Herbert Butterworth
Encyclopedia
Herbert Butterworth was an English professional footballer who played as a left-half. He played nine matches in the Football League
for Nelson
and also assisted several non-league clubs. In 1929, he emigrated to Canada, but returned to England several years later.
. During his early career as a footballer, he also worked as a weaver in various local factories. On 8 March 1929, he emigrated to Halifax, Nova Scotia on the liner Regina and later worked in Calgary
for the Canadian Pacific Railway
. Some time later, he returned to England and worked at the Trent Motors factory in Derby
. Butterworth lived in Derby until his death in the early months of 1938, at the age of 35.
but failed to break into the first team and joined his local club Higham in the Padiham & District Football League. In the 1922–23 season, he assisted the team to the league championship and in August 1923 he signed an amateur deal with local Football League Third Division North
side Nelson
. Butterworth initially played exclusively in the reserve team, but in January 1925 he signed a professional contract with the club. He subsequently made his league debut on 7 February 1925 in the 4–1 win against Tranmere Rovers
at Seedhill
. He kept his place in the team, playing in five consecutive league victories culminating in the 5–0 win over New Brighton
on 7 March 1925, during which he was described by a local newspaper as "the best half-back on the field". His last appearance of the 1924–25 campaign came in the 1–2 defeat away at Lincoln City
, after which he was replaced at left-half by new signing Ambrose Harris
.
Butterworth returned to reserve team action for the start of the 1925–26 season, and helped the second string to the championship of the Lancashire Combination
league and to the final of the Combination Cup. He made two first-team appearances for Nelson during the campaign, firstly deputising for Ernie Braidwood
for the 4–1 victory over Coventry City
on 13 February 1926. Butterworth played his last competitive match for the club in the 1–1 draw with New Brighton on 5 April 1926, filling in for the unavailable Harris. He left Nelson in the summer of 1926, having made a total of nine Football League appearances.
in August 1926. He joined Great Harwood
on a free transfer in December of the same year but could not prevent the team finishing bottom of the league for the second consecutive season. A move to Wellington Town of the Birmingham & District League followed in August 1927, and the club finished as runners-up in the division at the end of the 1927–28 campaign. Butterworth returned to Colne Town for the 1928–29 season and remained there until his emigration in March 1929. While working for the Canadian Pacific Railway and the Trent Motors factory, he also played amateur football for the works teams.
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
for Nelson
Nelson F.C.
Nelson F.C. are an English football club, based in Nelson, Lancashire. They are currently members of the North West Counties Football League Division One, who played their home matches at Victoria Park, Lomeshaye Way. They are full members of the Lancashire County Football Association.-Early years:...
and also assisted several non-league clubs. In 1929, he emigrated to Canada, but returned to England several years later.
Biography
Herbert Butterworth was born in 1902 in the village of Higham, LancashireHigham, Lancashire
Higham is a village in the Borough of Pendle in Lancashire, England, south of Pendle Hill. The civil parish is named "Higham with West Close Booth". The village is north-east of Padiham and about south west of Nelson along the A6068 road. At the 2001 census Higham had a population of 808 in 338...
. During his early career as a footballer, he also worked as a weaver in various local factories. On 8 March 1929, he emigrated to Halifax, Nova Scotia on the liner Regina and later worked in Calgary
Calgary
Calgary is a city in the Province of Alberta, Canada. It is located in the south of the province, in an area of foothills and prairie, approximately east of the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies...
for the Canadian Pacific Railway
Canadian Pacific Railway
The Canadian Pacific Railway , formerly also known as CP Rail between 1968 and 1996, is a historic Canadian Class I railway founded in 1881 and now operated by Canadian Pacific Railway Limited, which began operations as legal owner in a corporate restructuring in 2001...
. Some time later, he returned to England and worked at the Trent Motors factory in Derby
Derby
Derby , is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands region of England. It lies upon the banks of the River Derwent and is located in the south of the ceremonial county of Derbyshire. In the 2001 census, the population of the city was 233,700, whilst that of the Derby Urban Area was 229,407...
. Butterworth lived in Derby until his death in the early months of 1938, at the age of 35.
