What a difference a year makes
Reporter: CHRIS LYNHAM
Date published: 06 January 2011
Paul Buckley has guided his Chadderton side to second place — a far cry from 12 months ago.
TO say Chadderton manager Paul Buckley is much happier than this time last year would be an understatement of epic proportions.
The Vodkat North-West Counties League Division One outfit found themselves embroiled in a relegation scrap 12 months ago.
Buckley’s boys were just one place off the bottom of the table at the end of December and seemingly spiralling towards the basement, before a dramatic turnaround in form saw them secure fourth position. This time around things could not be more different.
A far cry from last term’s false start, Chadderton are already in the promotion chase, occupying second place and just one point behind leaders AFC Blackpool.
Buckley said: “I sometimes have to pinch myself when I see where we are now in comparison to a year ago.
“We got to Christmas with just 11 points. It was terrible. We didn’t have a settled team for those first few months of the season.
“The fixture pile-up caused by the snow helped us: once we started winning, we would be playing three times a week and managed to put a run together.”
If Chadderton can emulate that pattern in the second half of this campaign, they will be in the title hunt.
Dream start
PAUL Buckley still looks back fondly on the dream start he had after his arrival at Chadderton five years ago.
He joined the club in December, 2005 after guiding his unbeaten Springhead side to the top of the Manchester League Premier Division.
“I had a good run at Springhead, but the problem was, even if we won the league we couldn’t be promoted, because we didn’t have floodlights.
“I am an ambitious person and when Chadderton asked for my services, I saw it as an exciting opportunity.”
The stakes could not have been higher in Buckley’s first game in charge — a trip to neighbours Oldham Town, now Oldham Boro.
“It was a heck of a match to start with, a derby away from home, but we won, which helped me get off to a good start with everyone at the club and the supporters,” he recalled.
