CHORLEY STORIES

Don't Come Home With A Yankee Accent

Former Chorley player and manager Glen Buckley reflects on his football journey, from Victory Park memories to coaching in America, and the personal story behind his new book.

GUEST: Glen Buckley

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ABOUT THIS EPISODE

In this episode of Chorley FC Stories, former player and manager Glen Buckley reflects on a football journey that began on the terraces at Victory Park before taking him into management, coach education and a career spanning more than three decades in the United States.

Growing up in Standish, Glen fell in love with football by watching Chorley's famous sides of the 1970s and dreaming of one day playing under the floodlights himself. That ambition became reality when he joined the club as a player before later returning as manager, leading the Magpies through a challenging period in the early 1990s.

Glen shares memories of the family atmosphere that made Chorley such a special club, from the legendary "Golden Girls" supporters to the volunteers and committee members who kept the club going through difficult times. He recalls managing at Victory Park, the characters who shaped his football career, and why Chorley was always a club that players wanted to represent.

The conversation also explores the injury that ended Glen's playing career at just 23 years old and how that setback led him into coaching. From working with young players at Wigan Athletic to becoming a respected coach educator, Glen eventually built a new life in America, where he has spent decades developing players, coaches and football programmes while never losing his connection to Chorley.

Alongside his football story, Glen speaks movingly about writing his memoir, Don't Come Home with a Yankee Accent, inspired by a promise made to his late son, Nathaniel. It's a powerful reminder that football is about far more than results, bringing together family, community and the people who shape our lives along the way.

This episode forms part of the Chorley FC Stories heritage project led by Chorley FC Community Foundation, capturing and preserving the voices and memories of those connected to the club so that the history and spirit of Chorley FC can continue to be shared with future generations.

Glen's book "Don't come home with a Yankee Accent" is available to buy on Amazon

WHY IT MATTERS

These Stories Deserve To Be Heard

Football clubs don't just exist on a pitch. They live in the memories of the people around them, the families who have followed the same club for generations, the volunteers who give their Saturdays without a second thought, the players who came through the ranks and never forgot where they started.

Victory Park is more than a ground. It's where people belong. Chorley Stories exists to preserve that, to make sure the voices of our community are recorded, respected, and shared for years to come.