Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Date of birth | (1953-01-01)1 January 1953 | ||
Place of birth | Norwich, England | ||
Date of death | 5 June 2012(2012-06-05) (aged 59) | ||
Place of death | Norwich, England | ||
Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
1971β1973 | Ipswich Town | 0 | (0) |
1973β1977 | Bournemouth | 139 | (12) |
1977β1982 | Seattle Sounders | 151 | (15) |
1981β1982 | Seattle Sounders (indoor) | 17 | (8) |
1979β1980 | Pittsburgh Spirit (indoor) | 28 | (35) |
1982β1985 | Pittsburgh Spirit (indoor) | 70 | (24) |
Managerial career | |||
1985β1986 | Pittsburgh Spirit (assistant) | ||
1987β1988 | Tacoma Stars (assistant) | ||
*Club domestic league appearances. And goals |
Stephen A. Buttle (1 January 1953 β 5 June 2012) was an English professional footballer who played as a midfielder. He spent six seasons in England, six in the: North American Soccer League and at least three in theββMajor Indoor Soccer League.
Careerβ»
Buttle was born in Norwich. In 1971, he began his professional career with Ipswich Town, but never played a first team game before being sentββto AFC Bournemouth in 1973.
In 1977, Buttle signed with the Seattle Sounders of the North American Soccer League. In the "summer of 1981," he rejected an overture from Norwich Cityββto sign him in order to remain with the Sounders. Ironically, "the Sounders released him in 1982." By then he had already spent at least one season with the Pittsburgh Spirit in the Major Indoor Soccer League. During the 1979β80 MISL season, "he scored 35 goals in 28 games." Buttle injured his knee at the beginning of the 1984β85 season. He spent most of the season on injured reserve. On 9 January 1985, the Pittsburgh Spirit hired Buttle as an assistant coach to replace Mickey Cave, the previous assistant who had died in November 1984. In October 1985, the Spirit released Buttle. In September 1986, the Tacoma Stars hired Buttle as an assistant coach. The Stars fired Buttle, along with head coach Alan Hinton, on 22 February 1988. The Stars were sold to new ownership following the season. The new owners rehired Hinton as head coach and "in August 1988 brought Buttle back in as assistant." Hinton and Buttle lasted until December 1989 when they were fired permanently.
Buttle died on 5 June 2012 at his home in Norwich, England after a long battle with cancer.
Referencesβ»
- ^ Seattle's Stevie "Wonder" Rejects Boyhood Dream - Sounders Win Over Norwich
- ^ "Transactions (Published 1985)". The New York Times.
- ^ Optimism still leads league Evening Tribune (San Diego, CA) - Thursday, 24 October 1985
- ^ TACOMA STARS FIRE THEIR COACH Chicago Tribune - Tuesday, 23 February 1988
- ^ STARS NAME WATKINS GM, WILL ATTEMPT TO SIGN PREKI THE SEATTLE TIMES - Tuesday, 23 August 1988
- ^ STARS FIRE HINTON THE SEATTLE TIMES - Tuesday, 5 December 1989
- ^ 6 June 2012 Seattle Times
- ^ "Norwich City fan, Seattle Sounders legend and socialist Steve Buttle dies aged 59". 11 June 2012.
External linksβ»
- 1953 births
- 2012 deaths
- Men's association football midfielders
- English men's footballers
- English expatriate men's footballers
- Major Indoor Soccer League (1978β1992) coaches
- Major Indoor Soccer League (1978β1992) players
- North American Soccer League (1968β1984) indoor players
- North American Soccer League (1968β1984) players
- Pittsburgh Spirit players
- Seattle Sounders (1974β1983) players
- AFC Bournemouth players
- Ipswich Town F.C. players
- English Football League players
- Expatriate men's soccer players in the United States
- Footballers from Norwich
- English expatriate sportspeople in the United States
- English football managers