Andy Butler
Encyclopedia
Andrew Peter "Andy" Butler (born 4 November 1983 in Doncaster
) is an English
professional
footballer currently playing for Football League One
side Walsall
. He is a left-footed central defender
.
, South Yorkshire
, Butler started his career at Scunthorpe United
. He made his debut for the Iron, then in the Third Division
, on 20 September 2003 as a 34th minute substitute in a 1–1 draw with Leyton Orient
at Brisbane Road. His full debut came three days later, a 2–3 defeat to Burnley
at Glanford Park
in the third round of the 2003–04 League Cup. Midway through the season Butler signed a four year contract.
On 7 February 2004 he scored his first goal in a 2–2 home draw with Doncaster Rovers
. He made a total of 42 appearances, scoring two goals in the 2003–04 season. The following season he scored ten goals in 37 league games as Scunthorpe finished second in League Two
and were promoted to League One
. His goal tally that season included scoring twice in a 3–2 home win over Lincoln City
on 21 August 2004 and two goals in a 3–1 victory over Rushden & Diamonds
at Nene Park
on 18 December. He suffered a serious injury in early 2005 before returning to action later in the season. At the end of the season he won four different honours at the club's annual awards.
The 2005–06 season saw Butler suffer a string of injuries. On 14 January 2006 he was injured in a 1–1 draw with Bristol City
at Ashton Gate
and was ruled out for the rest of the season.
Prior to the start of the 2006–07 season Butler was injured again, dislocating his shoulder in a pre-season friendly with Leeds United
. He was out of action until October 2006 when he joined League Two
side Grimsby Town
on loan, in order to build up his match fitness. He made five appearances for the Mariners. On his return to Scunthorpe he was unable to break back into the first team until later on in the season as the Iron won promotion to the Championship
as League One champions.
In the 2007–08 season Butler made 36 league appearances, scoring two goals as the Iron finished 23rd in the Championship and were relegated back to League One.
In May 2008 he appeared on Soccer AM
's Crossbar Challenge on Sky Sports 1
dressed as Wonder Woman
.
Butler left Scunthorpe in June 2008, turning down a new three-year contract offer, so he could move to a club that would be more suitable for his family needs.
In six years with the club, Butler made a total of 153 appearances scoring 13 times, playing for them in all three divisions of The Football League
.
club Huddersfield Town
on a three-year deal. Along with five other players, he made his Huddersfield debut in a 1–1 draw with Stockport County
at the Galpharm Stadium
on 9 August 2008. His first goal came in a 3–2 home win over Crewe Alexandra
on 1 November 2008. He made a total of 45 appearances in the 2008–09 season, scoring four goals.
Butler began the 2009–10 season
as a first team regular. However, Terriers manager Lee Clark started using Peter Clarke
and Nathan Clarke
as the club's regular centre back pairing.
On 7 January 2010, after not making an appearance for two months, Butler joined Championship side Blackpool
on loan until the end of the season
. On the move up a division Butler said, "I'm really happy with the move. It's a weird one because I've gone a step up, but it's something I'm hoping to thrive on. It looks a good club and I'm happy to be here. Hopefully I can play as many games as I can and help this club where it wants to go, which is the Premiership I suppose." He made his debut two days later in a 1–1 draw with Cardiff City
at the Cardiff City Stadium.
After helping Blackpool reach the Premier League, Butler returned to the Galpharm, but had the remainder of his contract paid up on 23 June 2010.
In October 2010 Butler joined Rochdale on a trial basis and made his first appearance in a Manchester Senior Cup game against Bury, which Rochdale won 1-0 thanks to a goal from former Manchester City trainee Jack Redshaw.
side Walsall
on a contract until the end of the season.
Butler was signed by Chris Hutchings, who was sacked in January after a 4-1 defeat to Peterborough United. He was appointed captain after Dean Smith took charge. He scored his first goal for Walsall in a 3-3 draw against fellow strugglers Tranmere Rovers.
