Danny Butterfield

{{short description|English footballer}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2021}}

{{Use British English|date=June 2012}}

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Danny Butterfield

| image = Danny Butterfield 28-02-2015 1.jpg

| caption = Butterfield playing for Exeter City in 2015

| fullname = Daniel Paul Butterfield

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1979|11|21|df=y}}

| birth_place = Boston, Lincolnshire, England

| height =

| position = Defender

| currentclub = Eastleigh (assistant)

| youthyears1 = 1993–1997

| youthclubs1 = Grimsby Town

| years1 = 1997–2002

| clubs1 = Grimsby Town

| caps1 = 124

| goals1 = 3

| years2 = 2002–2010

| clubs2 = Crystal Palace

| caps2 = 232

| goals2 = 6

| years3 = 2009

| clubs3 = → Charlton Athletic (loan)

| caps3 = 12

| goals3 = 0

| years4 = 2010–2013

| clubs4 = Southampton

| caps4 = 44

| goals4 = 0

| years5 = 2013

| clubs5 = → Bolton Wanderers (loan)

| caps5 = 6

| goals5 = 0

| years6 = 2013

| clubs6 = Carlisle United

| caps6 = 1

| goals6 = 0

| years7 = 2013–2016

| clubs7 = Exeter City

| caps7 = 69

| goals7 = 0

| totalcaps = 488 | totalgoals = 9

}}

Daniel Paul Butterfield (born 21 November 1979) is an English former professional footballer and coach who is currently assistant manager at National League club Eastleigh.

Butterfield was born in Boston, Lincolnshire and played between 1997 and 2016 as a right back, and makeshift midfielder and centre back. He began his career as a youth with Grimsby Town where he remained for 6 years before joining Crystal Palace. He made 232 appearances for The Eagles before moving on to Charlton Athletic, Southampton, Bolton Wanderers, Carlisle United and Exeter City. Since retiring he has held various positions on the coaching staff at Southampton, Milton Keynes Dons, Macclesfield Town and Lincoln City.

Playing career

= Grimsby Town =

Butterfield was educated at Boston Grammar School in Boston, Lincolnshire. He was snapped up by Grimsby Town as a youngster, and was promoted to the club's first team setup midway through the 1996–1997 season. Butterfield was primarily used as a right back while at Blundell Park and made his first team debut in a 0–0 draw with York City on 9 September 1997. Butterfield went on to make eleven appearances in the 1997–1998 season, and scored his first senior goal in the club's 1–0 Football League Trophy victory over Hull City that season. Despite playing no part in either, Butterfield was among the winning squad who earned a double Wembley win that same season, triumphing in the Football League Trophy, as well as the Second Division play-off Final.

As the seasons progressed, Butterfield became more and more involved in first team, and converted mainly to a makeshift centre half. He was part of the Grimsby team that defeated Liverpool 2-1 at Anfield in the League Cup in September 2001, at 0–0 Butterfield kept Grimsby on level terms by clearing an Emile Heskey header off the line.{{cite news | url=https://www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/liverpool-anfield-grimsby-town-cup-599726 | title=Remembering Grimsby Town's win over Liverpool - time flies! | newspaper=Grimsbylive | date=9 October 2017 }}

At the end of the 2001–02 season, Butterfield decided against a new contract and moved to Crystal Palace. In his five years at Grimsby Town from 1997 to 2002, Butterfield featured 124 times in the League, scoring 3 times playing all but one of his seasons with the Mariners in the second tier of English football. He played under three different managers, Alan Buckley, Lennie Lawrence and Paul Groves.

= Crystal Palace =

He arrived at Selhurst Park in 2002 where he quickly became a favourite of the crowd. He played regularly for the next two seasons, playing in the 2004 Football League First Division play-off final that resulted in Palace's promotion to the Premier League.

The form of Emmerson Boyce and long-term injuries restricted his appearances for the next two seasons, before re-establishing himself in the right-back spot for a spell. Midway through the 2008–09 season he was loaned out to Charlton Athletic, but he managed to regain his place in the Palace line-up the following season, despite his Eagles career appearing to be over.

Butterfield started the 2009–10 Football League Championship season as the main right back ahead of Nathaniel Clyne. However, due to Palace's financial problems, that saw them put into administration, he was converted to a makeshift striker. Butterfield scored a hat-trick in the space of 6 minutes and 48 seconds during a 2009–10 FA Cup fourth round replay 3–1 win against Wolves; he scored with his left foot, right foot and his head which is described as the 'perfect hat-trick'.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/fa_cup/8491771.stm |title= Match Report|date=2 February 2010|work=BBC Sport|access-date=2 February 2010}} This is the club's fastest ever hat-trick, beating the previous record set by Dougie Freedman in 11 minutes. Palace manager Neil Warnock revealed after the game that Clyne, who had played at right-back during the game, had turned down a move to Wolves only days earlier. Had the move gone through, Butterfield would have played at right-back instead.{{citation needed|date=July 2017}} It was later revealed that Butterfield had only played up front in the game as a result of Warnock's wife, Sharon, having a dream the night before that he would score the winning goal.{{cite news |url=https://twitter.com/talksport/status/1575412906191118337 |title= TalkSport interview with Darren Ambrose|date=29 September 2022|work=TalkSport|access-date=29 September 2022}}

