Bucks: Reed's record may never be broken

Proud officials at EVO-STIK Northern Premier League Buxton believe Mark Reed’s record of 250 goals may never be bettered.

The striker notched up the milestone haul at the end of October when he netted the winner in a 2-1 victory over Halesowen Town at Silverlands, a feat that has left the league’s statisticians leafing through the record books to see if it has ever happened before.

Buxton are away at FC United of Manchester in the FA Trophy on Saturday when Reed - pictured being presented with a bottle of champagne and the match ball by Bucks president Chris Brindle, left, and chairman Dave Hopkins after the Yeltz win – will no doubt be firmly setting his sights on his next fifty after failing to score since.

A club spokesman said: "It's some achievement and unlikely to be ever bettered but Reedy has been so much more than just a goalscorer. He has never provided a moments bother for the five Buxton management teams he has served and is a fine role model, both for this club's young supporters and for the schoolchildren he teaches."

Now 33 and a teacher to Wirral schoolchildren by day, Reed is in his 13th season and third spell with the Bucks after brief spells away at Vauxhall Motors, Cammell Laird and Chester. His record includes netting two four goal hauls and 11 hat-tricks, the last timed at taking just 3 minutes 41.8 seconds.

Reed first confirmed his status as a Buxton legend three years ago when he scored his 200th goal for the club against Mickleover Sports in the Derbyshire Senior Cup semi-final. Having re-joined from Chester earlier that season, the milestone came up in his 317th game for the Silverlands outfit and he now has more than 450 appearance under his belt and is fourth in the club’s all-time list of veterans.

One of the most popular players to ever wear the club's colours, he initially joined the Bucks while at university at Sheffield in October 2002 and became an instant favourite with the Silverlands ‘faithful,’ earning two Player Of The Season awards and the Non-League Paper’s national Player of the Year Award in 2006.

As the club rose through the divisions in 2005-06 and 2006-07, he netted 42 goals and 36 goals respectively as the Bucks achieved back-to-back promotions to the EVO-STIK NPL’s top flight. During that spell he was the club’s leading scorer for six consecutive seasons.

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