Buckie Ladies hail managerial coup as Eddie Wolecki Black takes over Gordon Park hotseat
A local women’s football team have pulled off a major coup in landing one of the game’s heavyweights as manager.
Buckie Ladies, who ended their Highlands and Islands League campaign by winning the cup for the third year in a row and narrowly missing out on a treble of championship crowns, have unveiled Eddie Wolecki Black as their new boss.
He will take over from Laura Duncan, who scooped a league trophy and two cups during her two years in charge and will return to the assistant manager role she held under previous boss Mel Smith.
Most recently Wolecki Black was in the hotseat at HFL outfit Lossiemouth for seven games at the start of this season.
He brings within him an enviable pedigree in both the women’s and men’s game.
Wolecki Black became the first full-time coach of a Scottish women’s football team when he took charge of Glasgow City and led them to eight consecutive SWFL titles, leaving the club on the brink of securing their ninth.
He also was at the helm of Celtic Women and Motherwell Women, guiding the latter side to promotion to the Scottish Women’s Premier League (SWPL), the top tier of women’s football in Scotland.
In the men’s game, Wolecki Black can boast a similarly impressive pedigree, having served as the director of football at West of Scotland Football League club Gartcairn Juniors and also managed Forfar West End, Lochee United (who he took to the Junior Cup final), Montrose, Edusport Academy and Airdrieonians
The Highland League was no stranger to Buckie Ladies’ new boss as a player, having turned out for Deveronvale - where in the mid-90s, he smashed seven goals passed Nairn County in one game - and Huntly, as well as league outfit Montrose.
He is currently working with New Elgin Juniors.
Looking forward to his role with the Highlands and Islands League Cup holders, he said: “I was asked to come along to a couple of Buckie Ladies’ games and watch them.
“It became apparent that Laura [Duncan] wanted to step aside from her role as manager which would’ve left the club with no management in place so I decided, being the football junkie that I am, to take on the job.
“Buckie Ladies are a very good side - the last few years have been a fairy-tale for them. The work done by Laura and others has been fabulous, they’ve left a sound foundation and it’s up to me to build on that.
“At this point I want to every member of the squad an opportunity to show what they can do before thinking about bringing in new players. Any players I do bring in will be to strengthen the squad - there’ll be no bench warmers. I do have some ideas about style of play but that’s for later.
“Overall they’re an impressive squad - they were very, very close to the title. One of my jobs will to be work on consistency.”
Welcoming Wolecki Black to Buckie Ladies, a club statement said: “Eddie comes to the club with a wealth of knowledge and experience within women’s football having won the Women’s Premier League title nine consecutive years with Glasgow City as well as multiple cup titles.
“Everyone at the club is extremely excited to have Eddie on board and are looking forward to this new chapter.”
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