he made his debut for grimsby in a first division defeat to swindon town on 24 april 1998. he would make one further appearance that season in another away defeat, this time to watford. the following season, buckley was eased into first-team action by his father, and was a regular presence on the bench during the 1999–00 campaign. during his time with the mariners buckley was cast aside by grimsby supporters as a player who only featured and played professionally because his father was the club's manager.