The view on Isaac Buckley-Ricketts
Savage finally gets his man
Rather like waiting for buses only for two to arrive at once, Macclesfield dropped a brace of announcements at the weekend as the good news keeps on coming for Silkmen fans.
Robbie Savage has quashed speculation on his future by agreeing a new two-year deal to remain in the managerial hotseat until 2027. As a result, Macclesfield FC have fended off EFL interest to secure Savage’s services and he will lead the Silkmen’s assault on the National League North next season.
After winning the Northern Premier League at a canter in his maiden campaign in the dugout, Savage is confident that Macc will be a force to be reckoned with in the NLN and is targeting a play-off place as a minimum. If so, that would be some achievement. We’ll analyse the Silkmen’s chances of success in greater depth in the coming days on this website.
IBR signs
But in the here and now, Macclesfield’s promotion bid has been handed a major boost following the arrival of Isaac Buckley-Ricketts who has signed from Curzon Ashton. Buckley-Ricketts, who was under contract at Curzon, has been prised away for an undisclosed fee as Savage finally gets his man. Macc tried to sign the lively forward last summer, only for Buckley-Ricketts to choose Curzon when departing Warrington Town upon the expiry of his contract.
How big a coup is Buckley-Ricketts’ signature?
Buckley-Ricketts is an example to any footballer suffering a fall from grace that with the right attitude and determination they can still succeed. And Macclesfield’s latest addition has fallen harder and further than most. Formerly of Manchester City’s academy, Buckley-Ricketts was a promising youth international who won the European Under-19 Championships with England.
Loan moves to FC Twente in Holland and Oxford United (then in League One) followed, before Isaac landed a permanent move to Peterborough following his release by City at the end of the 2018-19 season. It didn’t work out at Peterborough, but rather than bemoan his misfortune, Buckley-Ricketts dropped down to non-league and is gradually working his way back up the football pyramid.
After starring for Stretford Paddock FC in the depths of the Cheshire amateur league (equivalent to the 13th tier in English football), Isaac landed a move to Southport in the National League North. But it was following a loan move to Warrington Town, which was later made permanent, where Buckley-Ricketts flourished.
After scoring the winner which earned Warrington promotion in the Northern Premier League play-off final against Bamber Bridge, the 2023–24 season saw Buckley-Ricketts' produce his best performances to date. The winger was named in the National League North ‘Team of the Year’ following his 15 goals for Warrington – the same ‘team of the year’ as Justin Johnson. But whereas Macc were able to tempt JJ to join the Silkmen from Chorley, Buckley-Ricketts wasn’t prepared to drop back down to Step 3.
In fact, it was something of a surprise that the now 27-year-old opted to remain in the National League North and join play-off hopefuls Curzon amid rumours he was attracting interest from Step 1 clubs. Last season wasn’t as productive for Buckley-Ricketts, although he still registered six goals and five assists in 46 games for Curzon in the league as they narrowly missed out on the play-offs. And as many Macc fans will remember, Isaac scored a late equalizer in our 2-2 draw against Curzon Ashton in the FA Trophy before the Silkmen eventually progressed on penalties.
Right move, right time?
Buckley-Ricketts was Savage’s number one transfer target and will be Macclesfield’s only permanent signing this summer, pending any departures. The Silkmen gaffer is a huge fan of the player’s ability to play on either wing, and down the middle as a central striker.
And if you look at Buckley-Ricketts’ ‘heat map’ for Curzon last season – ie in which areas of the pitch he typically operated in – it suggests he’ll pop up everywhere in the final third. But it is moreover Isaac’s blistering pace, trickery, dribbling ability and eye for goal that makes him one of the most dangerous forwards in the NLN.
Regular readers of this site will know that I like to compile a selection of supporters’ views from previous clubs to assess the potential merits of Macclesfield’s new signings. Frustratingly, there is precious little to go on from Curzon Ashton fans online. The underlining opinion suggests they didn’t see the best of Buckley-Ricketts, or in turn get the best out of him either. Certainly in the final weeks of the season he was no longer a guaranteed starter for the Manchester side which re-signed Alex Curran in February.
In Buckley-Ricketts’ defence, he was playing for a side who struggled badly for attacking impetus. Curzon’s tally of 59 goals was the second lowest in the top 11 in the NLN, and with only 25 goals registered at home, this was only worsened by the relegated Warrington Town, Needham Market and Farsley Celtic – a fundamental reason why Curzon failed to make the top seven.
In contrast, Isaac will be joining a Macclesfield side full of goals from all areas and he will likely be given licence by Savage to play with freedom in the final third. It’s certainly an exciting and frightening prospect that Buckley-Ricketts could be in the starting eleven with the likes D’Mani Mellor, Danny Elliott, Luke Duffy, Sean Etaluku, Justin Johnson, Neil Kengni and John Rooney.
But for all the buzz surrounding the Silkmen’s star signing, he can’t be considered a sure thing either and Savage and his coaching staff will need to find the key to Buckley-Ricketts providing a more consistent end product.
And while they’re at it, they’ll also want to reignite Justin Johnson’s Macclesfield career. The former Chorley winger made an encouraging start, only for his form to fall off a cliff after Christmas. It’s a big summer for JJ who is working his way back from injury he sustained away at Lancaster in February. But if they can improve JJ and IBR, in addition to polishing the rough diamond in Etaluku, Macc could be unstoppable down the flanks.
Non-league pundits’ and local Warrington reporter’s views
In the absence of more than a ripple of discontent from Curzon fans, below are a selection of non-league pundits’ views on Buckley-Ricketts, both on him signing for Macc and based on his performances for Warrington, which make for inspiring reading. Has Savage’s powers of persuasion secured another exceptional talent to strengthen the Silkmen’s squad?
“Brilliant signing for Macclesfield. Isaac Buckley-Ricketts has great pedigree, and is proven at the level. Crucially he fits their style perfectly. Will thrive in their system. They’ve already got a top end NLN squad: they’ll be right up there.”
“What a superb addition for Macclesfield! Buckley-Ricketts is a superb attacking player who has proven his quality in the NLN at Warrington and Curzon Ashton in recent seasons. He brings great pace, flair + unpredictability to a Macclesfield side who scored plenty of goals last season. I’m so excited to see how they do in the NLN; this is a superb first signing!”
“Isaac Buckley-Rickett’s football journey is one of resilience and perseverance. From playing with stars to refinding his path, he remains driven.”
“Isaac Buckley-Ricketts’ decision to leave Warrington Town is a hammer blow in every possible respect. The winger was not short of offers from both higher up and lower down the footballing pyramid, all of which would no doubt have dwarfed what Town were able to offer him financially, but he has ultimately decided Curzon Ashton is the best fit for him.
Simply passing it off as being purely for financial reasons would be unfair, however, given Buckley-Ricketts has had opportunities to leave Cantilever Park for lucrative deals elsewhere before now. On the field, Buckley-Ricketts was central to the way Mark Beesley’s team operate – no other player in the squad possesses his raw pace, which was a key weapon whether he operated through the middle or on the left flank. And then, there’s his goal output – his 15 league goals was just under a quarter of their total.
The forward’s name will always be remembered at Warrington Town. His dramatic, promotion-clinching goal in the 2023 play-off final victory over Bamber Bridge will sit proudly alongside Craig Robinson’s FA Cup winner against Exeter City as the most important in the club’s history and having been the man to get them to their new level, he played a key role in them staying there.
The name Isaac Buckley-Ricketts will always bring back positive memories for Town fans, but the shame will be that he did not want to create any more.’