Tom Butler (footballer)

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
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)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Playing career

Butler started his career at Birmingham & District League side Willenhall, before joining Walsall in 1921.[1] 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.[2] The club paid his widow the rest of his wages, and other clubs donated money to provide his widow with a £700 benefit fund.[3]

Statistics

Source:[4]

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

Honours
Port Vale
  • North Staffordshire Infirmary Cup winner: 1923

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