Tony Butler (footballer)

Philip Anthony Butler (born 28 September 1972) is an English former footballer. A defender, he made 468 league appearances in a 15-year career in the English Football League.

Tony Butler
Personal information
Full name Philip Anthony Butler[1]
Date of birth (1972-09-28) 28 September 1972[1]
Place of birth Stockport,[1] England
Height 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)[2]
Playing position(s) Defender
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1991–1996 Gillingham 148 (5)
1996–1999 Blackpool 99 (0)
1999–2000 Port Vale 19 (0)
2000–2002 West Bromwich Albion 70 (1)
2002 → Bristol City (loan) 11 (1)
2002–2005 Bristol City 87 (3)
2005–2006 Blackpool 32 (1)
2006–2007 Forest Green Rovers 9 (2)
2006–2007 → Newport County (loan)
2007 Hinckley United
2007 Alfreton Town
Total 475 (13)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

He began his career at Gillingham in 1991, helping the club to win promotion out of the Third Division in 1995–96. He was sold to Blackpool in August 1996 for £225,000, before he was moved on to Port Vale for a £115,000 fee in March 1999. He then joined West Bromwich Albion in March 2000 for £140,000, and helped the "Baggies" to promotion out of the First Division in 2001–02. Following this he was allowed to sign with Bristol City, and he helped his new side to the League Trophy in 2003. He returned to Blackpool in February 2005, before he signed with Conference club Forest Green Rovers in July 2006. He was loaned out to Newport County, before he joined Hinckley United in February 2007. He switched to Alfreton Town in November 2007.

Playing career

Gillingham

As a child Butler moved to Redcar with his family – his father was a bank manager – and attended Ryehills School. He started his professional career at Gillingham in 1991–92, who were then a Fourth Division under the management of Damien Richardson. They finished second-from-bottom in the English Football League in 1992–93 under Glenn Roeder, avoiding relegation because they finished just four points ahead of Halifax Town. They finished 16th in 1993–94 under Mike Flanagan, before dropping to 19th in 1994–95. Butler played 42 games in 1995–96, as new boss Tony Pulis led the Priestfield Stadium club to promotion out of the Third Division (fourth tier) in second place. He made 179 appearances for the "Gills" in league and cup competitions, scoring seven goals.

Blackpool

Butler was sold to Blackpool in August 1996 for £225,000.[3] He played 46 games in 1996–97 under Gary Megson, as the Bloomfield Road club finished one place and four points behind Crewe Alexandra in the Second Division play-off zone. New boss Nigel Worthington played him 43 times in 1997–98, as the "Seasiders" slipped to 12th. He made 23 appearances in 1998–99, with Blackpool on the way to another mid-table finish.

Port Vale and West Brom

He signed for Port Vale for a £115,000 fee in March 1999.[4] He played just four games, as Brian Horton's "Valiants" managed to retain their First Division status despite a poor start to 1998–99. He featured 15 times in 1999–2000, before he left Vale Park for league rivals West Bromwich Albion in March 2000 for a £140,000 fee, as one of four deadline-day signings made by manager Gary Megson. Butler featured seven times for the "Baggies" in 1999–2000, as Megson steered the club away from the relegation zone – whilst Port Vale went down. He made 51 appearances in 2000–01, as Albion reached the play-offs, only to be defeated by Bolton Wanderers at the semi-final stage. It was in this season that he scored his only goal for the club, in a 2–1 loss to Birmingham City.[5] He featured 23 times as the club won promotion as runners-up in 2001–02, finishing ten points behind champions Manchester City. He featured in the "Battle of Bramall Lane" on 16 March 2002, replacing Lárus Sigurðsson (the only "Baggies" player to have been booked) 14 minutes before the match was abandoned. With the club now in the Premier League, he found himself surplus to requirements at The Hawthorns, and was loaned out to Bristol City,[6] for whom he subsequently signed permanently.

