Richard Butcher Resigns For City

Last updated : 27 May 2009 By Gary Hutchinson

Imps hero Richard Butcher has resigned for the club after four years away.

The 28-year-old former Notts County midfielder is finally returning for a third spell at Sincil Bank after being linked following departures from Peterborough and Oldham.

Butcher spoke to local media and could barely hide his delight: "It's a really happy day for me. As soon as I realised Lincoln were interested there was only one place I wanted to go. When I put the Lincoln shirt on it really means something."

LCM interviewed Butch at the start of last season where he made his love of the club very clear. Despite being committed to Notts County he had an obvious affection for the fans and the area, and its a delight to hear he'll be playing for the club again next season.

Lincoln beat off interest from both Rotherham and Shrewsbury to land Butcher, who first joined the City from Kettering in November 2002. At the end of that season he hit a goal away at Bournemouth that all but secured a play off place and he proudly took his place at the Millennium Stadium. He went on and made over 100 league appearances as the Imps made the League Two play-offs in two further successive seasons before departing after the 2-0 defeat to Southend.

He moved to Oldham in the summer of 2005 but returned later that year on a month's loan, scoring again. His Oldham career was patchy at first, but once he found his feet he established himself in the side. However he left at the end of the season, before moves to Peterborough and Notts County, who released him at the end of last season. In his time at Meadow Lane he finished as leading scorer and second leading scorer.

Butcher added: "I really enjoyed my time at Lincoln, the fans were good to me and made me feel welcome. They gave me my break in league football, it's a place I took to and I'd really like to come back and do well for the club."