Fred Buck

Frederick Richard Buck
Born	Frederick Richard Buck Template:Birth date Audley, Staffordshire, England
Died	June 5, 1952(1952-06-05) (aged 72)
Other names	Fred Buck
Occupation	Footballer
Years active	1895–1917
Known for	Playing as inside forward and centre half for West Bromwich Albion, Liverpool, Plymouth Argyle, Swansea Town

Frederick Richard Buck (born 2 November 1879, died 5 June 1952), commonly referred to as Fred Buck, was an English football player who operated primarily as an inside forward and centre half. His professional career included appearances in the Football League representing West Bromwich Albion and Liverpool, as well as participation in the Southern League with Plymouth Argyle and Swansea Town.

Life and career

Originating from Audley, Staffordshire, Buck initiated his football journey with Stafford Wesleyans in 1895 before joining Stafford Rangers in 1897. He secured a contract with West Bromwich Albion in November 1900 and later transferred to Liverpool in May 1903. By January 1904, Buck had signed for Plymouth Argyle, and he made a return to West Bromwich Albion in April 1906. During his time at Albion, he was the leading league goalscorer twice—netting 18 goals in the 1907–08 season and 16 goals in the 1909–10 campaign. In May 1914, he moved to Swansea Town where he concluded his playing days, scoring once across eight league matches before retiring in May 1917.

Before his football prominence, Buck trained as an apprentice and engineer fitter. While at Plymouth Argyle, he measured 5 feet 6½ inches tall and weighed just under 11 stone. He married Stella Margaret Williams in July 1913. His military service during the First World War spanned from 1915 to 1918 within the Army Service Corps, for which he was awarded the British War Medal. Following the war, Buck managed the Victoria Inn public house in Rugby between 1921 and 1931. Subsequently, he took up employment as a clerk at the Grinding Wheel Works located in Stafford, where he remained until his passing in 1952.