Captain William Charles Butler (17 January 1844 – 6 December 1914) played football for England against a Scottish XI in two unofficial internationals in 1870 and 1871.[1][2] He subsequently became a J.P. and Registrar in Cumberland.
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Butler was the son of Captain Charles George Butler R.N. (1793–1867) and Emily Bayford.[3] His paternal grandfather was Sir Richard Butler, 7th Baronet.[4]
In July 1877, he married Emily Chadwick; they had six children – three daughters and three sons. The sons were:
Butler was a member of the Barnes[1] and Civil Service[2] football clubs. In March 1870, he was invited by the Wanderers' captain, C.W. Alcock to take part in a match between "England" and "Scotland". This was the first of five "pseudo-internationals" which took place before the first officially recognized international in November 1872.[11] He was the only member of the England XI who was not a member of the Wanderers club.[12]
His second appearance for England came in February 1871;[2] the match report included an early reference to the Combination Game style of football:
It seemed as if the [Scottish] defence would prove more than equal to the attack, until a well-executed run-down by C.W. Alcock, W.C. Butler and R.S.F. Walker, acting in concert, enabled the last-named of the trio to equalise the score by the accomplishment of a well-merited goal for England.[13]
Butler was enlisted in the Third Battalion, The Border Regiment where in 1884 he reached the rank of Captain.[3][14]
He was later a Justice of the peace (J.P.) for Cumberland and held the office of Registrar of the Probate Division of the High Court of Justice.[3]