“Football doesn’t wait for anybody.”
That is the philosophy that has driven Sacramento Republic FC Head Coach and Technical Director Paul Buckle throughout his long and successful career in professional football. He has brought that same mindset to his duties with Republic FC.
“If at any time our football club just wants to drift along, I’m the wrong man,” said Buckle. “I’m the right man because our club is forward thinking and hard working. It’s important that I keep our standards high with all of our staff and that’s in the academy and in the first team.”
Buckle got his feet wet in the managerial world by volunteer coaching at schools after a suggestion from a peer and fellow Exter City alum Joe Gadston, whom he considers to have been pivotal in those early stages of his coaching career. Buckle took his advice and began working with kids at underprivileged schools, coaching everything from touch (non-contact) rugby to netball.
“At first, I remember thinking, ‘work for free? I’m a professional footballer, I’m not going to work for free’,” said Buckle. “But he was right. I had to learn to coach, learn my trade, learn to work with people, learn to work with numbers, because as a player you really just look after yourself so he was a huge influence.”
“Football doesn’t wait for anybody.”
That is the philosophy that has driven Sacramento Republic FC Head Coach and Technical Director Paul Buckle throughout his long and successful career in professional football. He has brought that same mindset to his duties with Republic FC.
“If at any time our football club just wants to drift along, I’m the wrong man,” said Buckle. “I’m the right man because our club is forward thinking and hard working. It’s important that I keep our standards high with all of our staff and that’s in the academy and in the first team.”
Buckle got his feet wet in the managerial world by volunteer coaching at schools after a suggestion from a peer and fellow Exter City alum Joe Gadston, whom he considers to have been pivotal in those early stages of his coaching career. Buckle took his advice and began working with kids at underprivileged schools, coaching everything from touch (non-contact) rugby to netball.
“At first, I remember thinking, ‘work for free? I’m a professional footballer, I’m not going to work for free’,” said Buckle. “But he was right. I had to learn to coach, learn my trade, learn to work with people, learn to work with numbers, because as a player you really just look after yourself so he was a huge influence.”
After his time working at schools and volunteer coaching, Buckle moved on to working in youth academies. His time there as a coach, as well as his own time as an academy player, is the reason he takes the development of academy players seriously.
“If you have someone’s kid in your academy, it’s your duty to give them everything you have and your duty to be as fully equipped as you can, be qualified, take it seriously,” said Buckle. “I don’t care where I am in the world, whether I’m in England or America, I believe I have the right foundation along with licenses and all that to be able to educate and help the academy players.”
The idea of developing players from the youth level and getting them onto the first team is something that Buckle has experienced firsthand, not only as a manager but as a player as well.
At the age of 16, he joined the Brentford Football Club Youth Academy. Under Brentford’s academy manager Colin Lee, Buckle learned the importance of being thorough in all of his work and staying focused on becoming better every day. Buckle credits his time at Brentford’s youth academy with shaping him into a disciplined and diligent player.
“The youth coach, Colin Lee, was an excellent youth coach,” said Buckle. “Fantastic with a group of players that didn’t really have any idea of how to be a footballer. He gave life skills. He was a huge influence on how you carry the badge, on pride in the badge, which I see in this football club. I can relate to it.”
Aside from all the professional influences he’s had across his career as a player and as a manager, Buckle points to one man as his main mentor all his life: his father. From the very start of his journey towards a career in professional football, his father instilled in him the importance of being on time and ready to work.
“I realized time keeping was huge because that’s a discipline,” said Buckle. “My dad would take me to the games and then I never got debriefed by my father, he never told me off for missing chances, he never had a go at me. He left it to me to have the desire to go and play. He was very proud, he’s still very proud of what’s developed in my career. But he was my first influence on how to be.”
After his time working at schools and volunteer coaching, Buckle moved on to working in youth academies. His time there as a coach, as well as his own time as an academy player, is the reason he takes the development of academy players seriously.
“If you have someone’s kid in your academy, it’s your duty to give them everything you have and your duty to be as fully equipped as you can, be qualified, take it seriously,” said Buckle. “I don’t care where I am in the world, whether I’m in England or America, I believe I have the right foundation along with licenses and all that to be able to educate and help the academy players.”
The idea of developing players from the youth level and getting them onto the first team is something that Buckle has experienced firsthand, not only as a manager but as a player as well.
At the age of 16, he joined the Brentford Football Club Youth Academy. Under Brentford’s academy manager Colin Lee, Buckle learned the importance of being thorough in all of his work and staying focused on becoming better every day. Buckle credits his time at Brentford’s youth academy with shaping him into a disciplined and diligent player.
“The youth coach, Colin Lee, was an excellent youth coach,” said Buckle. “Fantastic with a group of players that didn’t really have any idea of how to be a footballer. He gave life skills. He was a huge influence on how you carry the badge, on pride in the badge, which I see in this football club. I can relate to it.”
Aside from all the professional influences he’s had across his career as a player and as a manager, Buckle points to one man as his main mentor all his life: his father. From the very start of his journey towards a career in professional football, his father instilled in him the importance of being on time and ready to work.
“I realized time keeping was huge because that’s a discipline,” said Buckle. “My dad would take me to the games and then I never got debriefed by my father, he never told me off for missing chances, he never had a go at me. He left it to me to have the desire to go and play. He was very proud, he’s still very proud of what’s developed in my career. But he was my first influence on how to be.”
Even now as a head coach and technical director, Buckle has not forgotten the importance of staying sharp and pushing to learn more every day. He enjoys exploring the city of Sacramento and getting to know the region, but remains focused on his own professional development in order to create a strong academy and first team. Along with Director of Football Graham Smith, Buckle observes other coaches and clubs and has visited some of what he considers are the top programs in youth development.
“I feel a duty and obligation to go out and get knowledge,” said Buckle. “I’m already a UEFA Pro License holder and keen to earn the American equivalent. I want to continue learning, I want to understand this city, I want to understand the people more. That shows me I’m enjoying the job massively. I’m going to be very protective of this job and work my socks off to make it a very successful time.”
Even now as a head coach and technical director, Buckle has not forgotten the importance of staying sharp and pushing to learn more every day. He enjoys exploring the city of Sacramento and getting to know the region, but remains focused on his own professional development in order to create a strong academy and first team. Along with Director of Football Graham Smith, Buckle observes other coaches and clubs and has visited some of what he considers are the top programs in youth development.
“I feel a duty and obligation to go out and get knowledge,” said Buckle. “I’m already a UEFA Pro License holder and keen to earn the American equivalent. I want to continue learning, I want to understand this city, I want to understand the people more. That shows me I’m enjoying the job massively. I’m going to be very protective of this job and work my socks off to make it a very successful time.”