An impressive second half of the season earned Butler Walsall's Player of the Season and Players' Player of the Season awards. On 13 May 2011, Butler signed a new two-year contract, keeping him at the club until June 2013.
|2003–04||rowspan="3"|Scunthorpe United
||Third Division
||34||2||4||0||1||0||42||2
|-
|2004–05||League Two
||37||10||3||0||1||0||41||10
|-
|2005–06||League One
||16||1||3||0||1||0||22||1
|-
|2006–07||Grimsby Town
(loan)||League Two
||4||0||colspan="2"|-||colspan="2"|-||5||0
|-
|2006–07||rowspan="2"|Scunthorpe United
||League One
||11||0||colspan="2"|-||colspan="2"|-||11||0
|-
|2007–08||Championship
||36||2||colspan="2"|-||1||0||37||2
|-
|2008–09||rowspan="2"|Huddersfield Town
||League One
||42||4||1||0||1||0||45||4
|-
|2009–10
||League One
||11||0||colspan="2"|-||1||0||13||0
|-
|2009–10
||Blackpool
(loan)||Championship
||7||0||colspan="2"|-||colspan="2"|-||7||0
|-
198||19||11||0||6||0||223||19
Notes:
a. All Football League Trophy
results are included in totals
Doncaster
Doncaster is a town in South Yorkshire, England, and the principal settlement of the Metropolitan Borough of Doncaster. The town is about from Sheffield and is popularly referred to as "Donny"...
) is an English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
professional
Professional
A professional is a person who is paid to undertake a specialised set of tasks and to complete them for a fee. The traditional professions were doctors, lawyers, clergymen, and commissioned military officers. Today, the term is applied to estate agents, surveyors , environmental scientists,...
footballer currently playing for Football League One
Football League One
Football League One is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system....
side Walsall
Walsall F.C.
Walsall Football Club are an English association football club based in Walsall, West Midlands. They currently play in League One. The club was founded in 1888 as Walsall Town Swifts, an amalgamation of Walsall Town F.C. and Walsall Swifts F.C. The club was one of the founder members of the Second...
. He is a left-footed central defender
Defender (association football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
.
Scunthorpe United
Born in DoncasterDoncaster
Doncaster is a town in South Yorkshire, England, and the principal settlement of the Metropolitan Borough of Doncaster. The town is about from Sheffield and is popularly referred to as "Donny"...
, South Yorkshire
South Yorkshire
South Yorkshire is a metropolitan county in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England. It has a population of 1.29 million. It consists of four metropolitan boroughs: Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham, and City of Sheffield...
, Butler started his career at Scunthorpe United
Scunthorpe United F.C.
Scunthorpe United Football Club is an English association football team based in the town of Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire, who play in the Football League One....
. He made his debut for the Iron, then in the Third Division
Football League Third Division
The Football League Third Division was the 3 tier of English Football from 1920 until 1992 when after the formation of the Football Association Premier League saw the league renamed The Football League Division Two...
, on 20 September 2003 as a 34th minute substitute in a 1–1 draw with Leyton Orient
Leyton Orient F.C.
Leyton Orient F.C. are an English professional football club in East London. They currently play in Football League One and are known to their fans as the O's.Leyton Orient have spent one season in the top flight of English football, in 1962–63...
at Brisbane Road. His full debut came three days later, a 2–3 defeat to Burnley
Burnley F.C.
Burnley Football Club are a professional English Football League club based in Burnley, Lancashire. Nicknamed the Clarets, due to the dominant colour of their home shirts, they were founder members of the Football League in 1888...
at Glanford Park
Glanford Park
Glanford Park is a football stadium in Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire, England, and the current home of Scunthorpe United. It is the smallest stadium by capacity in the Championship ....
in the third round of the 2003–04 League Cup. Midway through the season Butler signed a four year contract.
On 7 February 2004 he scored his first goal in a 2–2 home draw with Doncaster Rovers
Doncaster Rovers F.C.
