It is with tremendous sadness that North Notts Hockey club must announce the passing of John Buck on the evening of Thursday 1st August 2019 aged 72.

John’s sporting achievements were endless, but it was , with Blidworth and Sherwood Cricket Clubs, and Hockey With Noth Notts where his true passion lay.

A lifelong member of North Notts, he served in many club roles including 1st XI Captain, Manager and Club President.  Johns playing career for North Notts in the 70's involved introducing newcomers with his invaluable experience to the art of the sport, players such as current Notts President Andrew Barnes, Ian Fay and Mike Packer all who served North Notts for many years learnt from the "backbone" of the team.  During a remarkable 8 years of captaincy at 1st XI level in the 1980s with the club based at Kingsway Park Kirkby, John was known for his rugged and tenacious tackling, a trait that was to be passed on to his eldest son Christopher.  His influence in the 1980s led to his son recruiting a glut of players from the Manor School which would be pivotal in driving the club forward.  John then moved into managing the 1st XI in the 1990s which saw the club's best season as a men’s first X1 finishing 6th in the Midlands Premier League. John’s forward thinking saw how the local cricket scene was becoming flooded with overseas players, often playing at a level below them and dominating the games.   John opened his home to overseas players Jeremy Davey and Andrew “Ted” Winter from Australia and Kiwi Jeff Rosemergy.   The club flourished for several years all due to John’s generosity in offering his home to them and several others, providing culture and employment.   Amongst all this John was actively involved in turning a tiny "shed" clubhouse into what we now know at Debdale Sports and Recreation club, North Notts current home for the past 20 or so years, the initial refurbishments were all down to John's vision for the future.

Two overseas travellers, William and Allen Butler, arrived and settled in the local area largely due to John’s influence and would look at John as a surrogate father over the years. After handing the management reigns over in the mid 2000s , John continued to watch, umpire and generally be involved with as much as possible.   In North Notts’ final game of the season away at Ashby, John was still there sitting laughing and joking enjoying one of his favourite pastimes. 

There is so much more that can be said about a man so influential to a club and someone who touched so many lives with his infectious smile and sunny demeanor.  North Notts will not be the same club without John, but he will always be remembered.

John Leaves his Wife Jean, Sons Christopher, Simon and Daughter Jayne along with a multitude of beautiful grandchildren.