Throwback To Football's Golden Era alert! Tidgy little bag-of-tricks winger spotted torturing full-backs in Swansea area
As a youngster, Dublin-born Butler forged himself a reputation as one of the Republic of Ireland’s hottest prospects and was snapped up by Sunderland boss Peter Reid in 1998.
He made his debut the following year against Walsall but, standing just 5ft 7in in his stripy socks, he found the physical side of the game a challenge and failed to make an impression ahead of right-winger Nicky Summerbee.
Loaned out to Darlington in 2000, he played eight times, returning to Sunderland for three more seasons before quitting Wearside with just 31 appearances to his name (although by then he had made the breakthrough into his country's senior side).
Having unsuccessfully tried to kick-start his career with Dunfermline, he found his form again back in the north-east with Hartlepool. Finally able to impose himself on the game from the wing, he left for Swansea in August 2006 and his trickery made him a favorite at the Liberty Stadium, where he made 29 starts in the club’s promotion of 2007/08.