Richard Tony Butcher (22 January 1981 – 9 January 2011) was an English professional footballer who played as a midfielder. In a career that lasted from 1999 until his death in 2011, he notably spent three separate spells with Lincoln City, for whom he appeared in two play-off final defeats at the Millennium Stadium. He also played for Northampton Town, Rushden & Diamonds, Kettering Town, Oldham Athletic, Peterborough United and Notts County. At the time of his death he was playing for Football League Two side Macclesfield Town. Career Northampton Town Born in Northampton, Butcher came through the youth ranks at his home town club Northampton Town. He was promoted to the club's first team during the summer of 1999 when the club was under the management tenure of Ian Atkins, however Atkins departed early on into Butcher's first senior season and was replaced by Kevin Wilson. In March 2000, 8 months after becoming a pro he was released by Northampton Town having failed to make an appearance. Rushden & Diamonds After his release from Northampton, Butcher was signed by Brian Talbot's Conference National side Rushden & Diamonds. He was part of the squad for the final months of the 1999–2000 season and the 2000–2001 campaign, but failed to make an appearance for the Diamonds, and was released in the summer of 2001. Kettering Town In October 2001 he signed for Southern League side Kettering Town who had suffered relegation in the previous season from the Conference National. After helping the club back to an instant promotion, Butcher went on to depart the club in November 2002. Lincoln City Butcher joined Football League Third Division Lincoln City which had recently recovered from a financial struggle that had nearly seen the club go out of business. The club was now under the stewardship of Keith Alexander who had begun to bring in a new influx of players to the team. He made his City debut on 23 November 2002 in a 2–1 home defeat against his former club Rushden. He scored his first Imps goal on 14 December in a 2–2 draw with Cambridge United. By the end of the 2002–2003 season Lincoln had gained entry into the Play-offs following a dramatic Simon Yeo equaliser against Torquay United on the final day of the season. City progressed to the final at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium following a 6–3 aggregate victory over Scunthorpe