5ft. 6in. inside-forward Fred Buck joined Liverpool from West Bromwich Albion on 11 May 1903 and made his debut at the beginning of the 1903/04 season. He quickly established himself in Tom Watson's side, starting each of Liverpool's first eight league matches. Playing in the inside-forward position, Buck was part of a forward line that also included club luminaries like Jack Cox, Jack Parkinson and Arthur Goddard. Buck's promising start was interrupted in controversial circumstances during Liverpool's visit to Stoke on 17 October 1903. In the closing stages of the match at the Victoria Ground, Buck was sent off after becoming involved in a confrontation with Stoke's James Bradley. The referee reported that Buck had kicked and struck Bradley, while both players were ordered off. The Football League subsequently suspended Buck for six weeks, beginning on 27 October. Bradley received a 14-day suspension and would later become a Liverpool player himself, joining the club in 1905.
The suspension kept Buck out of the Liverpool side for much of November and early December. By the time he was eligible to return, Edgar Chadwick had taken his place in the forward line. Buck was restored for the home league match against Wolves shortly before Christmas, but was left out again afterwards. He made only four further first-team appearances. Buck's sole Liverpool goal came on Boxing Day, 26 December 1903, when Blackburn Rovers won 3-1 at Anfield. In total, he played 13 league matches for Liverpool, scoring once. Liverpool won only one of those 13 matches, drew two and lost ten. His departure came a few months later, when he joined Plymouth Argyle on 14 March 1904.
Although Buck's Liverpool career lasted less than a year, he went on to enjoy considerable success elsewhere. After two seasons with Plymouth Argyle, he returned to West Bromwich Albion in 1906 and spent eight further seasons at the club. He won the Second Division title in 1911 and played at centre-half when Albion reached the 1912 FA Cup final. He subsequently finished his playing career in Swansea.
