramento Republic (USL).

Roles include Senior Advisor to club Owners and Ownership groups.

Buckle is also an Ambassador for his first club - Brentford FC, where he made his first team debut at 17.

An apprentice at Brentford, Buckle turned professional in 1989, was loaned to Wycombe Wanderers in 1993 then joined Torquay United in February 1994, before moving to Exeter City in October 1995.

Due to Exeter's financial problems, Buckle left and joined Northampton Town, but failed to make their first team.

Buckle began his career as an apprentice at Brentford, turning professional in July 1989.

He played 57 league games (15 as substitute) for Brentford, scoring once.

He also played three Conference games on loan at Wycombe Wanderers before leaving on a free transfer to be signed by Don O'Riordan, the Torquay United manager, in February 1994.

After 9 goals in 71 games, Buckle moved to local rivals Exeter City in October 1995, again on a free transfer.

In October 1996 Buckle returned to Wycombe on non-contract terms, then moved to Colchester United in late November.

However, with Exeter suffering serious financial problems and almost going out of business, Buckle left in 1996 as, with the club in administration, they could not afford his wages.

He played in a friendly for Cambridge United (away to Watford) on 7 August, but opted to join Northampton Town.

He failed to make the Cobblers first team and on 18 October 1996, he returned to Wycombe Wanderers on non-contract terms, before moving to Colchester United on 28 November.

He helped Colchester win promotion from Division Three via the play-off final at Wembley against former club Torquay.

He returned to Exeter on a free transfer in July 1999, signing a two-year contract.

Buckle sustained a serious ankle injury in the opening game of the new season, though he made a full recovery and regained a first team place.

After 10 goals in 123 games for Colchester, Buckle returned to Exeter on a free transfer on 2 July 1999, signing a two-year contract.

He sustained a serious ankle injury in the opening game of the new season and, although he made a full recovery and regained a first team place, he was one of many players transfer-listed by Exeter manager Noel Blake in May 2000.

However, he remained at St. James' Park, playing in 43 games the following season and 25 the season after.

He then moved into non-League football with Aldershot Town (2002–03) and Weymouth (2003–04), before returning to Exeter as player-coach in March 2005, first under manager Alex Inglethorpe then his successor Paul Tisdale.

He continued to play and later became the club's assistant manager.

Buckle then joined Football Conference side Aldershot Town in 2002, before dropping down a further division to play for Weymouth in 2003, in addition to being employed as a youth-team coach at Exeter.

He was made caretaker manager at Weymouth after the club sacked Steve Claridge, obtaining a win and three draws in his four games in temporary charge.

He left the club on 16 December 2004 to return in a non-paid playing role at Exeter, now themselves in non-League football.

He made four appearances before joining Tiverton Town for a short time, playing in 12 games.

In March 2005, Buckle returned to Exeter City once more, this time as player-coach under manager Alex Inglethorpe, continuing in this role under Inglethorpe's successor Paul Tisdale.

In June 2007, Buckle was appointed manager of Conference Premier side Torquay United, helping return them to the Football League at the second attempt.

Following a 1–0 defeat by Stevenage in the League Two play-off final in May 2011, he left the club to become the manager of newly relegated Bristol Rovers.

He replaced many of the playing staff, but the team won only six of their first 23 league games and, in January 2012, Buckle was dismissed from the club.

In April 2012 Buckle was confirmed as the new manager of Luton Town following the departure of Gary Brabin.

He led the club to the play-off final at Wembley Stadium, losing 2–1 to York City, and later ensured his team became the first from non-League to defeat a top flight side in the FA Cup for 24 years when Luton beat Norwich City 1–0.

Buckle left Luton in February 2013 for personal reasons.

Buckle married sports broadcaster Rebecca Lowe in June 2013 and later moved to the US where he was appointed as technical director at the Met Oval in New York in November of that year.

He returned to the Football League in November 2014 to take the manager's job at Cheltenham Town in League Two but left in February 2015.

On 8 July 2015 it was announced he had signed as head coach of the USL soccer club Sacramento Republic, where he remained until 1 February 2018.

In 2019, he coached the U23s for Southampton FC of the Premier League.

He has previously been the manager of Torquay United, Bristol Rovers, Luton Town, Cheltenham Town and Sacramento Republic.

In May 2019, he was named as technical advisor at Hartford Athletic of the USL.