Buckley overjoyed at big team effort

NON-LEAGUE FOOTBALL: CHADDERTON manager Paul Buckley hailed his over-performing stars after a sixth-place finish in the Vodkat North-West Counties League Division One.

Until the last eight weeks of the campaign, Buckley’s side were chasing second spot in the table, which would have secured automatic promotion.

A lack of cutting edge and a hint of fatigue in the final stages of the season put paid to that ambition.

But the boss is more than happy after seeing his side exceed his own expectations.

“I say at the start of every season that a top-10 finish is a big achievement for this club,” said Buckley.

“We don’t have money to spend, unlike other sides in this division, but what we do have is a great group of lads.

“The spirit is brilliant and they have given me everything again.

“It is a collective effort. I am delighted for all the players and staff, because so much hard work goes into it week in, week out.”

Buckley reserved special praise for top-scorer James Curley. The hitman struck 23 goals in all competitions — the sixth highest total in the division.

“James was superb throughout the campaign,” added Buckley.

“It is just a shame we didn’t have another goalscorer to ease the burden on him.”


...But Mills endures a horror season
OLDHAM Boro boss Tony Mills admits he was glad to see the back of a “nightmare” season in which his side won just five matches, finishing 17th in the table.

Boro only avoided relegation due to a shortage of teams in NWCL Division One.

“It was a nightmare from start to finish to be perfectly honest,” said Mills.

“I just could not put out the same line-up two weeks in a row, which makes it so hard to build up a consistent run of results.

“Every single weekend I was chopping and changing, and very often I had to use 17 and 18-year-olds just to make up the numbers.

“I can guarantee next season will be better.”

Former Rossendale United manager Gary Brown has stepped up from coach to assistant manager at Boro.