Frank Buckley was a football manager who had a remarkable career in the English game, but he is perhaps best remembered for his five-year spell at Leeds United, where he laid the foundations for the club’s future success. Buckley, who was born in 1882 and served as a major in the First World War, had previously managed Blackpool, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Notts County and Hull City, achieving promotion, cup finals and developing young talent along the way. He joined Leeds in May 1948, when the club was in the Second Division and struggling financially. He was the first professional manager of the modern school that Leeds had ever appointed.
Buckley had a vision for Leeds that involved building a strong youth system, scouting extensively, and playing attractive football. He also had some innovative ideas on fitness, nutrition and psychology, which he applied to his players. He signed some of the club’s greatest legends, such as John Charles, Jack Charlton, Billy Bremner and Don Revie, and gave them their first opportunities in the first team. He also improved the club’s infrastructure, expanding the stadium, installing floodlights and creating a club badge. He led Leeds to the FA Cup semi-finals in 1950 and 1953, and to the Second Division title in 1956, ending an eight-year exile from the top flight. He also made a profit for the club by selling some of his stars for record fees.
Buckley left Leeds in March 1953, after a disagreement with the board over his contract. He moved to Walsall, where he spent two years before retiring from football. He died in 1964, aged 82. He is widely regarded as one of the best managers in Leeds United’s history, and one of the most influential figures in the English game. He was a pioneer, a visionary and a leader, who transformed Leeds United from a struggling provincial club into a major force in the land.