There was a certain irony that Butchers first City appearance should be against Rushden and Diamonds as he spent a spell there after being released by home town club Northampton.
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Alongside Ben Sedgemore the Imps midfield had a certain bite to it, and against all odds they were heading for a place in the play offs for the first time in their history. However with just two games left to play that season, the elusive play off place seemed to be out of thier grasp.
On 26th April 2003, The Imps travelled to play off rivals Bournemouth knowing nothing less than a win would be good enough. If they took away three points then they'd need only a draw against fellow play off hopefuls Torquay Utd at Sincil Bank. A massive number of Imps fans made the long journey down south, and they needed a player to step up to the challenge and send them home with all three points.
In the 28th minute of that game Butcher pulled a goal right out of the top drawer, and the Imps held firm for a 1-0 win. Ecstatic fans applauded the goal, and now partnering Peter Gain in midfield, Butch was the focus of the celebrations.
Of course, the next three games are written into City history and perhaps the name of Simon Yeo is the one that is often lauded alongside the play off achievement. However, without the goal at Dean Court, Scunthorpe would never have visited Sincil Bank in the semi finals.
Butcher earned himself a reputation as a tough tackling goalscorer on the field, but always played the game with an air of fairness. He picked up very few bookings and to date hasn't seen a red card in his league career. His talents were occasionally bypassed as the City side pumped the ball quickly from the back to the front, cutting out the midfield. Some may argue that the pairing of Gainy and Butch was arguably the best midfield pairing outside the championship, a perfect blend of style, skill, strength and effort.
The following season had brought six goals for Butcher, including the winner away at Kidderminster. It also brought another play off appearance, this time against Peter Jacksons Huddersfield Town. The home leg was a 1-0 defeat, leaving City needing a 2-1 win or better at a packed McAlpine stadium. Once again Butcher notched a goal, a 38th minute strike which was added to in the 39th minute by Mark Bailey. Although sadly, two late Huddersfield goals once again ended City's involvement in the play off race.
Throughout the whole season Butch only picked up three yellow cards, quite an achievement for a box to box midfielder in a 5-2-3 formation.
His final season in an Imps shirt brought only six yellow cards all season, still a magnificent tally for such a combative player in a relatively lonely role in the middle of the park. Butcher managed to conjur a further two goals from the centre of the park, including one in a 3-0 win over Darlington, although OPTA stats confirmed he'd had over 70 efforts from outside the area in that season!
Once again City made the play off finals, beating Macclesfield before stumbling to a 2-0 defeat in the final to Southend Utd. By this time, scouts from higher leagues had noticed Butch's talents and on the 3rd June 2005, he joined League One side Oldham.
The start of his Oldham career wasn't as succesful as he'd hoped. Oldham won just 3 games from their first ten and suffered heavy defeats at Tranmere and Barnsley, as well as one at home to Huddersfield. The fans targeted Butcher and despite his best efforts, in appeared he'd be on his way from Boundary Park. Their loss was to be City's gain as he agreed a one month loan spell back with City on 7th October 2005. He played 4 games for The Imps and managed to score the equaliser against Leyton Orient in a 1-1 draw. His final game in a City shirt was at the heart of the midfield, alongside Dean Keates in a 2-1 win at Rochdale.
On his return to Boundary Park, he featured in the 4-0 FA Cup win over Chasetown and set about winning the fans over. Throughout the 05/06 season, he made 32 league appearances for Oldham and scored 4 goals for them. Coming back from the loan at Lincoln took a lot of character but he dilligently set about rescuing his Oldham career. A winning goal against Colchester in March 2006 no doubt helped to prove his doubters wrong.
By the end of 2006 Butchers career was to lead him to an old friend. Former Imps manager Keith Alexander, the man who gave Butch his football league break came a-knocking with his new club Peterborough Utd. Free spending Peterborough were ambitious, and Alexander saw a chance to reunite the Lincoln midfield of old. He signed on a free transfer for Peterborough and announced himself to the home fans with a goal in an opening day 4-1 demolition of Bristol Rovers. The was to be no repeat of the Oldham experience.
He played 35 times for Peterborough and hit 4 goals, again picking up minimal bookings, this time just a solitary yellow in the 2-0 home reverse by Chester on Dec 16th. A week later he played for the Posh side beaten 2-1 at home by The Imps, thanks to a Ryan Amoo double.
Keith Alexander left the club and was replaced by ambitious Darren Ferguson. Backed by Daryll McAnthonys millions, Ferguson set about building a side with no expense spared. At the end of the 2007 season he was made available for transfer.
Notts County manager Steve Thompson and another ex Imp made him a Notts County player in that summer, signing him on a two-year deal. Once again a management change was to occur at a club Butch signed for, this time Thompson was replaced by Ian McPharland midway through the season. Despite this he was ever-present for County last season scoring 12 league goals. The County fans warmed to their new hero and despite a relatively disapointing season for the team, it could be classed as a good season for Butcher.
He'll start the new season with Notts County, alongside former team mate Paul Mayo, and former Imps Jamie Forrester and Spencer Weir Daley.