Bristol City and return to Blackpool

He played for City in the final of the League Trophy at the Millennium Stadium, as the "Robins" beat Carlisle United 2–0.[7] They also reached the play-offs in 2002–03, but were beaten by Cardiff City at the semi-final stage; Butler played 51 games over the course of the campaign. He played 46 games in 2003–04, including the play-off final at the Millennium Stadium, where Danny Wilson's men were beaten 1–0 by Brighton & Hove Albion. He played 27 games under new boss Brian Tinnion in 2004–05, before leaving Ashton Gate for former club Blackpool on a free transfer in February 2005.[4] They finished the season 16th in League One under Colin Hendry. Butler played 26 games in 2005–06, as Blackpool avoided relegation by just two places and three points, and was released by manager Simon Grayson.[8] He scored once for Blackpool, his goal coming in a 4–2 win over Doncaster Rovers.[9]

Later career

Butler joined Gary Owers' Forest Green Rovers in July 2006.[10] During the 2006–07 season he was loaned out to Conference South side Newport County.[11] In February 2007, Butler joined Hinckley United of the Conference North.[12] He was released by Hinckley in November 2007, and subsequently signed for league rivals Alfreton Town.[13]

Statistics

Source:[14][15]

Club Season Division League FA Cup Other Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Gillingham 1990–91 Fourth Division 60000060
1991–92 Fourth Division 50003080
1992–93 Third Division 4105040500
1993–94 Third Division 2713030331
1994–95 Third Division 3323040402
1995–96 Third Division 3622041423
Total 14851301811796
Blackpool 1996–97 Second Division 4201051481
1997–98 Second Division 3702040430
1998–99 Second Division 2000000200
Total 99030911111
Port Vale 1998–99 First Division 40000040
1998–99 First Division 1500000150
Total 1900000190
West Bromwich Albion 1999–2000 First Division 70000070
2000–01 First Division 4411060511
2001–02 First Division 1901030230
Total 7012090811
Bristol City 2002–03 Second Division 38130100511
2003–04 Second Division 3811070461
2004–05 League One 2222030272
Total 984602001244
Blackpool 2004–05 League One 80000080
2005–06 League One 2410020271
Total 3210020351
Forest Green Rovers 2006–07[16] Conference Premier 92000092
Career total 4751324058255815

Honours
Gillingham
West Bromwich Albion
Bristol City

References
  1. "Tony Butler". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 22 May 2019.
  2. "FootballSquads - Port Vale - 1999/00". www.footballsquads.co.uk. Retrieved 24 June 2019.
  3. Gillatt, Peter (30 November 2009). Blackpool FC On This Day: History, Facts and Figures from Every Day of the Year. Pitch Publishing Ltd. ISBN 1-905411-50-2.
  4. "Butler completes Blackpool move". BBC Sport. 7 February 2005. Retrieved 13 May 2009.
  5. "Birmingham 2-1 West Brom". BBC Sport. 17 February 2001. Retrieved 27 March 2014.
  6. "Butler seeks to stay". BBC Sport. 21 September 2002. Retrieved 13 May 2009.
  7. "Bristol City sink Carlisle". BBC Sport. 6 April 2003. Retrieved 2 April 2012.
  8. "Six players released by Grayson". BBC Sport. 17 May 2006. Retrieved 13 May 2009.
  9. "Blackpool 4-2 Doncaster". BBC Sport. 24 January 2006. Retrieved 27 March 2014.
  10. "Forest Green seal triple signing". BBC Sport. 7 July 2006. Retrieved 13 May 2009.
  11. "Butler leaves Rovers for Newport". BBC Sport. 13 September 2006. Retrieved 28 August 2007.
  12. "Butler ends spell at Forest Green". BBC Sport. 27 February 2007. Retrieved 13 May 2009.
  13. Law calls for Butler nonleaguedaily.com
  14. Tony Butler at the English National Football Archive (subscription required). Retrieved 11 May 2016.
  15. Tony Butler at Soccerbase
  16. "Games played by Tony Butler in 2006/2007". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
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