John Butler (footballer)
Encyclopedia
John Edward Butler is a former professional association footballer who played in The Football League
for Wigan Athletic
and Stoke City
chalking up 300 senior appearances for both clubs. A player of versatility, he played in all 11 positions on the pitch at some point in his career. His specialist position was right back. In a 16 season professional career, Butler played in three successful promotion campaigns that included lifting two divisional titles. He also picked up a winners medal from the 1992 Autoglass Trophy Final.
He played football at non-league side Prescot Cables
to whom he was introduced by Jimmy Wield, the man Butler cites as the person to give him a career as a professional footballer.
Butler was being scouted by Liverpool with Geoff Twentyman
and Tom Saunders
scheduled to watch him. However the game in question was cancelled and Wigan Athletic
seized the opportunity with assistant manager Harry McNally
offering Butler terms the day after.
, Wigan were promoted from the fourth to the third tier of the English football league pyramid. The Latics finished third behind Sheffield United and Bradford City.
Butler's versatility saw him play in all eleven positions on the pitch in his Wigan career including goalkeeper when Nigel Atkins was substituted in a game due to injury.
Butler was the club player of the year in 1984. The best run of his career in the two major domestic cups was reaching the quarter finals in the 1986-87 FA Cup when Wigan were beaten 2-0 at home by Leeds United. His first spell at Wigan spanned seven seasons.
signed the then 26 year old Butler for Stoke in 1988 for £100,000. He made his Stoke debut against Manchester City on boxing day and kept his place in the side for the remainder of the 1988-89 season. Butler then became a key figure for the Potters and he went on to amass 300 senior games for Stoke. Only once in his six full seasons at Stoke did he fail to make over 40 first team appearances, 1990/91 when he still chalked up 37 first team games. He twice made over 50 first team appearances (1991/92 & 1992/93) and topped the club appearances chart outright in 1989/90 and jointly in 1991/92.
Butler's first goal for Stoke came on 27 March 1989 in a 2-1 defeat away to Manchester City who ended the season being automatically promoted behind champions Chelsea.
He picked up a winners medal from the 1992 Football League Trophy Final
at Wembley Stadium
under the management of Lou Macari
. The game was a 1-0 win against Stockport County before a crowd of 48,339. The same two sides were pitted against each other in the end of season divisional play offs. County won the first leg 1–0 and in the second leg Stoke could only draw 1–1 and remained in the third Division.
Butler and Macari enjoyed another success together when in 1992-93 in English football
Stoke won the Second Division championship (then the third tier of the English football league) ahead of Bolton Wanderers. After a slow start Stoke soon began to start winning and by the 21 November 1992 Stoke were top of the table and remained there for the rest of the season and promotion was secured with a record of 93 points. Stoke also went on a club record 25 League games without defeat.
Like his first spell at Wigan, Butler's Stoke career spanned seven seasons.
He made 302 first team league appearances in two spells for the Latics. In a nostalgic article in the Wigan v Tottenham Hotspur match program of 2 April 2011 titled 'Latics legends', Butler was one of the two Wigan players profiled for the 1980s.
After two seasons in his second spell at Wigan, John Butler left senior football at the age of 35 to play for Stalybridge Celtic.
Stoke:-
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...
for Wigan Athletic
Wigan Athletic F.C.
Wigan Athletic Football Club is an English Premier League Association football club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester, having been promoted from the Championship in 2005. Wigan's current spell in the Premier League is the only top flight run in the club's history.They have played at the DW...
and Stoke City
Stoke City F.C.
Stoke City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire that plays in the Premier League. Founded in 1863, it is the oldest club in the Premier League, and considered to be the second oldest professional football club in the world, after Notts...
chalking up 300 senior appearances for both clubs. A player of versatility, he played in all 11 positions on the pitch at some point in his career. His specialist position was right back. In a 16 season professional career, Butler played in three successful promotion campaigns that included lifting two divisional titles. He also picked up a winners medal from the 1992 Autoglass Trophy Final.
Early years
John Butler was born in Liverpool and grew up in the Wavertree area with his mother, step father, three brothers and one sister.He played football at non-league side Prescot Cables
Prescot Cables F.C.
Prescot Cables F.C. is a football club based in Prescot, Merseyside. It was established in 1884 and has also been known as Prescot and Prescot Town...
to whom he was introduced by Jimmy Wield, the man Butler cites as the person to give him a career as a professional footballer.
Butler was being scouted by Liverpool with Geoff Twentyman
Geoff Twentyman
Geoff Twentyman was an English footballer who is mainly remembered for his links with Liverpool Football Club as both a player and as chief scout.-Life and playing career:...
and Tom Saunders
Tom Saunders
Tom Saunders was a famed figure in Bill Shankly’s Boot Room organisation at Liverpool FC, and served 30 years with the club.-Biography:Tom Saunders was born in Liverpool in 1921. He joined the Territorial Army as a 16 year old four years in North Africa. He played amateur football for New...
scheduled to watch him. However the game in question was cancelled and Wigan Athletic
Wigan Athletic F.C.
