Danny Butterworth Explained

Danny Butterworth
Fullname:Daniel James Butterworth[1]
Birth Date:14 September 1999
Birth Place:Manchester, England
Height:1.81m (05.94feet)
Position:Forward
Currentclub:Carlisle United
Clubnumber:11
Youthyears1:–2016
Youthclubs1:Manchester United
Youthyears2:2016–2018
Youthclubs2:Blackburn Rovers
Years1:2018–2023
Clubs1:Blackburn Rovers
Caps1:14
Goals1:0
Years2:2022
Clubs2:Fleetwood Town (loan)
Caps2:12
Goals2:1
Years3:2022–2023
Clubs3:Port Vale (loan)
Caps3:31
Goals3:3
Years4:2023–
Clubs4:Carlisle United
Caps4:28
Goals4:4
Club-Update:16:07, 7 April 2024 (UTC)

Daniel James Butterworth (born 14 September 1999) is an English professional footballer who plays as a forward for club Carlisle United.

A former Manchester United trainee, Butterworth joined Blackburn Rovers and went on to make his senior debut for the club in August 2018. He spent the second half of the 2021–22 season on loan at Fleetwood Town and joined Port Vale on loan for the 2022–23 campaign. He joined Carlisle United on a free transfer in July 2023.

Career

Blackburn Rovers

Born in Manchester, Butterworth began his career with the club he supported, Manchester United, before he joined Blackburn Rovers on a scholarship midway through the 2015–16 season.[2] He turned professional upon signing a two-year contract in October 2017 after he scored 16 goals in 36 appearances for Damien Johnson's development squad.[3] He made his senior debut at Ewood Park on 28 August 2018, coming on as a 72nd-minute substitute for Danny Graham in a 4–1 victory over Lincoln City in the EFL Cup.[4] He signed a new long-term deal in March the following year, keeping him at the club until June 2022.[5] He made his Championship debut on 22 April, playing the last 14 minutes of a 1–0 home win over Bolton Wanderers.[6] He featured just once in the next two seasons, playing as a substitute in a 1–0 defeat at Stoke City on 19 December 2020.[7] Manager Tony Mowbray said that Butterworth "will burst onto the scene in the next year and everyone is going to think 'wow, who's that?'"[8]

He made his first start in the English Football League on 19 October 2021, in a 1–0 defeat at Queens Park Rangers.[9] On 31 January 2022, he joined League One side Fleetwood Town on loan for the remainder of the 2021–22 season.[10] He scored his first goal in senior football in a 3–2 defeat at Burton Albion on 12 March, scoring with his first touch after entering the game as a substitute.[11] He made five starts and seven substitute appearances for Stephen Crainey's "Cod Army", helping Fleetwood to retain their third tier status with a 20th-place finish.

On 1 September 2022, Butterworth joined League One side Port Vale on loan for the 2022–23 season.[12] Manager Darrell Clarke compared him to the club's number nine, James Wilson, for his link up play.[13] On 29 October, he scored his first goal for the club to secure a 1–0 victory over Lincoln City at Vale Park.[14] He scored his second league goal of the campaign on 19 November, the club website describing how he "produced a beautiful second half solo goal" to beat Charlton Athletic 1–0.[15] Butterworth said after the game that "this is the best I have felt in a long time".[16] Blackburn Rovers released him at the end of his contract after seven years with the club.[17]

Carlisle United

On 14 July 2023, Butterworth joined newly-promoted League One side Carlisle United on a free transfer, signing a two-year deal.[18] He scored four goals from 33 games in the 2023–24 season as the club were relegated.[19]

Style of play

Butterworth has stated that he likes playing as a number 10, playing alongside a target man and getting into pockets of space.[20] He is able to shoot with both feet.[8] Speaking in November 2022, Port Vale assistant manager Andy Crosby said that "Dan has incredible talent in possession; he can create chances, he can score, he can play the final pass", though added that he needed to improve other aspects of his game.[21]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueFA CupEFL CupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Blackburn Rovers2018–19Championship1000200030
2019–20Championship0000000000
2020–21Championship1000000010
2021–22Championship120101000140
2022–23Championship0000000000
Total140103000180
Fleetwood Town (loan)2021–22League One121000000121
Port Vale (loan)2022–23League One313110020344
Carlisle United2023–24League One284101030334
2024–25League Two0000000000
Total284101030334
Career total858314050979

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Club list of registered players: As at 19th May 2019 . English Football League . 23 June 2019.
  2. News: Butterworth: I instantly liked this club because of the way they play . 1 September 2022 . www.fleetwoodtownfc.com . 31 January 2022 . en-gb.
  3. News: Grant . Ryan . Blackburn Rovers FC . 1 September 2022 . 5 October 2017.
  4. News: Blackburn brush Lincoln aside in cup . 1 September 2022 . BBC Sport . 28 August 2018.
  5. News: Blackburn Rovers FC . 1 September 2022 . 21 March 2019.
  6. News: Brereton scores as Rovers beat Bolton . 1 September 2022 . BBC Sport . 22 April 2019.
  7. News: Early goal gives Stoke win over Rovers . 1 September 2022 . BBC Sport . 19 December 2020.
  8. News: Sharpe . Rich . 'Who's that?' - Butterworth ready to 'burst onto the scene' . 1 September 2022 . Lancashire Telegraph . 18 December 2020 . en.
  9. News: Report: Queens Park Rangers 1-0 Rovers . 1 September 2022 . Blackburn Rovers FC . 19 October 2021.
  10. Web site: Dan Butterworth joins Fleetwood on loan from Blackburn . Fleetwood Town FC . 31 January 2022 . 1 February 2022.
  11. News: Burton 3-2 Fleetwood: Oumar Niasse strikes twice in stunning comeback . 1 September 2022 . Sky Sports . 12 March 2022 . en.
  12. News: Port Vale sign McCarron, Politic and Butterworth . 1 September 2022 . BBC Sport . 1 September 2022.
  13. News: Houghton . Ash . Blackburn Rovers striker Dan Butterworth joins the Vale on loan . 1 September 2022 . Port Vale F.C. . 1 September 2022 . en-gb.
  14. News: Danny Butterworth "Really happy to get my first goal" . 30 October 2022 . Port Vale F.C. . 29 October 2022 . en-gb.
  15. News: Baggaley . Michael . Charlton boss Ben Garner criticises 'anti-football' Port Vale . 19 November 2022 . StokeonTrentLive . 19 November 2022 . en.
  16. News: Danny Butterworth "This is the best I have felt in a long time" . 19 November 2022 . Port Vale F.C. . 19 November 2022 . en-gb.
  17. News: Butterworth bids farewell . 16 May 2023 . www.rovers.co.uk . 16 May 2023 . en-gb.
  18. Web site: Dan Butterworth: Carlisle United sign ex-Blackburn Rovers forward. BBC. 14 July 2023. 14 July 2023.
  19. News: Carlisle relegated after defeat at Northampton . 9 May 2024 . BBC Sport . 6 April 2024.
  20. News: Butterworth: I want to go and prove myself to everybody . 1 September 2022 . www.fleetwoodtownfc.com . 3 February 2022 . en-gb.
  21. News: Andy Crosby "I admire our resilience and the togetherness - you don't get that at a lot of football clubs" . 19 November 2022 . Port Vale F.C. . 19 November 2022 . en-gb.