Herbert Edward William Buckle (28 October 1924 – 14 June 1990), known as Ted Buckle, was an English professional footballer who played as an outside forward (winger) for Manchester United, Everton, and Exeter City in the late 1940s and 1950s.
Early Life and Military Service Born in Southwark, Greater London, Buckle joined the Royal Navy at age 18 and served during the closing stages of the Second World War. While playing for the Navy football team, he was spotted by Manchester United.
Club Career
- Manchester United (1945–1949): Signed on an amateur contract shortly after the war, Buckle turned professional a month later. He scored on his professional debut against Charlton Athletic on 4 January 1947. In his first season, he scored four goals in seven games. However, with established players such as Jimmy Delaney and Charlie Mitten in the side, Buckle remained a fringe player and was transferred to Everton in November 1949 for a fee of £6,500.
- Everton (1949–1955): Buckle flourished at Everton, scoring 31 goals in 97 league appearances over five-and-a-half years. He played in every match of Everton's run to the FA Cup semi-finals in 1950 and again at the same stage in 1953. He was part of the Everton team that was relegated in 1951 and subsequently the side that finished 16th in the Second Division in 1952–53, the club's lowest-ever league finish. He was a regular through the first half of the 1953–54 season, which saw Everton win promotion back to the top flight, but made only a single appearance after the club's return to Division One.
- Exeter City (1955–1957): Transferred for £2,000 in June 1955, Buckle scored 12 league goals in 65 appearances over two seasons as a first-team regular.
- Later career: He spent one season at Wigan Athletic, scoring 11 goals in 20 Lancashire Combination appearances. He later became player-manager at Prestatyn before retiring. He came out of retirement for one season in 1961–62 to play for Dolgellau in the Welsh league.
Death Buckle died on 14 June 1990 in Manchester at the age of 65.