Wigan Athletic Football Club is an English Premier League Association football club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester, having been promoted from the Championship in 2005. Wigan's current spell in the Premier League is the only top flight run in the club's history.They have played at the DW...
seized the opportunity with assistant manager Harry McNally
Harry McNally
Harry McNally was a football player, coach and manager, noted for his spells as manager of Wigan Athletic and Chester City.-The Non-League Background:...
offering Butler terms the day after.
Wigan Athletic
Joining at Christmas at the age of 19 and soon establishing himself in the first team, Butler enjoyed success in his first season. In 1981–82 in English football under the management of Larry LloydLarry Lloyd
Laurence Valentine Lloyd was a footballer, a burly and tough central defender who won honours for both Bill Shankly's Liverpool and Brian Clough's all-conquering Nottingham Forest side of the late 1970s....
, Wigan were promoted from the fourth to the third tier of the English football league pyramid. The Latics finished third behind Sheffield United and Bradford City.
Butler's versatility saw him play in all eleven positions on the pitch in his Wigan career including goalkeeper when Nigel Atkins was substituted in a game due to injury.
Butler was the club player of the year in 1984. The best run of his career in the two major domestic cups was reaching the quarter finals in the 1986-87 FA Cup when Wigan were beaten 2-0 at home by Leeds United. His first spell at Wigan spanned seven seasons.
Stoke City
Mick MillsMick Mills
Michael 'Mick' Denis Mills is an English former football full-back who, by the end of his career, had achieved Ipswich Town's record number of appearances and captained England at the 1982 World Cup.-Club career:...
signed the then 26 year old Butler for Stoke in 1988 for £100,000. He made his Stoke debut against Manchester City on boxing day and kept his place in the side for the remainder of the 1988-89 season. Butler then became a key figure for the Potters and he went on to amass 300 senior games for Stoke. Only once in his six full seasons at Stoke did he fail to make over 40 first team appearances, 1990/91 when he still chalked up 37 first team games. He twice made over 50 first team appearances (1991/92 & 1992/93) and topped the club appearances chart outright in 1989/90 and jointly in 1991/92.
Butler's first goal for Stoke came on 27 March 1989 in a 2-1 defeat away to Manchester City who ended the season being automatically promoted behind champions Chelsea.
He picked up a winners medal from the 1992 Football League Trophy Final
1992 Football League Trophy Final
-External links:*...
at Wembley Stadium
Wembley Stadium
The original Wembley Stadium, officially known as the Empire Stadium, was a football stadium in Wembley, a suburb of north-west London, standing on the site now occupied by the new Wembley Stadium that opened in 2007...
under the management of Lou Macari
Lou Macari
Luigi "Lou" Macari is a Scottish former footballer and football manager of Italian descent.-Playing career:...
. The game was a 1-0 win against Stockport County before a crowd of 48,339. The same two sides were pitted against each other in the end of season divisional play offs. County won the first leg 1–0 and in the second leg Stoke could only draw 1–1 and remained in the third Division.
Butler and Macari enjoyed another success together when in 1992-93 in English football
1992-93 in English football
The 1992–1993 season was the 113th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:This season saw the birth of the FA Premier League. This meant a break-up of the 104-year-old Football League that had operated until then with four divisions....
Stoke won the Second Division championship (then the third tier of the English football league) ahead of Bolton Wanderers. After a slow start Stoke soon began to start winning and by the 21 November 1992 Stoke were top of the table and remained there for the rest of the season and promotion was secured with a record of 93 points. Stoke also went on a club record 25 League games without defeat.
Like his first spell at Wigan, Butler's Stoke career spanned seven seasons.
Return to Wigan Athletic
Now aged 33, Butler returned to Wigan in 1995 and ended his last season in football (the 16th of his career) with a success. In 1996–97 in English football under the management of John Dean he helped them win the Third Division title (then the fourth tier of the English football pyramid) on goal difference ahead of FulhamFulham F.C.
Fulham Football Club is a professional English Premier League club based in southwest London Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Founded in 1879, they play in the Premier League, their 11th current season...
He made 302 first team league appearances in two spells for the Latics. In a nostalgic article in the Wigan v Tottenham Hotspur match program of 2 April 2011 titled 'Latics legends', Butler was one of the two Wigan players profiled for the 1980s.
After two seasons in his second spell at Wigan, John Butler left senior football at the age of 35 to play for Stalybridge Celtic.
Life outside football
Butler works as a driver for a courier company based in Goldburn near Wigan. He lives in Ashton in Makerfield with his wife. He spends his spare time watching horse racing and remains a fan of football, particularly ex clubs Wigan and Stoke and also home town club Liverpool.Honours
Wigan:-- Division three promotion 1981/82
- Division three champions 1996/97
Stoke:-
- Football League Trophy winner 1991/92
- Division two champions 1992/93