Daniel James Butterworth (born 14 September 1999) is an English professional footballer who plays as a forward for EFL League Two club Swindon Town.

Danny Butterworth
Butterworth in action for Blackburn Rovers (November 2017)
Personal information
Full name Daniel James Butterworth[1]
Date of birth (1999-09-14) 14 September 1999 (age 25)[2]
Place of birth Manchester, England[2]
Height 5 ft 11 in (1.81 m)[2]
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
Swindon Town
Number 22
Youth career
–2016 Manchester United
2016–2018 Blackburn Rovers
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2018–2023 Blackburn Rovers 14 (0)
2022Fleetwood Town (loan) 12 (1)
2022–2023Port Vale (loan) 31 (3)
2023–2024 Carlisle United 31 (4)
2024– Swindon Town 2 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 14:23, 8 September 2024 (UTC)

A former Manchester United trainee, Butterworth joined Blackburn Rovers and went on to make his senior debut for the club in August 2018. He spent the second half of the 2021–22 season on loan at Fleetwood Town and joined Port Vale on loan for the 2022–23 campaign. He joined Carlisle United on a free transfer in July 2023 and then moved to Swindon Town 13 months later.

Career

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Blackburn Rovers

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Born in Manchester, Butterworth began his career with the club he supported, Manchester United, before he joined Blackburn Rovers on a scholarship midway through the 2015–16 season.[3] He turned professional upon signing a two-year contract in October 2017 after he scored 16 goals in 36 appearances for Damien Johnson's development squad.[4] He made his senior debut at Ewood Park on 28 August 2018, coming on as a 72nd-minute substitute for Danny Graham in a 4–1 victory over Lincoln City in the EFL Cup.[5] He signed a new long-term deal in March the following year, keeping him at the club until June 2022.[6] He made his Championship debut on 22 April, playing the last 14 minutes of a 1–0 home win over Bolton Wanderers.[7] He featured just once in the next two seasons, playing as a substitute in a 1–0 defeat at Stoke City on 19 December 2020.[8] Manager Tony Mowbray said that Butterworth "will burst onto the scene in the next year and everyone is going to think 'wow, who's that?'"[9]

He made his first start in the English Football League on 19 October 2021, in a 1–0 defeat at Queens Park Rangers.[10] On 31 January 2022, he joined League One side Fleetwood Town on loan for the remainder of the 2021–22 season.[11] He scored his first goal in senior football in a 3–2 defeat at Burton Albion on 12 March, scoring with his first touch after entering the game as a substitute.[12] He made five starts and seven substitute appearances for Stephen Crainey's "Cod Army", helping Fleetwood to retain their third tier status with a 20th-place finish.[13]

On 1 September 2022, Butterworth joined League One side Port Vale on loan for the 2022–23 season.[14] Manager Darrell Clarke compared him to the club's number nine, James Wilson, for his link up play.[15] On 29 October, he scored his first goal for the club to secure a 1–0 victory over Lincoln City at Vale Park.[16] He scored his second league goal of the campaign on 19 November, the club website describing how he "produced a beautiful second half solo goal" to beat Charlton Athletic 1–0.[17] Butterworth said after the game that "this is the best I have felt in a long time".[18] Blackburn Rovers released him at the end of his contract after seven years with the club.[19]

Carlisle United

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On 14 July 2023, Butterworth joined newly-promoted League One side Carlisle United on a free transfer, signing a two-year deal.[20] He scored four goals from 33 games in the 2023–24 season as the club were relegated.[21][22] He then told manager Paul Simpson he wanted to leave in order to find first-team football.[23] Upon leaving Brunton Park, he stated that his spell in Cumbria did not go well due to "things behind closed doors".[24]

Swindon Town

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On 30 August 2024, Butterworth signed for fellow League Two club Swindon Town on a two-year deal.[25] He said he joined the club because he felt wanted by manager Mark Kennedy.[26] He scored his first goal for the "Robins" on 7 September, where his 98th-minute equaliser secured a 1–1 draw at Barrow.[27]

Style of play

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Butterworth has stated that he likes playing as a number 10, playing alongside a target man and getting into pockets of space.[28] He is able to shoot with both feet.[9] Speaking in November 2022, Port Vale assistant manager Andy Crosby said that "Dan has incredible talent in possession; he can create chances, he can score, he can play the final pass", though added that he needed to improve other aspects of his game.[29]

