Alan Butterfield

*Indicates unconfirmed information. Figures in brackets after English team names indicate all appearances made and goals scored in competitive matches for Football League clubs from 1888 onwards. For Scottish League clubs the figures show details of all competitive appearances and goals scored from 1946/47 onwards.

Alan Butterfield

Appearances: 148+1 Goals: 2

Date / Year of birth: 1947*

Position: Left-back

Season of first appearance: 1971/72

Season of last appearance: 1974/75

Also played for: Orient (0), Brentford (0), Southend United (0), Millwall (0), Brentwood Town and Chelmsford City

Pacy full-back who started his career as a winger in Orient's junior sides during the 1964/65 season. Alan later had spells with Brentford, Southend and Millwall before joining Brentwood for the 1968/69 campaign. Alan then became a Chelmsford player when the club merged with Brentwood.

He joined Margate in the summer of 1971 and after making his debut on 14.8.71 in a 3-1 home win over Telford in the Southern League Alan made the number three shirt his own during the 1971/72 season. He turned in a series of consistent displays and made 53 appearances. On 20.11.71 he featured in Margate's infamous 11-0 defeat at Bournemouth & Boscombe in the FA Cup 1st Round. Alan scored once during the campaign - in a 3-0 win over visitors Hillingdon on 7.2.72.

The 1972/73 season wasn't such a good one for him, Alan missed the early part of the campaign through injury and then struggled to gain a regular place in the first team with Ray Summers often being preferred at left-back. A nagging ankle problem hampered Alan but on 18.11.72 he was in the Margate side that beat Swansea 1-0 in an FA Cup 1st Round tie at Hartsdown Park. Alan also featured in a 1-0 win at Walton & Hersham in the 2nd Round on 9.12.72 and then played in perhaps Margate's biggest ever match - a 6-0 defeat against visitors Tottenham in the 3rd Round on 13.1.73. Alan ended the season having made a total of 31 first team appearances (one as sub) without scoring.

The 1973/74 campaign was another during which Alan suffered from niggling injuries and a groin problem kept him on the sidelines for several months. He was restricted to 32 appearances and scored once. The goal was a memorable one - a crashing shot from 40 yards in a 3-1 defeat at Dartford on 27.10.73. On 13.4.74 he was in the side that won the Kent Senior Cup with a 2-0 win at Maidstone.

Alan began the 1974/75 season fit and in good form and the Isle of Thanet Gazette praised his "timely interceptions and bold over-lapping" from left-back during a 2-0 defeat at home to Tonbridge on 20.8.74. According to the Thanet Times Alan's performances in the early part of the campaign showed his "usual touch of class" but he was once again hit by injuries during the second half of the season and only played a handful of matches after Christmas. At the end of the campaign he was released having made 33 appearances during the season.

In November 1997 Alan returned to Hartsdown Park as a guest when Margate played Fulham in the FA Cup.

SEASON (CLUB)

FULL (MAX)

SUB

GLS

FAC

FAT

SLC

KSC

KFC

1971/72 (MFC)

53 (69)

0

1

SOUTHERN LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION (9TH OF 22)

1R

1R

SF

2R

GR

     Played in FA Cup 1st Round (20.11.71 - lost 11-0 at Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic).

SEASON (CLUB)

FULL (MAX)

SUB

GLS

FAC

FAT

SLC

KSC

KFC

1972/73 (MFC)

30 (64)

1

0

SOUTHERN LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION (7TH OF 22)

3R

3QR

1R

2R

GR

     Played in FA Cup 1st Round (18.11.72 - beat Swansea City 1-0 at home). 
     Played in FA Cup 2nd Round (09.12.72 - won 1-0 at Walton & Hersham). 
     Played in FA Cup 3rd Round (13.01.73 - lost 6-0 at home to Tottenham Hotspur).

SEASON (CLUB)

FULL (MAX)

SUB

GLS

FAC

FAT

SLC

KSC

KMT

1973/74 (MFC)

32 (65)

0

1

SOUTHERN LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION (17TH OF 22)

4QR

2R

SF

W

GR

     Played in Kent Senior Cup Final (13.04.74 - beat Maidstone United 2-0).

SEASON (CLUB)

FULL (MAX)

SUB

GLS

FAC

FAT

SLC

KSC

KMT

1974/75 (MFC)

33 (66)

0

0

SOUTHERN LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION (7TH OF 22)

4QR

2R

RU

2R

GR