THE COACHES  

John Buckley

John is an ex-professional who started his career in Scotland with Celtic. He progressed through the youth ranks playing alongside Charlie Nicholas (ex Arsenal/Scotland), Danny McGrain (Scotland), Roy Aitken (now assistant manager Aston Villa) and Tommy Burns (now assistant manager Scotland). John moved on to Partick Thistle from Celtic where the tricky winger was in the same side as Maurice Johnston (ex-Celtic, Rangers, Monaco & Scotland). John did well and was picked up by Doncaster Rovers for £40,000 and decided to move south of the border to join Scottish legend Billy Bremner’s side. John was able to adjust to English football and soon followed Bremner to Leeds United for £45,000 in 1987 along with the Snodin brothers Ian and Glynn. Among his colleagues were John Sheridan (ex Sheffield Wednesday) and Keith Edwards (ex Sheffield United).

John then joined Leicester City on loan to help provide ammunition for striker Alan Smith (ex Arsenal/England), also in their ranks was Gary McAllister (ex Leeds United/Liverpool & Scotland) and Russell Osman (ex Ipswich Town & England). John returned to Leeds following his successful loan spell. He then went on to join Rotherham United for £45,000 where he was part of their division four championship winning side of 1989 and was a firm crowd favourite with his skills and tricks on either wing. John was transferred back to Partick Thistle for a brief spell back in Scotland before joining Scunthorpe United in 1991 for £40,000 where he was part of the Iron’s Division Four Play-Off Final team at Wembley along with future Scottish internationals Matt Elliott and Graham Alexander. At Scunthorpe was a certain Paul Green playing for their youth side!!!

John rejoined Rotherham United in 1994 linking up again with Shaun Goater (ex Manchester City) under the management of Phil Henson. Among their youth ranks was Paul Green who had made the move from Scunthorpe a year earlier!!! In 1995 John received a serious injury playing at Millmoor and was forced to retire from the game. John made over 350 appearances during his career and played against some of the best players in the country at the time Mark Hughes, Gordon Strachan, Bryan Robson, Paul McGrath, Norman Whiteside and Gary Speed to name but a few. John decided to go into coaching following retiring from playing and quickly gained all of his coaching badges and now holds a UEFA 'A' licence. He is a fully qualified coach educator on the pitch aswell as in the classroom and delivers coaching courses for the Football Association.

He is a vastly experienced coach who has worked for the Leeds United Academy (bringing through players like Aaron Lennon & James Milner) and Hull City where he was their youth team coach.

John became the Manager of the Doncaster Rovers Belles ladies team in 2002 and is now into his third season at the helm leading them in the FA Nationwide Women’s Premier League.

Paul Green

Paul comes from a very strong footballing background, with his father being an ex-professional who served six clubs as a player, before becoming a coach , chief scout and football league manager who today is the Football Coordinator at Wigan Athletic.

Paul followed his father into football by signing YTS forms with Scunthorpe United in 1992. Amongst his YTS colleagues at Scunthorpe were Tim Ryan (now Doncaster Rovers) and Paul Ellender (now Boston United) whilst a certain John Buckley was gracing the first team!!! Other players at the club included Matt Elliott (ex-Leicester City/Scotland) and Graham Alexander (now Preston North End/Scotland).

Paul was transferred to Rotherham United midway through his first year as a YT. Paul quickly became a regular in their junior side and began to develop as a player. Amongst his YTS colleagues at Rotherham were Ian Breckin (now Nottingham Forest) and Paul Hurst (still Rotherham United). Other players at the club included Shaun Goater (ex-Manchester City) and again John Buckley who had also joined from Scunthorpe United a few months later!!!

Paul featured in Rotherham’s reserve side gaining promotion into the Pontins League Division One. He turned professional at the end of his YTS scheme. That season Paul was now a regular in the reserves and faced some tough games and opponents including playing at Old Trafford, Goodison Park & Elland Road against such players as David Beckham, Paul Scholes, Gary Neville, David Batty, Andy Townsend, Shay Given, Nigel Clough & Neil Webb.

At the end of the season Paul left the club and joined non-league side Buxton in the Unibond Premier League .Paul spent just over two seaons at Buxton where he was voted Players Player of the year in 1996/97. Paul then joined Bradford Park Avenue in 1997 and played alongside Paddy Kenny (now Sheffield United/Republic of Ireland). Paul moved on to Belper Town in 1998 where he was voted Player of the year in his first season there. But in 2001 Paul ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee and was out of action for nine months. Once fit again Paul joined Stocksbridge Park Steels in 2002 and played under the management of Wayne Biggins (ex Manchester City, Celtic). Paul joined Mickleover Sports in 2003 but soon decided to retire due to injury.

Since retiring from playing Paul has been concentrating on the other side of the game. He has passed his FA Level 2 and UEFA 'B' football coaching certificates and is currently studying for his UEFA 'A' licence.

Paul assists John with the coaching of the Doncaster Rovers Belles ladies team as well as being the Doncaster Rovers Belles Club Secretary.

He is also a premiership scout for Wigan Athletic where he is sent to games to watch certain players or individual teams and compile player/team reports on them.

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