= Southampton =

On 16 July 2010, he joined Southampton on a one-year deal and joined the squad in Interlaken ready for the game against FC Sochaux.{{cite web |url=http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10280~2094511,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120614072603/http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0%2C%2C10280~2094511%2C00.html |archive-date=14 June 2012 |title=Saints Snap Up Butterfield |website=saintsfc.co.uk |date=20 July 2010 |access-date=19 October 2013 |url-status=dead }} On 7 August, Butterfield made his debut in a 1–0 loss against Plymouth.{{cite web |url=http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/page/MatchReport/0,,10280~52644,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120616093550/http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/page/MatchReport/0%2C%2C10280~52644%2C00.html |archive-date=16 June 2012 |title=Southampton 0 – 1 Plymouth |publisher=Saint SFC |date=7 August 2012 |access-date=19 October 2013 |url-status=dead }} Since making his debut, Butterfield established himself in the starting eleven in the right back position. His good form kept Frazer Richardson out of the starting line-up and Southampton were promoted to the Championship for the 2011–12 season after their 3–1 win over Plymouth.{{cite web |url=http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/page/MatchReport/0,,10280~51888,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110505030253/http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/page/MatchReport/0%2C%2C10280~51888%2C00.html |archive-date=5 May 2011 |title=Plymouth 1 – 3 Southampton |publisher=Saint SFC |date=2 May 2012 |access-date=19 October 2013 |url-status=dead }} In his first season, Butterfield made 38 appearances, supplying three assists. After the end of 2010–11 season, Butterfield signed another 12 months deal.{{cite news|title=Butterfield extends Saints stay |url=http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11700/6950315/ |publisher=Sky Sports|date=14 June 2011|access-date=30 March 2012}}

In his second season, Butterfield began to be used more sparingly after injury prevented him from training and he struggled to force his way back into the Southampton starting eleven. On 9 August 2011, Butterfield played 120 minutes in a match against Torquay United in a League Cup tie which Southampton won 4–1. His first league match of the 2011–12 season came on 29 October when he played 90 minutes against Middlesbrough and made an assist for Guly to score the first goal in the game in a 3–0 win.{{cite web |url=http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/page/MatchReport/0,,10280~58177,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120502204258/http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/page/MatchReport/0%2C%2C10280~58177%2C00.html |archive-date=2 May 2012 |title=Southampton 3 – 0 Middlesbrough |publisher=Saint SFC |date=2 May 2012 |access-date=19 October 2013 |url-status=dead }} Despite his fitness and injury preventing him from playing, on 17 February 2012, Butterfield signed a one-year contract extension with the club, keeping him at Southampton until June 2013.{{cite news|title=New Saints deal for Butterfield|url=http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/12691/7528587/New-Saints-deal-for-Butterfield|publisher=Sky Sports|date=17 February 2012|access-date=30 March 2012}}

Following the signing of Nathaniel Clyne, Butterfield made no appearances for Southampton in the Premier League in 2012–13. On 28 March 2013, he moved on loan to Bolton Wanderers, managed by his former Crystal Palace teammate Dougie Freedman and assisted by Lennie Lawrence, his old manager at Grimsby. He made his debut two days later, coming on as a second-half substitute for Marvin Sordell in the away game at former club Charlton Athletic. He made his first start for Bolton at the Reebok Stadium in the 1–0 win against Huddersfield Town. Butterfield was released by Southampton on 4 June 2013 at the end of the 2012–13 season.{{cite web|url=http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/news/article/201213-released-list-854898.aspx |title= 2012/13 Released List |publisher=Southampton FC |date=4 June 2013 |access-date=28 August 2015}}

= Carlisle United =

On 23 August 2013 Butterfield signed on non-contract terms with League One side Carlisle United following an unsuccessful trial with then newly promoted Championship side AFC Bournemouth.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/23810237 |title= Danny Butterfield: Carlisle move for veteran defender |work=BBC Sport |access-date=23 August 2013}}{{cite news |url=http://www.carlisleunited.co.uk/news/article/butterfieldsigns23august13-1006548.aspx |title= Utility man Signs Up |publisher= Carlisle United |date= 23 August 2013 |access-date= 23 August 2013 }}{{cite web |url=http://www.afcb.co.uk/news/article/2013-07-27-bristol-city-match-report-948407.aspx |title=Bristol City hold Cherries to draw |publisher=AFC Bournemouth |access-date=24 August 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130801001824/http://www.afcb.co.uk/news/article/2013-07-27-bristol-city-match-report-948407.aspx |archive-date=1 August 2013 }}

