Homecoming honour for hot-shot

30 Oct 2016 By David Watters

EVO-STIK Northern Premier League Buxton celebrated the achievements of their all-time record marksmen Mark Reed on his return to Silverlands on Saturday by renaming their sponsorship hospitality suite in his honour.

After similarly honouring their all-time record appearance maker David Bainbridge three weeks ago by renaming the boardroom after the club legend, the Bucks renamed their sponsorship suite 'The Mark Reed Lounge' after beating Reed's new club Glossop North End 2-0 in the FA Trophy.

Planned after the clubs were drawn together in the the first qualifying round, the 34-year-old was honoured for the 251 goals he scored in competitive matches for the EVO-STIK NPL Premier Division club before leaving in March 2015 to join The Hillmen.

Reed is pictured being presented with a bottle of champagne and the match ball from Bucks president Chris Brindle, left, and chairman Dave Hopkins, for notching his milestone 250th goal in October 2014 during a 2-1 victory over Halesowen Town at Silverlands.

At the time, proud Bucks officials said they believed his record would never be bettered. "It's some achievement and unlikely to be ever bettered but Reedy has been so much more than just a goalscorer," said a spokesman. "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."

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

Fourth in the club’s all-time list of veterans and 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, becoming an instant favourite with the Silverlands ‘faithful’ before earning two Player Of The Season awards and the Non-League Paper’s national Player of the Year Award in 2006.

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