TRIBUTES AS MAN WHO DISCOVERED FOXES STAR DIES
TALENT-SPOTTER GARTH WATCHED NON-LEAGUE STRIKER TWICE - AND WAS ENOUGH TO CONVINCE HIM
THE football scout who spotted the star quality in England and Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy has died.
Garth Butler, right, who recommended the Foxes have another look at Vardy, died at the age of 76 after becoming ill with a blood disorder.
Garth, who was born and bred in Loughborough, died on February 22.
His funeral is to take place later this month.
His brother Roger was with Garth when he was sent to check out Vardy, who was playing for then non-league Fleetwood Town against Kidderminster Harriers.
“It was a night match and the club had asked Garth to have a look at this lad called Jamie Vardy,” said Roger, 83. “Vardy was playing for a poor team and did not get the service, but you could see he was head and shoulders above every other player on the pitch. “Garth told Leicester City that he had real pace and also had something about him too. They asked Garth to have another look at him in another game so he did. “He recommended Vardy to the club. The club took his advice and the rest is history.”
During his early working life, Garth was involved in the family firms Butlers Taxis and then Butlers Coaches in Loughborough.
Garth, who never married, was also
Garth told Leicester City that he had real pace and also had something about him too
Roger Butler
involved in local football management and was a familiar figure at the area’s non-league venues.
But it was in later years that his passion for the game saw him becoming involved in scouting, initially for Notts County under Neil Warnock, followed by spells at Hull City, Leeds United, Sheffield United and West Bromwich Albion, where he became friends with Craig Shakespeare.
When the latter left that club to join Nigel Pearson at Leicester City, Garth followed.
Roger said: “Garth got to know a lot of people in the game, and was on nodding terms with some of league football’s senior figures.
“He also had a passion for speedway and once took a coach party to the World Championships in Poland at a time when the Soviet Union was still in power.
“Passing through Checkpoint Charlie in Berlin was one of the highlights of the journey.”
Garth’s working relationship with Leicester City ended with the departure of Nigel Pearson’s back room team in 2015 and he retired at the age of 70.
Roger said: “He knew he would miss the job but everything comes to an end eventually.
“He was a quiet unassuming man who you could always have a laugh and a joke with.
“He was very modest about the role he played in launching Jamie Vardy’s career, he said he was just doing his job. He scouted quite a lot of other players too, but Vardy stands out.
“Garth was a football fan and a Leicester City supporter. He loved his football and was delighted to see them win the league.
“I don’t think he thought he would see that in his lifetime. I’m so glad he did.
“When I watch Vardy play on TV I feel so proud to know that my brother spotted his talent all those years ago.”
Garth’s private funeral is on March 22.