Tom Butler (footballer, died 1923)

Thomas Butler (died 11 November 1923) was an English footballer who played as an inside-left. He played 60 league games in the English Football League, scoring 23 goals. He played for non-League Willenhall, before spending the 1921–22 season at Walsall. He joined Port Vale via Darlaston in December 1922. He broke his arm in a game on 3 November 1923, and died eight days later from a subsequent tetanus infection.

For other people named Thomas Butler, see Thomas Butler (disambiguation).

Tom Butler
Butler in a Port Vale squad photo in 1923
Personal information
Full name Thomas Butler
Place of birth Darlaston, England
Date of death (1923-11-11)11 November 1923
Place of death Hackney, England
Height 5 ft 5 in (1.65 m)[1]
Position(s) Inside-left
Youth career
Willenhall
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1921–1922 Walsall 28 (12)
1922 Darlaston
1922–1923 Port Vale 32 (11)
Total 60 (23)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Career

Butler started his career at Birmingham & District League side Willenhall, before joining Walsall in 1921.[2] He played 28 Third Division North games for the "Saddlers" in 1921–22, scoring 12 goals. He then returned to semi-professional football with Darlaston.

He had a one-month trial at Second Division Port Vale in December 1922, and manager Joe Schofield signed him permanently for £100 the following month. Butler was a huge success in the 1922–23 season, becoming top scorer with nine goals in 26 games. At the end of the season he played in a defeat to local rivals Stoke in the North Staffordshire Infirmary Cup.He started 1923–24 by scoring in a defeat to Stoke at The Old Recreation Ground. However, after scoring in a 1–1 draw with Clapton Orient on 3 November he suffered a compound fracture of the left arm; he died from tetanus (also called lockjaw) eight days later in Hackney Hospital after complications had set in.[3] The club paid his widow the rest of his wages, and other clubs donated money to provide his widow with a £700 benefit fund.[4]

Career statistics

Source:[5]

Club Season Division League FA Cup Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Walsall 1921–22 Third Division North 2812633415
Port Vale 1922–23 Second Division 25900259
1923–24 Second Division 720072
Total 3211003211

References
  1. "The lure of promotion. Port Vale". Athletic News. Manchester. 13 August 1923. p. 6.
  2. Joyce, Michael (2004). Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939. Nottingham: Tony Brown. p. 45. ISBN 1-899468-67-6.
  3. Kent, Jeff (1996). Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. p. 49. ISBN 0-9529152-0-0.
  4. Fielding, Rob (6 June 2017). "Cult hero 63: Tom Butler". onevalefan.co.uk. Retrieved 1 June 2020.
  5. Tom Butler at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)
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