Billy Butler
Encyclopedia
William Butler was an English
professional footballer
who was most famously a winger for Bolton Wanderers
in the 1920s.
Billy Butler was born in Atherton
, Lancashire
. He had never played for any form of organised football team prior to joining the army. He played as a centre-forward for his regiment and on leaving the army he joined his hometown club Atherton at the age of 19. He moved to Bolton Wanderers
in April 1920 and, on moving to the right wing, soon established himself. He played in the 1923 FA Cup Final
victory over West Ham United
, the famous first Wembley final, and the following year, on 12 April 1924, made his England
debut against Scotland
.
It was to be his only appearance for the England national team, but he was back at Wembley again for the 1926 FA Cup Final
win over Manchester City
, and picked up his third winners medal in 1929, scoring the opening goal in the 2-0 defeat of Portsmouth
.
On Bolton's relegation in 1933, Butler asked for a transfer and left to join his former Bolton team-mate Joe Smith, who by now was manager of Reading
. He had played 449 games for Bolton, scoring 74 goals.
In August 1935, Smith left to manage Blackpool
and Butler took over the reins at Reading and carried on with the good work Smith had started. Reading never finished below 6th place in Division Three (South) during Butler's tenure and were heading for another top five finish when he resigned in February 1939.
He became manager of Guildford City
, but then the war
intervened and Butler joined the RAF
as a PT
instructor. With the war over, Butler was appointed manager of Torquay United
in August 1945, but left Plainmoor
in May 1946 before league football had resumed.
He subsequently moved to South Africa
to manage Johannesburg Rangers, where he discovered the future Wolves defender Eddie Stuart
and future Blackpool
and England
left winger Bill Perry
. He was later a coach for the Pietermaritzburg & District Football Association and then a coach for the Rhodesian Football Association
Butler died in Durban
in July 1966, aged 66.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
professional footballer
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
who was most famously a winger for Bolton Wanderers
Bolton Wanderers F.C.
Bolton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the area of Horwich in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester. They began their current spell in the Premier League in 2001....
in the 1920s.
Billy Butler was born in Atherton
Atherton, Greater Manchester
Atherton is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan, in Greater Manchester, England, historically a part of Lancashire. It is east of Wigan, north-northeast of Leigh, and northwest of Manchester...
, Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
. He had never played for any form of organised football team prior to joining the army. He played as a centre-forward for his regiment and on leaving the army he joined his hometown club Atherton at the age of 19. He moved to Bolton Wanderers
Bolton Wanderers F.C.
Bolton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the area of Horwich in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester. They began their current spell in the Premier League in 2001....
in April 1920 and, on moving to the right wing, soon established himself. He played in the 1923 FA Cup Final
FA Cup Final
The FA Cup Final, commonly referred to in England as just the Cup Final, is the last match in the Football Association Challenge Cup. With an official attendance of 89,826 at the 2007 FA Cup Final, it is the fourth best attended domestic club championship event in the world and the second most...
victory over West Ham United
West Ham United F.C.
West Ham United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Upton Park, Newham, East London. They play in The Football League Championship. The club was founded in 1895 as Thames Ironworks FC and reformed in 1900 as West Ham United. In 1904 the club relocated to their current...
, the famous first Wembley final, and the following year, on 12 April 1924, made his England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
debut against Scotland
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
.
It was to be his only appearance for the England national team, but he was back at Wembley again for the 1926 FA Cup Final
1926 FA Cup Final
The 1926 FA Cup Final was a football match between Bolton Wanderers and Manchester City on 24 April 1926 at Wembley Stadium in London. The showpiece match of English football's primary cup competition, the Football Association Challenge Cup , it was the 55th final, and the fourth at Wembley.Each...
win over Manchester City
Manchester City F.C.
Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894...
, and picked up his third winners medal in 1929, scoring the opening goal in the 2-0 defeat of Portsmouth
Portsmouth F.C.
Portsmouth Football Club is an English football club based in the city of Portsmouth. The club is nicknamed Pompey. Portsmouth's home matches have been played at Fratton Park since the club's formation in 1898. The team currently play in the Football League Championship after being relegated from...
.
On Bolton's relegation in 1933, Butler asked for a transfer and left to join his former Bolton team-mate Joe Smith, who by now was manager of Reading
Reading F.C.
Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship...
. He had played 449 games for Bolton, scoring 74 goals.
In August 1935, Smith left to manage Blackpool
Blackpool F.C.
Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the...
and Butler took over the reins at Reading and carried on with the good work Smith had started. Reading never finished below 6th place in Division Three (South) during Butler's tenure and were heading for another top five finish when he resigned in February 1939.
He became manager of Guildford City
Guildford City F.C.
Guildford City Football Club is a football club based in Guildford, Surrey, England. The club was originally established in 1921, folded in 1974 and were reformed in 1996...
, but then the war
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
intervened and Butler joined the RAF
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
as a PT
Physical education
Physical education or gymnastics is a course taken during primary and secondary education that encourages psychomotor learning in a play or movement exploration setting....
instructor. With the war over, Butler was appointed manager of Torquay United
Torquay United F.C.
Torquay United Football Club, nicknamed the Gulls, are an English association football club based in the tourist resort town of Torquay, Devon. They played in the Conference National in 2008–09, but were promoted to Football League Two after a 2–0 win over Cambridge United on 17 May 2009 at Wembley...
in August 1945, but left Plainmoor
Plainmoor
Plainmoor is a suburb of Torquay, Devon, but is best known as the name of the stadium in which Torquay United Football Club currently play.-History:...
in May 1946 before league football had resumed.
He subsequently moved to South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
to manage Johannesburg Rangers, where he discovered the future Wolves defender Eddie Stuart
Eddie Stuart
Edward "Eddie" Albert Stuart is a South African former professional footballer. He spent the majority of his league career with Wolverhampton Wanderers, where he won three league championships.-Career:...
and future Blackpool
Blackpool
Blackpool is a borough, seaside town, and unitary authority area of Lancashire, in North West England. It is situated along England's west coast by the Irish Sea, between the Ribble and Wyre estuaries, northwest of Preston, north of Liverpool, and northwest of Manchester...
and England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
left winger Bill Perry
Bill Perry
Bill Perry may refer to:*Bill Perry , American blues singer/songwriter and guitarist*Bill Perry , English footballer*Bill Perry , cartoonist...
. He was later a coach for the Pietermaritzburg & District Football Association and then a coach for the Rhodesian Football Association
Butler died in Durban
Durban
Durban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
in July 1966, aged 66.