Doncaster Rovers Football Club is an English football club, based at the Keepmoat Stadium in Doncaster, South Yorkshire. The team currently competes in the Football League Championship, after being promoted via the League One play-offs in 2008, and have remained there since.The club was founded in...
. He made a total of 42 appearances, scoring two goals in the 2003–04 season. The following season he scored ten goals in 37 league games as Scunthorpe finished second in League Two
Football League Two
Football League Two is the third-highest division of The Football League and fourth-highest division overall in the English football league system....
and were promoted to League One
Football League One
Football League One is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system....
. His goal tally that season included scoring twice in a 3–2 home win over Lincoln City
Lincoln City F.C.
Lincoln City Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Lincoln, Lincolnshire. The club are currently members of the Conference National in 2011–12 following relegation from the Football League....
on 21 August 2004 and two goals in a 3–1 victory over Rushden & Diamonds
Rushden & Diamonds F.C.
Rushden & Diamonds Football Club was an association football club based in Irthlingborough, Northamptonshire, England. Formed by a merger of Rushden Town and Irthlingborough Diamonds in 1992, the club played in the Conference National following a short spell in the Football League at the start of...
at Nene Park
Nene Park
Nene Park is a football stadium situated by Irthlingborough, Northamptonshire, England, along the bank of the River Nene, and holds 6,441, with 4,641 seated and 1,800 standing. The car park can hold 800 vehicles. From 1992 until 2011 it was the home ground of Rushden & Diamonds football club...
on 18 December. He suffered a serious injury in early 2005 before returning to action later in the season. At the end of the season he won four different honours at the club's annual awards.
The 2005–06 season saw Butler suffer a string of injuries. On 14 January 2006 he was injured in a 1–1 draw with Bristol City
Bristol City F.C.
Bristol City Football Club is one of two football league clubs in Bristol, England . They play at Ashton Gate, located in the south-west of the City...
at Ashton Gate
Ashton Gate
Ashton Gate Stadium is a stadium in Ashton Gate, Bristol, England, and is the home of Bristol City F.C. Located in the south-west of the city, just south of the River Avon, it has an all-seated capacity of 21,497, with an effective capacity for football matches of around 19,500, with an average...
and was ruled out for the rest of the season.
Prior to the start of the 2006–07 season Butler was injured again, dislocating his shoulder in a pre-season friendly with Leeds United
Leeds United A.F.C.
Leeds United Association Football Club are an English professional association football club based in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, who play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system...
. He was out of action until October 2006 when he joined League Two
Football League Two
Football League Two is the third-highest division of The Football League and fourth-highest division overall in the English football league system....
side Grimsby Town
Grimsby Town F.C.
Grimsby Town Football Club is an English football club based in the seaside town of Cleethorpes, in North East Lincolnshire, England, who compete in the Conference National. They were formed in 1878 as Grimsby Pelham and later became Grimsby Town...
on loan, in order to build up his match fitness. He made five appearances for the Mariners. On his return to Scunthorpe he was unable to break back into the first team until later on in the season as the Iron won promotion to the Championship
Football League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
as League One champions.
In the 2007–08 season Butler made 36 league appearances, scoring two goals as the Iron finished 23rd in the Championship and were relegated back to League One.
In May 2008 he appeared on Soccer AM
Soccer AM
Soccer AM is a British Saturday-morning football-based comedy/talk show, predominantly based around the Premier League...
's Crossbar Challenge on Sky Sports 1
Sky Sports
Sky Sports is the brand name for a group of sports-oriented television channels operated by the UK and Ireland's main satellite pay-TV company, British Sky Broadcasting. Sky Sports is the dominant subscription television sports brand in the United Kingdom and Ireland...
dressed as Wonder Woman
Wonder Woman
Wonder Woman is a DC Comics superheroine created by William Moulton Marston. She first appeared in All Star Comics #8 . The Wonder Woman title has been published by DC Comics almost continuously except for a brief hiatus in 1986....
.
