Chris Buckley

Editor & Trail Runner

Chris Buckley is an experienced sports media professional with more than 40-years in the industry across print, digital, content services and sports rights.

He began his career as a sports journalist working on local weekly newspapers in the north west of England before joining the Hull Daily Mail as sports editor in 1990. A move followed to UK News – a national news agency based where he was sports editor overseeing a team of journalists who were providing sports news services to regional and national newspapers across the UK.

In 1996 he joined The Press Association, now known as PA Media, to oversee the company’s sports division’s move into digital publishing with the launch of The British Racing Centre which quickly developed into Sportinglife.com, a joint venture between The Press Association and Trinity Mirror (now known as Reach plc).

With the advent of the dot.com boom Buckley moved back into the Press Association to head up PA Sport which he was at the forefront of building into what was then the biggest sports content provider in the world. PA Sport provided editorial and data service to traditional and digital media companies around the world and secured exclusive relationships for sports data services with The English Premier League, English Football League, UEFA, FIFA, England and Wales Cricket Board, and South African Premier League amongst many others.

The relationships that Buckley had built within the world of sport were key in his next role as CEO of world-leading virtual digital advertising specialists Supponor who he joined in 2009, helping drive funding and the integration of the company’s technology into broadcasters and sports leagues and federations.

Never far away from content services, Buckley was one of the founding partners of Sport Acuity – a specialist company that provides services to the sports industry. This includes content services, media monitoring, consultancy around the commercialisation of sports content rights, digital content and audience growth strategies. Clients include European Club Association, UEFA, European Professional Club Rugby, the Professional Triathletes Organisation and Formula 1 Racing.

Buckley has been involved in TRI247.COM and RUN247.COM since Sport Acuity became the major shareholders in the business in 2021. Although his main focus is supporting the strategic development of the two sites, his passion for endurance running and love of content sees him contribute regularly to RUN247.COM using his experience of both to generate news, race previews and product reviews.

A keen runner, Buckley has completed numerous ultra marathons around the UK over distances ranging from 30 miles through to 110 miles. These include the UTS 50, St Cuthbert’s Way, Butcombe Trail Ultra, Warrington Way and numerous Hardmoors events in his native North Yorkshire including the Hardmoors 55, 60 and 110.