Butler was born in Liverpool and grew up in the Wavertree area with his mother, step father, three brothers and one sister.
However the game in question was cancelled and Wigan Athletic seized the opportunity with assistant manager Harry McNally offering Butler terms the day after.
Butler's versatility saw him play in all eleven positions on the pitch in his Wigan career including goalkeeper when Nigel Atkins was substituted in a game due to injury.
He made his Stoke debut against Manchester City on boxing day and kept his place in the side for the remainder of the 1988–89 season.
[3] He picked up a winners medal from the 1992 Football League Trophy final at Wembley Stadium under the management of Lou Macari.
In 1996–97 in English football under the management of John Deehan he helped them win the Third Division title on goal difference ahead of Fulham.
After two seasons in his second spell at Wigan, Butler left senior football at the age of 35 to play for Stalybridge Celtic.