John Butler

John Butler
Position: Defender
1926 – 1946 (Multiple Spells)

John Butler was Whitby first ever ‘star’ was John Butler. Born in Granford Brigg in Lincolnshire, John’s family moved to Middlesbrough. Whilst ‘Bimmer’ Thompson was knocking the goals in up front, John was running a tight ship at the back. A solid performer for the club in its infancy, John was the strong leader in the club’s pre-war years. Debuting on September 18th, 1926 at South Bank East End in the F.A. Cup preliminary round, John also scored his first goal on the same day. In his first season with Whitby he played in 30 games and netted on three occasions. John, a resident of North Skelton, was a natural defender but was able to play in midfield as he did on many occasions in his time with the club. John again netted three times in the 30 games played in the 1927/1928 season and helped Whitby to the First Round of the F.A. Amateur Cup. and to the runners up spot in the league. John was a regular in the team, and on March 1st, 1930 he became the first Whitby United only player to make 100 appearances in the away match against Ferryhill Athletic. The first player to make 100 appearances was Jimmy Harland, but he had played for previous Whitby incarnations. In the 1930/1931 the Whitby team won the Northern League Cup for the first time in the clubs history. And John was playing the odd game for Carling How FC. The 1930/1931 season saw John continue his regular performances but it was towards the end o the season John was involved in an incident whilst playing for Pease & Partners (Lingdale). At a meeting of the North Riding F.A. at Middlesbrough’s old ground, Ayresome Park, John was suspended ‘Sine Die’ (an infinite period of time). This was commuted to March 31st, by the end of January 1931. John finished the season on 31 appearances, and the club ended up in 8th place in the league. The next season he managed just 23 appearances, and it is belived he may have been playing for either Loftus Albion, Pease & Partners (Lingdale) or Carling How.

John was conspicuous by his absence during the 1932/1933 season and he may have been playing for one of the aforementioned clubs.
August 1933 saw him return to play for Whitby and his five goals in 31 appearances helped the team finish as runners up in the league. John was injured early in the 1934/1935 season in an accident at work. On September 22nd, John was at the ground and such was the need for players that he donned the Whitby kit and took to the field. Sadly the injury caused him to withdraw at half time leaving Whitby with just 10 men. John regained his fitness and made his 200th appearance at home to Shildon in the league on October 27th, 1934 and by the end of that season he had notched up 28 appearances bringing his career total to 249.

On August 23rd, 1935 the Whitby Gazette reported that most of the previous seasons players had returned but added “… Butler, whose association with Whitby United is defiantly at an end.” John’s association was not at an end as he made three appearances during the season. John was actually playing for Carling How Athletic and in the F.A. Amateur Cup First Qualifying Round on October 12th, John lined up against his former club. By the end of the game, Whitby United beat John and his Carling How Athletic team mates 3-1 and went on to play South Bank East End in the next round.

Again John returned to the Turnbull Ground and hit four goals in 26 games which helped the team finish 5th in the league. During this season, 1936/1937, John was selected for the North Riding F.A. in the intercounty games on two occasions. John played two more seasons with Whitby before the start of the Second World War. In the 1937/1938 he made 19 appearances, and the following season he made 39 starts.
John survived the horrors of the War, and joined back up with Whitby in 1945 as coach, now called Manager. Over the years John had played alongside his brother Harry, now as manager John played his son John Junior who did not match his father’s proficiency and only managed 19 games and 5 goals.

John Butler (senior) was truly an early Whitby Legend.