Butler left Scunthorpe in June 2008, turning down a new three-year contract offer, so he could move to a club that would be more suitable for his family needs.
In six years with the club, Butler made a total of 153 appearances scoring 13 times, playing for them in all three divisions of The Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
.
Huddersfield Town
On 2 July 2008 Butler joined League OneFootball League One
Football League One is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system....
club Huddersfield Town
Huddersfield Town F.C.
Huddersfield Town Football Club is an English football club formed in 1908 and based in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. They currently play in League One...
on a three-year deal. Along with five other players, he made his Huddersfield debut in a 1–1 draw with Stockport County
Stockport County F.C.
Stockport County Football Club is an English football club based in Stockport, Greater Manchester. The club formed in 1883 as Heaton Norris Rovers, shortly afterwards merging with Heaton Norris F.C., and adopted the current name on 24 May 1890 on the creation of the County Borough of Stockport...
at the Galpharm Stadium
Galpharm Stadium
The Galpharm Stadium, formerly the Alfred McAlpine Stadium, is a multi-use sports in Huddersfield in West Yorkshire, England. Since 1994, it has been the home ground of Huddersfield Town and Super League side, Huddersfield Giants.-The Stadium:...
on 9 August 2008. His first goal came in a 3–2 home win over Crewe Alexandra
Crewe Alexandra F.C.
Crewe Alexandra Football Club is an English professional football club based in Crewe, Cheshire. Nicknamed The Railwaymen due to the town's links with the rail industry, they currently play in Football League Two, the fourth tier of English football, and are based at the Alexandra Stadium.The club...
on 1 November 2008. He made a total of 45 appearances in the 2008–09 season, scoring four goals.
Butler began the 2009–10 season
2009–10 Football League
The Football League 2009–10, called the Coca-Cola Football League for sponsorship reasons, was the 110th completed season of the Football League. It began in August 2009 and concluded in May 2010, with the promotion play-off finals. The Football League is contested through three Divisions. The...
as a first team regular. However, Terriers manager Lee Clark started using Peter Clarke
Peter Clarke (footballer)
Peter Michael Clarke is an English professional footballer who plays as a centre back for Huddersfield Town, where he is club captain....
and Nathan Clarke
Nathan Clarke
Nathan Clarke is a professional footballer who currently plays in central defence for Macclesfield Town on loan from Huddersfield Town in Football League One in England.-Playing career:...
as the club's regular centre back pairing.
On 7 January 2010, after not making an appearance for two months, Butler joined Championship side Blackpool
Blackpool F.C.
Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the...
on loan until the end of the season
Blackpool F.C. season 2009–10
The 2009–10 season was Blackpool F.C.s 103rd season in the Football League. It was also their third consecutive season in The Championship, the second tier of English football. The club won promotion, via the play-offs, to the Premier League for the first time, their 28th overall season in the top...
. On the move up a division Butler said, "I'm really happy with the move. It's a weird one because I've gone a step up, but it's something I'm hoping to thrive on. It looks a good club and I'm happy to be here. Hopefully I can play as many games as I can and help this club where it wants to go, which is the Premiership I suppose." He made his debut two days later in a 1–1 draw with Cardiff City
Cardiff City F.C.
Cardiff City Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Cardiff, Wales. The club competes in the English football pyramid and is currently playing in the Football League Championship. Cardiff City is the best supported football club in Wales, averaging approximately 22,500 for...
at the Cardiff City Stadium.
After helping Blackpool reach the Premier League, Butler returned to the Galpharm, but had the remainder of his contract paid up on 23 June 2010.
In October 2010 Butler joined Rochdale on a trial basis and made his first appearance in a Manchester Senior Cup game against Bury, which Rochdale won 1-0 thanks to a goal from former Manchester City trainee Jack Redshaw.
Walsall
On November 12, 2010, Butler joined Football League OneFootball League One
Football League One is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system....
side Walsall
Walsall F.C.
