 Buckle sustained a serious ankle injury in the opening game of the new season, though he made a full recovery and regained a first team place.He then moved into non-League football with Aldershot Town (2002–03) and Weymouth (2003–04), before returning to Exeter as player-coach in March 2005, first under manager Alex Inglethorpe then his successor Paul Tisdale.He continued to play and later became the club's assistant manager.