George Butler, born on 20 February 1810 in Mansfield, where he worked in the ‘fancy silk trade’, a major industry in that town, came rather late to County cricket; he was 31 when he first played for Nottinghamshire against Kent in a county game at Trent Bridge.
A powerful right-hand batsman, he appeared in the county side from 1841 to 1852, making useful contributions though his top score was just 40, made v MCC at Lord’s in 1843 – one of ten games against MCC in the 36 First-Class matches he played.
Butler represented 11 different First-Class teams, including the Singles v Married and Slow Bowlers v Fast, but mainly for Nottinghamshire. His last First-Class match was versus Surrey at Trent Bridge and he finished with 650 runs at 10.83 and 21 catches; his occasional round-arm bowling brought him nine First-Class wickets at 11.87.
Having acted as a professional with various clubs, including Dublin College, Teignbridge, Birmingham, and Atherstone, Butler was in 1851 appointed as pro at Trent Bridge for the Commercial and Amateur Clubs, serving both for around ten years. He remained at the ground for some thirty years, being latterly umpire, groundsman and gate-keeper.
George Butler died on St George’s Day 1887 in Nottingham. He was not related to the cricketing Butler family of Radcliffe-on-Trent.
July 2020
Nottinghamshire First-Class Number: 45