Steve Butler (footballer)

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]

Steve Butler
Personal information
Full name Stephen Butler
Date of birth (1962-01-27) 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

Club career

Butler undertook trials for Gillingham in 1982 and 1983 but the club could not afford to buy him out of the army, where he was working as a vehicle mechanic.[2] He then went on to play for non-league Windsor & Eton and Wokingham Town, before signing for Third Division club Brentford along with Wokingham Town teammate (and fellow soldier) George Torrance in December 1984, with the Griffin Park club paying £400 to buy the pair out of the army.[3]

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 Peter Taylor, his former manager at Gillingham, during his spells at Leicester City, Hull City and Stevenage Borough.[6][14]

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

Individual

References
  1. Steve Butler at Soccerbase
  2. Triggs, Roger (2001). The Men Who Made Gillingham Football Club. Tempus Publishing Ltd. p. 76. ISBN 0-7524-2243-X.
  3. Brentford Official Matchday Magazine versus Camberley Town. 14 November 1998. p. 19.
  4. Rollin, Jack, ed. (1989). Rothmans Football Yearbook 1989–90. London: Queen Anne Press, MacDonald & Co. ISBN 9780356179100.
  5. Tucker, Craig (21 August 2014). "Maidstone United legend Mark Gall remembers the club's Football League debut 25 years on". Kent Online. Retrieved 8 April 2023.
  6. Morgan, John (June 2004). "Steve Butler". When Saturday Comes. Retrieved 8 April 2023.
  7. "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.
  8. 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
  9. 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
  10. "Steve Butler: "The boys thought they could beat anybody"". www.gillinghamfootballclub.com. 16 June 2020. Retrieved 8 April 2023.
  11. 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.
  12. "Former hero Butler back with Stones". Kent Online. 25 October 2001. Retrieved 8 April 2023.
  13. "Uproar as Butler quits Stones". Kent Online. 14 October 2002. Retrieved 8 April 2023.
  14. Hoad, Alex (2 November 2007). "Ex-Gills boss Taylor takes over at Stevenage". Kent Online. Retrieved 8 April 2023.
  15. "Ex-Leicester coach joins Rams". Kent Online. 28 June 2007. Retrieved 8 April 2023.
  16. "Maidstone United name Andy Ford as their new manager". Kent Online. 19 October 2010. Retrieved 8 April 2023.
  17. Hoad, Alex (16 March 2011). "Jay Saunders in line to become new Maidstone United manager". Kent Online. Retrieved 8 April 2023.
  18. "Where are they now? Maidstone United - Double Winning Side 1988-89". The Non-League Football Paper. 19 August 2012. Retrieved 8 April 2023.
  19. "Previous Kent Senior Cup Winners". www.folkestoneinvictafc.co.uk. Retrieved 8 April 2023.
  20. Lynch. The Official P.F.A. Footballers Heroes. p. 148.


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