ALAN Buckley still holds the individual scoring record for The Saddlers - 202 goals in all major competitions - and he is the club's most expensive signing, costing £175,000 when he rejoined Walsall from neighbours Birmingham City in June 1979.

He started his career as an apprentice with Nottingham Forest in June 1967, turning professional in April 1968. He came to Walsall first time around in August 1973 and was transferred to Birmingham City in October 1978, but returned to Fellows Park in June of the following year, staying with The Saddlers as a player and/or manager and having four spells in the Fellows Park hot-seat.
First he was caretaker during July and August 1978 following Dave Mackay's departure; then from July 1979 to July 1981; with Neil Martin from July 1981 to January 1982 and finally from May 1982 until June 1986. He then briefly assisted both Stourbridge and Tamworth, took charge of Kettering Town in November 1986 and was appointing at the helm of Grimsby Town in June 1988.

He did well at Blundell Park, leading The Mariners to promotion from the fourth division in 1990 and into the second division 12 months later. He landed the West Bromwich Albion manager's job in 1995 but after an unhappy spell at The Hawthorns he returned to Grimsby two years later and in 2001 accepted the challenge of reviving Lincoln City's flagging fortunes.

A short, stocky, blond-haired striker with an eye for goal, Buckley proved to be one of Walsall's finest-ever captures, scoring at a rate of almost a goal every two games during his association with The Saddlers, including 34 League goals in 1975/76 which included a four-goal haul against Rotherham United. His League career totaled 465 appearances and 183 goals for his three clubs.