Striker Jordan Buckley leaves Warrington Town

Earlier today, the Guardian broke the news that the striker was on his way out of Cantilever Park after a club in the Northern Premier League had agreed to pay a fee for his services.

That news has now been officially announced by Town with the buying club revealed as being FC United of Manchester, for whom Buckley played before joining Yellows in 2019.

“After an injury-hit past two seasons, it was agreed that it would be best for Buckley to seek a fresh start closer to home and he makes a return to FC United,” the club said in a statement.

“Buckley has been responsible for some memorable moments for the Yellows and he will remain part of the club’s historic achievement in reaching National League North.

“Everyone at the club wishes Jordan all the best for the future.”

Buckley’s departure comes just over a fortnight after he netted his first goal of the season – an injury-time winner off the substitute’s bench against Rushall Olympic on November 11.

Jordan Buckley scores against Rushall Olympic (Image: Sean Walsh)

However, his first start of the campaign the following week in the FA Trophy clash with Blyth Spartans saw him limp off in the first half with a groin problem – the latest in a series of injury issues that have plagued his time at the club.

He had been limited to cameo appearances by an ankle injury sustained in the opening-day win at Southport while a hamstring issue saw him miss large swathes of the promotion-winning campaign of 2022-23.

In total, Buckley scored 35 goals in 89 appearances for Town, 19 of which came during a prolific 2021-22 season in which he helped Yellows reach the Northern Premier League Premier Division play-off final before losing out to Scarborough Athletic.

Analysis – ‘a key weapon but latest injury was the final straw'

By Matt Turner

YOU will struggle to find anybody associated with Warrington Town who wishes Jordan Buckley anything but the best as he leaves the club.

However, it is a relationship that ends with both parties wondering what might have been were it not for the striker’s wretched injury record.

When fit, Buckley is a huge weapon – a combination of pace, power and deadly finishing that is everything a manager could want in a centre-forward.

That was in perfect evidence during a 2021-22 season in which he scored 19 times to so nearly fire Town to promotion, while supporters will recall with glee his second-half brace to win January’s derby at neighbours Warrington Rylands when he showed a glimpse of his razor-sharp best.

Buckley celebrates scoring the winner in January's Warrington derby (Image: Sean Walsh)

He even showed it as recently as a fortnight ago in plundering an injury-time winner against Rushall Olympic and teammates, coaches and fans alike were all hoping that would prove a turning point for him.

Sadly, though, breaking down again the following week having been handed a chance to start proved to be the final straw for a club who simply cannot afford to carry players at present.

Him moving on is a good deal for all parties – the player himself gets the chance of a fresh start at a level at which he is proven, the club have earned a transfer fee and Mark Beesley now has space in his wage budget to find a suitable replacement.