[6] The 1939 Register finds Buckley and his wife living in Runcorn, Cheshire; he was working as a maintenance labourer at a tannery, and she as a bookkeeper and typist.
[13] Buckley spent a trial period with Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic, under the management of Leslie Knighton, who had signed him for Arsenal,[14] but despite that club's desire to retain his services, he wanted to return nearer home.
[19] He was one of several inexperienced players included in the team to face Reading; they won 1–0, and according to the Leeds Mercury, "The principal cause for Bradford's superiority – the margin of their victory did not accurately represent this – was the work of their half backs (Buckley, Matthews and Godfrey).
"[21] He was rested for a couple of matches in mid-December, apart from which he was ever-present as Lincoln City led the table for much of the season before dropping to second place in the last three games.
He missed two games in September after the taxi in which he and four team-mates were travelling to Swansea Town's ground was in collision with a bus,[27] "broken glass inflicting deep cuts immediately above and below the left eyelid.
[32] Rochdale finished bottom of the Third Division North, and with their Football League status uncertain, released all but three players, of whom Buckley was one.
[33][34] Their application for re-election was successful, and Buckley made 41 appearances in all competitions, a good half of which were in the unaccustomed position of full back.
[37] He missed the next couple of weeks,[38] but played regularly thereafter as Runcorn won an unprecedented Cheshire League–Cheshire League Cup double.
Runcorn were drawn to play cup-holders Preston North End, but Buckley was left out: according to the Lancashire Daily Post, he "[had] been one of the most consistent members of the team and his omission has created a little surprise".