buckingham joined tottenham hotspur in 1934 and played the first season (1934–35) for tottenham hotspur nursery club northfleet united. after that single season he returned to tottenham and played 230 games as a defensive midfielder before leaving in 1949. he started his managerial career with amateur team pegasus followed by bradford park avenue, then a football league side, before taking over at west bromwich albion in 1953. he became the club's longest serving post-war manager, almost leading them to an elusive 'double' in 1954 when they won the fa cup and finished second in the league.