Jack Butler (footballer)

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John Dennis ("Jack") Butler (August 14, 1894 – January 5, 1961) was an English footballer.

Born in Colombo (in what is now Sri Lanka) to English parents, Butler moved back to Britain as a child, and played for Dartford as a youth, before signing for Arsenal in 1914. He played in the Gunners' youth side in his first season, before World War I intervened. Butler duly signed up for the Royal Artillery and served in France during the war, and returned to Arsenal after the end of hostilities. By then he had come of age, and with the resumption of first-class football, he soon made his first-team debut for the Gunners, against Bolton Wanderers on November 15, 1919.

A tall, elegant and clean player, Butler initially played as a traditional "centre half" – i.e. as a central, deep-lying midfielder; he was in competition with the Gunner's regular centre halves, Chris Buckley and Alex Graham, but by 1924-25, he was the undisputed first-choice centre half, playing in all but three games of the club's League campaign that season. He also won his first and only cap for England, against Belgium on December 8, 1924.

Butler continued to be a near ever-present for the next four seasons, playing in every match of the Gunners' FA Cup run in 1927, where they reached the final but lost 1-0 to Cardiff City. By now, Arsenal had taken advantage of a relaxation in the offside law and had changed formation, from the traditional 2-3-5 to the new "WM"; the centre half now played in defence with the full backs as a "stopper". Although Butler had some success in the role, Arsenal's manager Herbert Chapman thought the side could do better, and in 1929-30 replaced Butler with Herbie Roberts.

Butler left Arsenal in the summer of 1930. In all he played 296 matches for the Gunners, scoring 8 goals. He joined Torquay United, and stayed there for two seasons before becoming a coach at Belgian club Royal Daring, and was coach of the Belgian national side at the 1938 FIFA World Cup. He later had a spell as a trainer at Leicester City, and went on to manage Torquay United (1946–1947), Crystal Palace (1947-1949) and Colchester United (1953–1955). He died in 1961, at the age of 66.

Preceded by Billy Butler	Torquay United Manager 1946-1947	Succeeded by John McNeil
Preceded by George Irwin	Crystal Palace Manager 1947-1949	Succeeded by Ronnie Rooke
Preceded by Jimmy Allen	Colchester United Manager 1953-1955	Succeeded by Benny Fenton