Butterfield made his debut on the same day in a 1–1 draw at Colchester United.{{cite news|title=Colchester 1 – 1 Carlisle|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/23722110|work=BBC Sport|access-date=24 August 2013|date=23 August 2013}}

On 2 September 2013 Butterfield was released by mutual consent after having only made two appearances for Carlisle.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/23928207 |title=Carlisle United: Danny Butterfield leaves League One club |work=BBC Sport |date=2 September 2013 |access-date=28 August 2015}}

= Exeter City =

On 21 September 2013 Butterfield signed for League Two side Exeter City.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/24188186 |title=Exeter City sign defender Danny Butterfield subject to medical |work=BBC Sport|date=21 September 2013 |access-date=28 August 2015}}

On 14 May 2015 Exeter manager Paul Tisdale appointed Butterfield as a player-coach.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/32734271 |title=Danny Butterfield: Defender given Exeter City player-coach role |work=BBC Sport|date=14 May 2015 |access-date=28 August 2015}} Butterfield departed the club and subsequently retired from playing football in September 2016, just over a month into the 2016–17 season.

Coaching career

On 16 September 2016, Butterfield was appointed assistant manager of Southampton's Under-18 team.{{cite web|title=Exeter City player-coach Danny Butterfield to leave club to join Southampton coaching staff|url=http://m.devonlive.com/exeter-city-player-coach-danny-butterfield-to-leave-club-to-join-southampton-coaching-staff/story-29722729-detail/story.html|website=Devon live|access-date=11 July 2017|date=16 September 2016}}{{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}{{cite web|title=Butterfield returns to Saints|url=https://southamptonfc.com/news/2016-10-07/danny-butterfield-southampton-announcement |publisher= Southampton F.C. |access-date=11 July 2017|date=7 October 2016}} He left his academy coaching position with Southampton on 10 August 2018 and immediately joined League Two club Milton Keynes Dons as a first-team coach.{{Cite web |url=https://www.mkdons.com/news/2018/august/mk-dons-add-experience-to-football-staff/ |title=MK Dons add further experience to football staff |publisher=Milton Keynes Dons |date=10 August 2018 |access-date=10 August 2018 }}

After achieving promotion with MK Dons from League Two at the conclusion of the 2018–19 season, Butterfield's contract with the club was terminated along with manager Paul Tisdale and assistant manager Matt Oakley on 2 November 2019 following a poor run of results.{{Cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/50277858 |title=Paul Tisdale: MK Dons part company with manager after eight defeats in nine games |publisher=BBC Sport |date=2 November 2019 |access-date=3 November 2019 }}

He was appointed as assistant manager of Macclesfield Town in January 2020, under Mark Kennedy the pair initially steered Town to safety having avoided relegation from the Football League but a deduction of 17 points condemned them to relegation after the season had ended, sparing Stevenage. Butterfield and Kennedy left the club in August after rejecting new contracts.{{cite web |title=Macclesfield Town: Mark Kennedy & Danny Butterfield leave after rejecting contract offers |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/53751248 |publisher=BBC Sport |access-date=28 December 2020 |date=12 August 2020}}

In January 2021, Butterfield returned to Southampton as a loans manager for the clubs youth academy.https://uk.linkedin.com/in/danny-butterfield-817a2855/ {{Self-published source|date=June 2022}}

On 23 December 2022, Butterfield left Southampton and joined Lincoln City as assistant head coach, working under Mark Kennedy once again.{{Cite web |date=23 December 2022 |title=Butterfield joins Imps as assistant head coach |url=https://www.weareimps.com/news/2022/december/butterfield-joins-imps-as-assistant-head-coach/ |access-date=23 December 2022 |website=Lincoln City}} On 18 October, he left Lincoln City with Mark Kennedy.{{cite web |url=https://www.weareimps.com/news/2023/october/kennedy-and-butterfield-leave-imps/|title=Kennedy and Butterfield leave Imps|publisher=Lincoln City F.C. |date=18 October 2023 |access-date=18 October 2022}}

On 19 February 2024, Butterfield joined National League side Eastleigh as assistant manager.{{Cite web |date=19 February 2024 |title=Kelvin Davis appointed first team manager |url=https://www.eastleighfc.com/news-kelvin-davis-appointed-first-team-manager/ |access-date=19 February 2024 |website=Eastleigh FC}}

