Steve Butler (footballer)
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Stephen Butler | ||
Date of birth | 27 January 1962 | ||
Place of birth | Birmingham, England | ||
Position(s) | Striker | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
1983–1984 | Windsor & Eton | ||
1984–1986 | Brentford | 23 | (3) |
1986–1991 | Maidstone United | 98 | (51) |
1991–1992 | Watford | 70 | (9) |
1992 | → AFC Bournemouth (loan) | 1 | (0) |
1992–1995 | Cambridge United | 120 | (56) |
1995–1998 | Gillingham | 121 | (22) |
1998–1999 | Peterborough United | 15 | (2) |
1999 | → Stevenage Borough (loan) | ||
1999–2000 | Gillingham | 13 | (2) |
2002 | Maidstone United | ? | |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals |
Stephen Butler (born 27 January 1962 in Birmingham) is an English former footballer who played as a striker. During his professional career he played over 400 matches and scored over 150 goals for Brentford, Maidstone United, Watford, AFC Bournemouth, Cambridge United, Gillingham and Peterborough United.[1]
Club career
Butler undertook trials for
After failing to hold down a first-team place at Brentford, Butler joined non-league Maidstone United, with whom he won the Conference title and promotion to the Fourth Division in 1989.[4] The Kent side reached the play-offs the following season, but lost to Cambridge United in the semi-finals.[5]
Following a year-spell at Watford, 1992 Butler signed for Second Division side Cambridge United for £75,000 in 1992.[6] He was named as the club's Player of the Season for 1994–95, having scored 18 goals in al competitions.[7]
In December 1995 Butler signed for Gillingham of the Third Division for £100,000, where he remained until leaving for Peterborough United for £5,000 in October 1998.[8][9]
Butler returned to Gillingham as a coach under Peter Taylor in 1999, having been offered the managerial role himself alongside Andy Hessenthaler. However, he would return to the playing side following injuries to key players including Carl Asaba.[10] In 2000, at the age of 38, Butler scored a 114th minute equaliser in the Second Division play-off final against Wigan Athletic at Wembley, as the Kent club secured its first ever promotion to the second tier of English football.[11]
Butler's playing career ended in non-league football after he returned to former side Maidstone United, where he also served as Director of Football.[12][13]
Coaching career
Butler served as assistant manager to
In June 2007 he was appointed as a first-team coach at Ramsgate.[15]
In October 2010 he returned again to Maidstone United, serving as assistant to Andy Ford in his five month spell as manager.[16][17]
Butler went on to work as a coach at the Soccer Showcase Elite Training Academy.[11]
Honours
Gillingham
Maidstone United
- Football Conference: 1988–89[4]
- Kent Senior Cup: 1988–89, 1989–90[18][19]
Individual
- Cambridge United Player of the Season: 1994–95[7]
- PFA Team of the Year: 1990–91 Fourth Division[20]
References
- ^ Steve Butler at Soccerbase
- ISBN 0-7524-2243-X.
- ^ Brentford Official Matchday Magazine versus Camberley Town. 14 November 1998. p. 19.
- ^ ISBN 9780356179100.
- Kent Online. Retrieved 8 April 2023.
- ^ a b Morgan, John (June 2004). "Steve Butler". When Saturday Comes. Retrieved 8 April 2023.
- ^ a b "Introducing....Cambridge United". Gillingham Official Programme versus Cambridge United. Queensway Publishing Ltd: 3. 26 August 1995.
[Butler] has formed a good partnership with Carlo Corazzin last season which saw him record 18 goals in all competitions and was awarded Supporters Player of the Year.
- ^ Hudd, Tony (17 December 1995). "Touch of class sinks Gills". Kent Messenger.
All the talk was of Gillingham's £100,000 striker Steve Butler but it was Jim Stannard who won the accolades
- ^ Gillingham Football Club Official Matchday Magazine vs. Oldham Athletic. 10 November 1998. p. 17.
Striker Steve Butler has flown the nest and joined Third Division Peterborough United for £5,000
- ^ "Steve Butler: "The boys thought they could beat anybody"". www.gillinghamfootballclub.com. 16 June 2020. Retrieved 8 April 2023.
- ^ a b c Fissler, Neil (11 April 2017). "Where Are They Now? Gillingham's Division Two play-off winners 1999-00". The League Paper. Retrieved 8 April 2023.
- Kent Online. 25 October 2001. Retrieved 8 April 2023.
- Kent Online. 14 October 2002. Retrieved 8 April 2023.
- Kent Online. Retrieved 8 April 2023.
- Kent Online. 28 June 2007. Retrieved 8 April 2023.
- Kent Online. 19 October 2010. Retrieved 8 April 2023.
- Kent Online. Retrieved 8 April 2023.
- ^ "Where are they now? Maidstone United - Double Winning Side 1988-89". The Non-League Football Paper. 19 August 2012. Retrieved 8 April 2023.
- ^ "Previous Kent Senior Cup Winners". www.folkestoneinvictafc.co.uk. Retrieved 8 April 2023.
- ^ Lynch. The Official P.F.A. Footballers Heroes. p. 148.