Friends and team-mates

DAVID EYRES . . . tribute to the late Richard Butcher.

ATHLETIC legend David Eyres had a special bond with Richard Butcher during their time together at Athletic

Playing together under manager Ronnie Moore after the ex-Lincoln midfielder signed for the club before the start of the 2005-06 season, Eyres saw at first hand a player of potential who struggled to win over the Boundary Park faithful.

While some footballers brush off criticism easily, Butcher — who died in his sleep, aged 29, on Sunday night — was not of that ilk.

But his character, not to mention his status as an Everton fan, never wavered.

"If you looked at Richard's physical presence and his fitness, he had all the attributes to be a big success," said Eyres, who retired from professional football at the end of the same campaign.

"He didn't quite fulfil his potential at Oldham, for whatever reason.

"But what a lovely lad he was.

“Richard was down to earth and a real team player who I became good friends with, not least because he was an Evertonian like myself.

"When I heard the news it came as a complete shock. At 29 years of age, he will have been at the peak of his career and my thoughts go out to his family.

"Richard conducted himself in the right way, always giving 100-per-cent in training.

"He had a first-class attitude and you could never fault his effort, but he was one of those lads who was affected when he did get a bit of stick from the crowd.

"He was a sensitive soul — he really cared — and I can't speak highly enough of him."

Butcher, who went on from Boundary Park to represent Peterborough, Notts County, Lincoln again and Macclesfield, made a total of 39 appearances for Athletic, scoring four times.

His last game was a 2-0 home defeat for the Silkmen by Rotherham in npower League Two.