Career statistics

class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"

|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

rowspan="2"|Club

!rowspan="2"|Season

!colspan="3"|League

!colspan="2"|FA Cup

!colspan="2"|League Cup

!colspan="2"|Other

!colspan="2"|Total

DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
rowspan="6" valign="center"|Grimsby Town

|1997–98{{Soccerbase season|12203|1997|name=Danny Butterfield|accessdate=18 June 2016}}

|Second Division

|7

010102{{efn|name=FLT}}1111
1998–99{{Soccerbase season|12203|1998|name=Danny Butterfield|accessdate=18 June 2016}}

|First Division

|12

00020colspan="2"|–140
1999–2000{{Soccerbase season|12203|1999|name=Danny Butterfield|accessdate=18 June 2016}}

|First Division

|29

02040colspan="2"|–350
2000–01{{Soccerbase season|12203|2000|name=Danny Butterfield|accessdate=18 June 2016}}

|First Division

|30

12030colspan="2"|–351
2001–02{{Soccerbase season|12203|2001|name=Danny Butterfield|accessdate=18 June 2016}}

|First Division

|46

22040colspan="2"|–522
colspan="2"|Total

!124

370140211474
rowspan="9" valign="center"|Crystal Palace

|2002–03{{cite web |url=http://www.cpfc.co.uk/page/ProfilesDetail/0,,10323~8720,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100614000407/http://www.cpfc.co.uk/page/ProfilesDetail/0%2C%2C10323~8720%2C00.html |archive-date=14 June 2010 |title=Danny Butterfield |publisher=Crystal Palace FC |access-date=19 October 2013 |url-status=dead }}

|First Division

|46

14050colspan="2"|–551
2003–04{{cite web|title=Crystal Palace Player Appearances|url=http://www.soccerbase.com/teams/team.sd?team_id=646&teamTabs=stats&season_id=133|work=2003-04 - Squad Stats|publisher=Soccerbase|access-date=27 May 2011}}

|First Division

|45

410403{{efn|Appearances in Football League First Division play-offs}}1535
2004–05{{Soccerbase season|12203|2004|name=Danny Butterfield|accessdate=18 June 2016}}

|Premier League

|7

01020colspan="2"|–100
2005–06{{Soccerbase season|12203|2005|name=Danny Butterfield|accessdate=18 June 2016}}

|Championship

|13

000201{{efn|name=FLC}}0160
2006–07{{Soccerbase season|12203|2006|name=Danny Butterfield|accessdate=18 June 2016}}

|Championship

|28

02000colspan="2"|–300
2007–08{{Soccerbase season|12203|2007|name=Danny Butterfield|accessdate=18 June 2016}}

|Championship

|30

000102{{efn|name=FLC|Appearance(s) in Football League Championship play-offs}}0330
2008–09{{Soccerbase season|12203|2008|name=Danny Butterfield|accessdate=18 June 2016}}

|Championship

|26

13010colspan="2"|–301
2009–10{{Soccerbase season|12203|2009|name=Danny Butterfield|accessdate=18 June 2016}}

|Championship

|37

04310colspan="2"|–423
colspan="2"|Total

!232

61531606126910
Charlton Athletic (loan)

|2008–09

|Championship

|12

00000colspan="2"|–120
rowspan="4" valign="center"|Southampton

|2010–11{{Soccerbase season|12203|2010|name=Danny Butterfield|accessdate=18 June 2016}}

|League One

|34

020201{{efn|name=FLT}}0390
2011–12{{Soccerbase season|12203|2011|name=Danny Butterfield|accessdate=18 June 2016}}

|Championship

|10

00030colspan="2"|–130
2012–13{{Soccerbase season|12203|2012|name=Danny Butterfield|accessdate=18 June 2016}}

|Premier League

|0

00020colspan="2"|–20
colspan="2"|Total

!44

0207010540
Bolton Wanderers (loan)

|2012–13

|Championship

|6

00000colspan="2"|–60
Carlisle United

|2013–14{{Soccerbase season|12203|2013|name=Danny Butterfield|accessdate=18 June 2016}}

|League One

|1

000000010
rowspan="4" valign="center"|Exeter City

|2013–14

|League Two

|29

0001000300
2014–15{{Soccerbase season|12203|2014|name=Danny Butterfield|accessdate=18 June 2016}}

|League Two

|30

010101{{efn|name=FLT}}0330
2015–16{{Soccerbase season|12203|2015|name=Danny Butterfield|accessdate=18 June 2016}}

|League Two

|10

010202{{efn|name=FLT|Appearance(s) in Football League Trophy}}0150
colspan="2"|Total

!69

0203030770
colspan="3"|Career total

!488

928341012256914

{{notelist}}

Honours

Grimsby Town

Crystal Palace

  • Football League First Division play-offs: 2004{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/3750773.stm |title=Crystal Palace 1–0 West Ham |website=BBC Sport |date=29 May 2004 |access-date=2 February 2024}}

Southampton

Individual

  • Grimsby Town Supporters' Young Player of the Year: 1998–99, 1999–2000

References

{{reflist}}