Career statistics

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As of match played 7 September 2024
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup EFL Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Blackburn Rovers 2018–19[30] Championship 1 0 0 0 2 0 3 0
2019–20[31] Championship 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2020–21[32] Championship 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
2021–22[13] Championship 12 0 1 0 1 0 14 0
2022–23[33] Championship 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 14 0 1 0 3 0 0 0 18 0
Fleetwood Town (loan) 2021–22[13] League One 12 1 12 1
Port Vale (loan) 2022–23[33] League One 31 3 1 1 2[a] 0 34 4
Carlisle United 2023–24[21] League One 28 4 1 0 1 0 3 0 33 4
2024–25[34] League Two 3 0 1 0 0 0 4 0
Total 31 4 1 0 2 0 3 0 37 4
Swindon Town 2024–25[34] League Two 2 1 0 0 1 0 3 1
Career total 90 9 3 1 5 0 6 0 104 10
  1. ^ Appearances in the EFL Trophy

References

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  1. ^ "Club list of registered players: As at 19th May 2019" (PDF). English Football League. Retrieved 23 June 2019.
  2. ^ a b c Danny Butterworth at Soccerway. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
  3. ^ "Butterworth: I instantly liked this club because of the way they play". www.fleetwoodtownfc.com. 31 January 2022. Retrieved 1 September 2022.
  4. ^ Grant, Ryan (5 October 2017). "Blackburn Rovers FC". Retrieved 1 September 2022.
  5. ^ "Blackburn brush Lincoln aside in cup". BBC Sport. 28 August 2018. Retrieved 1 September 2022.
  6. ^ "Blackburn Rovers FC". 21 March 2019. Retrieved 1 September 2022.
  7. ^ "Brereton scores as Rovers beat Bolton". BBC Sport. 22 April 2019. Retrieved 1 September 2022.
  8. ^ "Early goal gives Stoke win over Rovers". BBC Sport. 19 December 2020. Retrieved 1 September 2022.
  9. ^ a b Sharpe, Rich (18 December 2020). "'Who's that?' - Butterworth ready to 'burst onto the scene'". Lancashire Telegraph. Retrieved 1 September 2022.
  10. ^ "Report: Queens Park Rangers 1-0 Rovers". Blackburn Rovers FC. 19 October 2021. Retrieved 1 September 2022.
  11. ^ "Dan Butterworth joins Fleetwood on loan from Blackburn". Fleetwood Town FC. 31 January 2022. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
  12. ^ "Burton 3-2 Fleetwood: Oumar Niasse strikes twice in stunning comeback". Sky Sports. 12 March 2022. Retrieved 1 September 2022.
  13. ^ a b c "Games played by Danny Butterworth in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
  14. ^ "Port Vale sign McCarron, Politic and Butterworth". BBC Sport. 1 September 2022. Retrieved 1 September 2022.
  15. ^ Houghton, Ash (1 September 2022). "Blackburn Rovers striker Dan Butterworth joins the Vale on loan". Port Vale F.C. Retrieved 1 September 2022.
  16. ^ "Danny Butterworth | "Really happy to get my first goal"". Port Vale F.C. 29 October 2022. Retrieved 30 October 2022.
  17. ^ Baggaley, Michael (19 November 2022). "Charlton boss Ben Garner criticises 'anti-football' Port Vale". StokeonTrentLive. Retrieved 19 November 2022.
  18. ^ "Danny Butterworth | "This is the best I have felt in a long time"". Port Vale F.C. 19 November 2022. Retrieved 19 November 2022.
  19. ^ "Butterworth bids farewell". www.rovers.co.uk. 16 May 2023. Retrieved 16 May 2023.
  20. ^ "Dan Butterworth: Carlisle United sign ex-Blackburn Rovers forward". BBC. 14 July 2023. Retrieved 14 July 2023.
  21. ^ a b "Games played by Danny Butterworth in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
  22. ^ "Carlisle relegated after defeat at Northampton". BBC Sport. 6 April 2024. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
  23. ^ Colman, Jon (30 August 2024). "Carlisle United attacker Butterworth leaves for League Two rival". News and Star. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
  24. ^ Colman, Jon (30 August 2024). "Butterworth: 'Things behind closed doors' reason for Blues fate". News and Star. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
  25. ^ "Town sign Danny Butterworth". swindontownfc.co.uk. 30 August 2024. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
  26. ^ Acklam, Joe (30 August 2024). "Swindon Town sign Carlisle United man Dan Butterworth". Swindon Advertiser. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
  27. ^ "Barrow v Swindon Town: League Two". BBC Sport. 7 September 2024. Retrieved 10 September 2024.
  28. ^ "Butterworth: I want to go and prove myself to everybody". www.fleetwoodtownfc.com. 3 February 2022. Retrieved 1 September 2022.
  29. ^ "Andy Crosby | "I admire our resilience and the togetherness - you don't get that at a lot of football clubs"". Port Vale F.C. 19 November 2022. Retrieved 19 November 2022.
  30. ^ "Games played by Danny Butterworth in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 17 January 2020.
  31. ^ "Games played by Danny Butterworth in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 17 January 2020.
  32. ^ "Games played by Danny Butterworth in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
  33. ^ a b "Games played by Danny Butterworth in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
  34. ^ a b "Games played by Danny Butterworth in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 26 February 2022.