Steve Buttle
Encyclopedia
Steve Buttle is a retired English professional midfielder
who spent six seasons in England, six in the North American Soccer League
and at least three in the Major Indoor Soccer League
.
In 1971, Buttle began his professional career with Ipswich Town, but never played a first team game before being sent to AFC Bournemouth in 1973. In 1977, Buttle signed with the Seattle Sounders of the North American Soccer League
. In the summer of 1981, he rejected an overture from Norwich FC to sign him in order to remain with the Sounders. Ironically, the Sounders released him in 1982. By then he had already spent at least one season with the Pittsburgh Spirit
in the Major Indoor Soccer League
. During the 1979-1980 MISL season, he scored 35 goals in 28 games. Buttle injured his knee at the beginning of the 1984-1985 season. He spent most of the season on injured reserve. On January 9, 1985, the Pittsburgh Spirit
hired Buttle as an assistant coach to replace Mickey Cave, the previous assistant who had died in November 1984. In October 1985, the Spirit released Buttle. In September 1986, the Tacoma Stars hired Buttle as an assistant coach. The Stars fired Buttle, along with head coach Alan Hinton
, on February 22, 1988. The Stars were sold to new ownership following the season. The new owners rehired Hinton as head coach and in August 1988 brought Buttle back in as assistant. Hinton and Buttle lasted until December 1989 when they were fired permanently.
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
who spent six seasons in England, six in the North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
and at least three in the Major Indoor Soccer League
Major Soccer League
The Major Indoor Soccer League, known in its final two seasons as the Major Soccer League, was an indoor soccer league in the USA from 1978 to 1992. After the folding of the North American Soccer League in 1984, the MISL was the Division I soccer league for the United States...
.
In 1971, Buttle began his professional career with Ipswich Town, but never played a first team game before being sent to AFC Bournemouth in 1973. In 1977, Buttle signed with the Seattle Sounders of the North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
. In the summer of 1981, he rejected an overture from Norwich FC to sign him in order to remain with the Sounders. Ironically, the Sounders released him in 1982. By then he had already spent at least one season with the Pittsburgh Spirit
Pittsburgh Spirit
Pittsburgh Spirit were an indoor soccer team based out of Pittsburgh and were one of the original six teams that played in the Major Indoor Soccer League...
in the Major Indoor Soccer League
Major Soccer League
The Major Indoor Soccer League, known in its final two seasons as the Major Soccer League, was an indoor soccer league in the USA from 1978 to 1992. After the folding of the North American Soccer League in 1984, the MISL was the Division I soccer league for the United States...
. During the 1979-1980 MISL season, he scored 35 goals in 28 games. Buttle injured his knee at the beginning of the 1984-1985 season. He spent most of the season on injured reserve. On January 9, 1985, the Pittsburgh Spirit
Pittsburgh Spirit
Pittsburgh Spirit were an indoor soccer team based out of Pittsburgh and were one of the original six teams that played in the Major Indoor Soccer League...
hired Buttle as an assistant coach to replace Mickey Cave, the previous assistant who had died in November 1984. In October 1985, the Spirit released Buttle. In September 1986, the Tacoma Stars hired Buttle as an assistant coach. The Stars fired Buttle, along with head coach Alan Hinton
Alan Hinton
Alan Thomas Hinton is an English former footballer who most notably played for Derby County and Nottingham Forest in the 1960s...
, on February 22, 1988. The Stars were sold to new ownership following the season. The new owners rehired Hinton as head coach and in August 1988 brought Buttle back in as assistant. Hinton and Buttle lasted until December 1989 when they were fired permanently.