"The Bucks lock horns with the Bucks in bank holiday tussle"

Match Date : August 23rd, 2025 3:00 pm
Competition : National League North
Ground : New Bucks Head
Kick Off : 15:00

It’s the Bucks versus the Bucks this bank holiday weekend, when Kevin Wilkin’s men will play host to Buxton on Saturday.

Winners of the Northern Premier League in 2021/22, Buxton have established themselves at Step 2, finishing 11th and 14th in their first two campaigns before securing 7th place and playoff place last time out. The Derbyshire club, also known as the Bucks, put together a wonderful run off results at the back end of last season to squeak into the final playoff place on the last day of the season, edging out Curzon Ashton on goal difference alone. But John McGrath’s side went down 2-1 to Chester in the playoff quarter final.

McGrath took the reins at Silverlands in May 2024 following a successful eight year spell as manager at Derbyshire neighbours Mickleover – McGrath’s last game in charge of Sports being the 2-0 playoff semi final defeat to the Bucks at the SEAH Stadium.

After a mixed start to the last campaign, McGrath’s men came into their own in the new year, as they stormed up the table thanks to a run of 42 points from their final 21 games. Former Redditch star man Johnny Johnston played a prominent part in that sequence, as he impressed for the Derbyshire club having arrived at Silverlands at the end of January.

Having also brought a raft of Mickleover men with him in the summer of 2024, McGrath dipped into the Southern Premier League Central again this year with the signing of Stratford Town’s young dangerman Callum Ebanks. In fact, all of Buxton’s business had a youthful look to it this summer, with the oldest arrival being 25-year-old winger Ryan McLean from AFC Wimbledon. Other notable arrivals include two of Hereford’s top performers from last year in the shape of Tate Campbell and Sam Robinson. Tenacious midfielder Connor Kirby captains the side.

Last year McGrath’s men performed virtually as well on the road as they did at Silverlands, picking up 36 of their 77 points away from home. Tipped for another good season, Buxton’s have made a mixed start to the campaign. An opening day 2-1 win over Radcliffe has been followed up by successive 2-1 defeats to Marine and Hereford respectively.

The Derbyshire club will likely be underwhelmed with their points total so far, while Kevin Wilkin’s men will similarly be looking to improve their early season points tally. Defeat at Bedford on Tuesday night turned the Bucks’ solid start into a decidedly middling one, with Wilkin’s men still looking for a first win of the season. The Bucks are unbeaten in four against Buxton though, picking up four points against the Derbyshire side in the largely disappointing 2022/23 campaign. And with Wilkin’s men aiming to improve their points total as soon as possible, the Bucks will be looking to keep their good record against Buxton going this Saturday.

MATCHDAY INFORMATION

Tickets for Saturday’s fixture will remain on sale up until kick-off and are available for purchase online in advance. See our ticketing page for further details.