Early career and Nelson
Butterworth started his career at Wolverhampton WanderersWolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
but failed to break into the first team and joined his local club Higham in the Padiham & District Football League. In the 1922–23 season, he assisted the team to the league championship and in August 1923 he signed an amateur deal with local Football League Third Division North
Football League Third Division North
The Third Division North of The Football League was a tier in the English association football league system from 1921 to 1958. It ran parallel to Third Division South with clubs elected to the League or relegated from a higher division allocated to one or the other according to geographical position...
side Nelson
Nelson F.C.
Nelson F.C. are an English football club, based in Nelson, Lancashire. They are currently members of the North West Counties Football League Division One, who played their home matches at Victoria Park, Lomeshaye Way. They are full members of the Lancashire County Football Association.-Early years:...
. Butterworth initially played exclusively in the reserve team, but in January 1925 he signed a professional contract with the club. He subsequently made his league debut on 7 February 1925 in the 4–1 win against Tranmere Rovers
Tranmere Rovers F.C.
Tranmere Rovers Football Club are an English team based in Birkenhead, Wirral. The club currently compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system...
at Seedhill
Seedhill Football Ground
The Seedhill Football Ground was a football stadium in Nelson, Lancashire. It was the home of current North West Counties League Division One side Nelson F.C. from 1905 until 1968. Nelson later moved to Victoria Park, before the ground was demolished in 1980 to make way for the M65 motorway...
. He kept his place in the team, playing in five consecutive league victories culminating in the 5–0 win over New Brighton
New Brighton A.F.C.
-Revived club:New Brighton A.F.C. were reborn in 1993, and joined the Birkenhead and Wirral League, which they won in their first season. In 1995 the club switched to the South Wirral League. After upgrading their new ground, the club were admitted to the Second Division of the West Cheshire League...
on 7 March 1925, during which he was described by a local newspaper as "the best half-back on the field". His last appearance of the 1924–25 campaign came in the 1–2 defeat away at Lincoln City
Lincoln City F.C.
Lincoln City Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Lincoln, Lincolnshire. The club are currently members of the Conference National in 2011–12 following relegation from the Football League....
, after which he was replaced at left-half by new signing Ambrose Harris
Ambrose Harris
Ambrose Harris was an English professional footballer who played in a number of positions, mainly as a half-back. He played in the Football League with Nelson, making almost 60 first-team appearances for the club in a four-year spell...
.
Butterworth returned to reserve team action for the start of the 1925–26 season, and helped the second string to the championship of the Lancashire Combination
Lancashire Combination
The Lancashire Combination was a football league founded in the North West of England in 1891–92. It absorbed the Lancashire League in 1903. In 1968 the Combination lost five of its clubs to the newly formed Northern Premier League...
league and to the final of the Combination Cup. He made two first-team appearances for Nelson during the campaign, firstly deputising for Ernie Braidwood
Ernie Braidwood
Ernest Braidwood was an English professional footballer who played as a centre half. He started his senior career with Chesterfield Municipal before signing his first professional contract with Football League First Division side Oldham Athletic in August 1920...
for the 4–1 victory over Coventry City
Coventry City F.C.
Coventry City Football Club, otherwise known as the Sky Blues owing to the traditional colour of their strip, are a professional English Football league club based in Coventry...
on 13 February 1926. Butterworth played his last competitive match for the club in the 1–1 draw with New Brighton on 5 April 1926, filling in for the unavailable Harris. He left Nelson in the summer of 1926, having made a total of nine Football League appearances.
Non-league career
After being released by Nelson, Butterworth signed for Lancashire Combination side Colne TownColne Town F.C.
Colne Town Football Club was an English association football club based in the town of Colne, Lancashire. They played in the Lancashire Combination between 1925 and 1927 and competed in the 1926–27 Extra Preliminary Round of the FA Cup.-History:...
in August 1926. He joined Great Harwood
Great Harwood F.C.
Great Harwood F.C. was an English football club based in Great Harwood, Lancashire. Their colours were red and white, and they played at the Showground.-History:The club was founded in the 1880s. In 1908 the joined Division Two of the Lancashire Combination...
on a free transfer in December of the same year but could not prevent the team finishing bottom of the league for the second consecutive season. A move to Wellington Town of the Birmingham & District League followed in August 1927, and the club finished as runners-up in the division at the end of the 1927–28 campaign. Butterworth returned to Colne Town for the 1928–29 season and remained there until his emigration in March 1929. While working for the Canadian Pacific Railway and the Trent Motors factory, he also played amateur football for the works teams.