Walsall Football Club are an English association football club based in Walsall, West Midlands. They currently play in League One. The club was founded in 1888 as Walsall Town Swifts, an amalgamation of Walsall Town F.C. and Walsall Swifts F.C. The club was one of the founder members of the Second...
on a contract until the end of the season.
Butler was signed by Chris Hutchings, who was sacked in January after a 4-1 defeat to Peterborough United. He was appointed captain after Dean Smith took charge. He scored his first goal for Walsall in a 3-3 draw against fellow strugglers Tranmere Rovers.
An impressive second half of the season earned Butler Walsall's Player of the Season and Players' Player of the Season awards. On 13 May 2011, Butler signed a new two-year contract, keeping him at the club until June 2013.
Career statistics
|-|2003–04||rowspan="3"|Scunthorpe United
Scunthorpe United F.C.
Scunthorpe United Football Club is an English association football team based in the town of Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire, who play in the Football League One....
||Third Division
Football League Third Division
The Football League Third Division was the 3 tier of English Football from 1920 until 1992 when after the formation of the Football Association Premier League saw the league renamed The Football League Division Two...
||34||2||4||0||1||0||42||2
|-
|2004–05||League Two
Football League Two
Football League Two is the third-highest division of The Football League and fourth-highest division overall in the English football league system....
||37||10||3||0||1||0||41||10
|-
|2005–06||League One
Football League One
Football League One is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system....
||16||1||3||0||1||0||22||1
|-
|2006–07||Grimsby Town
Grimsby Town F.C.
Grimsby Town Football Club is an English football club based in the seaside town of Cleethorpes, in North East Lincolnshire, England, who compete in the Conference National. They were formed in 1878 as Grimsby Pelham and later became Grimsby Town...
(loan)||League Two
Football League Two
Football League Two is the third-highest division of The Football League and fourth-highest division overall in the English football league system....
||4||0||colspan="2"|-||colspan="2"|-||5||0
|-
|2006–07||rowspan="2"|Scunthorpe United
Scunthorpe United F.C.
Scunthorpe United Football Club is an English association football team based in the town of Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire, who play in the Football League One....
||League One
Football League One
Football League One is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system....
||11||0||colspan="2"|-||colspan="2"|-||11||0
|-
|2007–08||Championship
Football League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
||36||2||colspan="2"|-||1||0||37||2
|-
|2008–09||rowspan="2"|Huddersfield Town
Huddersfield Town F.C.
Huddersfield Town Football Club is an English football club formed in 1908 and based in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. They currently play in League One...
||League One
Football League One
Football League One is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system....
||42||4||1||0||1||0||45||4
|-
|2009–10
2009–10 Football League
The Football League 2009–10, called the Coca-Cola Football League for sponsorship reasons, was the 110th completed season of the Football League. It began in August 2009 and concluded in May 2010, with the promotion play-off finals. The Football League is contested through three Divisions. The...
||League One
Football League One
Football League One is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system....
||11||0||colspan="2"|-||1||0||13||0
|-
|2009–10
Blackpool F.C. season 2009–10
The 2009–10 season was Blackpool F.C.s 103rd season in the Football League. It was also their third consecutive season in The Championship, the second tier of English football. The club won promotion, via the play-offs, to the Premier League for the first time, their 28th overall season in the top...
||Blackpool
Blackpool F.C.
Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the...
(loan)||Championship
Football League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
||7||0||colspan="2"|-||colspan="2"|-||7||0
|-
198||19||11||0||6||0||223||19
Notes:
a. All Football League Trophy
Football League Trophy
The Football League Trophy, currently known as the Johnstone's Paint Trophy for sponsorship reasons, is an annual English association football knock-out competition open to the 48 clubs in Football League One and Football League Two, the bottom two divisions in the four fully professional top...
results are included in totals
Honours
Scunthorpe United:- League OneFootball League OneFootball League One is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system....
champion: 2006–07
External links
- Andy Butler player profile at htafc.com
- Andy Butler player profile at scunthorpe-united.co.uk