After beginning his working life as a miner, Joe Butler joined County in 1898 but did not make a first team appearance until 1900.

However, from the time he secured a regular place as goalkeeper in County's second season of League football, he became a supporter's player, revered by County fans even when he was playing against the Hatters for Clapton Orient and local rivals Glossop.

His performances won praise from virtually all footballing journalists of the time, 'Butler's magnificent goalkeeping' being a comment found almost weekly in reports of County matches.

His agility and courage frequently gained points for County when their play merited none.

Although highly regarded, Butler remained with County following their fall from the Football League in 1904, helping them to win the Lancashire Combination the following season and celebrating their success by converting a penalty in their penultimate game against St Helens Town.

SUCCESSFUL

However, following County's successful application to the Second Division, Butler moved to Clapton Orient in June 1905 having made exactly 100 League appearances.

When Orient came to Edgeley Park that December, fans were heard to lament 'I wish he played for County now' as the London club drew 3-3.

The lament was answered as Butler returned to Edgeley Park on February 1 1906 having made only 24 League and Cup appearances for Orient.

Joe Butler remained with County for another two years, completing a total of 190 League and Cup appearances before moving to Glossop on March 18 1908 for a fee believed to be £150.

In his first season, his magnificent goalkeeping ensured Glossop's passage into the FA Cup quarterfinals as he saved two penalties against [Sheffield] Wednesday at Owlerton (now Hillsborough) to clinch his team's 1-0 victory.

MAINTAINED

Butler spent four years with the Derbyshire club without missing a game and maintained the same high standards he had set earlier in his career, although following, an incident in a game against Chelsea at the end of the 1911-12 season, he was suspended for the whole of September.

After making 152 consecutive League appearances for Glossop, his return from suspension was dramatic, an immediate transfer to Sunderland resulting on October 5 1912.

This became Butler's most successful season as he won a First Division championship medal and an FA Cup runners-up medal as Sunderland narrowly failed to achieve the double, beaten 1-0 by Aston Villa in the Final.

Having made 65 League appearances, in 1914 he moved to Lincoln City where he ended his professional career, having missed only one of City's 38 League games.

However, Edgeley Park had not seen the last of one of their favourite 'sons' as Butler returned to County in October 1916 in the wartime League.

As he had done ten years earlier, he shared goalkeeping responsibilities with Jimmy Molyneux and in three seasons made 37 appearances.

It was fitting that, for County's last 'wartime' fixture in April 1919, their custodian should be Joe Butler as, notwithstanding his numerous appearances for other clubs, he was always regarded as a 'County man'.

When Stockport County formed their Hall of Fame to celebrate 100 years of football at Edgeley Park in 2002 Joe Butler was one of the first nominees.

Thanks to Peter Freeman & Richard Harnwell's, Stockport County - A Complete History.