On 10th September 2011, goalkeeper Jack Butland, then aged 18, made his football league debut representing Cheltenham Town against Macclesfield. The youngster on loan from Birmingham kept a clean sheet in that game, and his Cheltenham teammate Steve Eliot commented that Butland had “everything he needs to play at the very top level.”
Now less than 12 months later, the young shot stopper is basking in the praise he has received, after a successful England debut and a commendable performance in the Olympics for Team GB. To say his progression over the past year has been a meteoric rise is an understatement. Shortly before his first football league match, Butland represented England U-21’s for the first time, completing his advancement through the national junior ranks. In fact Butland has made more appearances for the England junior teams than in league football.
Butland has signed a contract extension with Birmingham until June 2015, but is still awaiting his Birmingham debut. His only football league experience comes from his loan stints at league two Cheltenham Town, where he has made a total of 24 appearances. Yet despite only playing in the fourth tier of English football, the young keeper looks set to become the biggest challenger to Joe Hart in between the sticks for England.
Hart’s career followed a similar path. He started off at Shrewsbury Town, before being snapped up by Manchester City. Loan spells then followed, most notably at Birmingham, before he asserted himself as the Manchester City and England number one. Butland’s career seems to be following the same upward curve as Hart’s. Yesterday he became the youngest ever keeper to represent England as his nation claimed a 2-1 victory over a youthful Italy side, capping off a remarkable summer. Representing his nation in the Olympics was a magical moment, and he acquitted himself excellently, barring one mistake in the quarter final against South Korea.
The 6’5 Bristol born keeper has tremendous potential. During his stint at Cheltenham, he conceded only 26 goals in 24 games, and was regularly scouted by numerous bigger clubs. Yet his future seems to lie with Birmingham, and perhaps even as the England number one. Butland has been confirmed as the club’s number one for the coming season by manager Lee Clark, and the club are reported to have turned down a 6 million pound bid from newly promoted Southampton during the summer. For now Joe Hart remains by far the best keeper in the country, but if Butland continue his rise then he could well be a contender for the national jersey for years to come.