A whole host of players have represented both Halifax Town and Cambridge United. Daniel Briggs takes a closer look at the club connections.
Peter Butler
Position: Midfielder
Halifax Town: 1998-2000 – 63 appearances, 1 goal
Other Clubs: Bury, Cambridge United, Grimsby Town, Huddersfield Town, Notts County, Sorrento (Australia), Southend United, West Bromwich Albion, West Ham United.
Bio:
Remembered mostly for his two year spell at West Ham United in the Premier League, Peter Butler represented Halifax towards the back end of his playing career.
A midfielder by trade, Butler played 63 times and scored one goal for Halifax between 1998 and 2000, helping the Shaymen record 10th and 18th placed finishes in Division Three.
He began his career with Huddersfield Town in 1984 but only made five appearances in two years. In 1986, Butler had brief spells with Bury and on loan at Cambridge United, before joining the U’s on a permanent basis later that year. Fifty-five matches and nine goals later, Butler was off to Southend United, where he made just short of 150 appearances in four seasons.
After impressing at Roots Hall, Butler earned a move to West Ham and became an integral part of the side that won promotion to the Premier League during the 1992-93 campaign. A season in English football’s top tier followed and Butler helped the Hammers to Premier League survival.
After leaving West Ham in 1994, Butler had spells at Notts County, Grimsby Town and West Bromwich Albion before joining Halifax.
In 2001-02, he spent a season in Australia with Sorrento FC and has since pursued a career in management, taking charge of no fewer than ten different clubs on the continent.
Mike Ferguson
Position: Halfback
Halifax Town: 1976-77 – 2 appearances, 0 goals
Other Clubs: Accrington Stanley, Aston Villa, Blackburn Rovers, Cambridge United, IA Akranes, Queens Park Rangers, Rochdale.
Bio:
Burnley-born halfback, Mike Ferguson, made just two appearances for Halifax during the 1996-97 season at the end of his 17 year playing career.
A Plymouth Argyle youth player, Ferguson began his senior career with Accrington Stanley in 1960 before joining Blackburn Rovers two years later. Despite his Burnley upbringing, Ferguson soon endeared himself to the Ewood Park faithful and went on to make over 200 appearances in six seasons in the Old First and Second Divisions.
Ferguson played 38 times for Aston Villa in the 1968-69 campaign, before moving to Queens Park Rangers, where he appeared on 68 occasions.
He then had a year at Cambridge United, and later signed for North American Soccer League side Los Angeles Aztecs in 1995. Well into the twilight of his career, Ferguson enjoyed two years at Rochdale before finishing at Halifax.
Since then, Ferguson has had managerial stints with IA Akranes, Rochdale, APOEL and Evagoras Paphos.
Paul Wilson
Position: Defender
Halifax Town: 1991-93 – 45 appearances, 7 goals
Other Clubs: Aylesbury United, Bedford, Burnley, Cambridge United, Huddersfield Town, Norwich City, Northampton Town, Rushden & Diamonds, Scunthorpe Utd, York City.
Bio:
A reliable full-back, Paul Wilson made 45 appearances for Halifax during the 1992-93 season. Unfortunately, his one and only year with the club proved to be a great disappointment as Town suffered relegation from the Old Division Three.
Wilson started his career as a youth player at Huddersfield Town before progressing into the senior side, playing just 15 matches.
In 1987, Wilson joined Norwich City but failed to make an appearance and soon left for Northampton Town. He enjoyed five years with the Cobblers, enduring demotion from the Old Division Two in 1990, and made a total of 141 matches for the club, scoring six goals.
A season with Halifax followed before stints with Burnley, York City and Scunthorpe United. In 1997, Wilson signed for Cambridge United after a successful seven game loan spell the previous season.
After a year with Rushden & Diamonds, Wilson called time on his 14 year playing career.
Other Notable Club Connections
Chris Clarke
Position: Defender
Halifax Town: 1999-2002 – 54 appearances, 1 goal
Other Clubs: Blackpool, Cambridge United, Wolverhampton Wanderers, York City.
Ronny Hildersley
Position: Midfielder
Halifax Town: 1991-93 – 31 appearances, 2 goals
Other Clubs: Blackburn Rovers, Cambridge Utd, Chester, East Fife, Manchester City, Montreal Sprint, Montrose, Preston North End, Raith Rovers, Rochdale, Wigan Athletic.
Dave Lennard
Position: Midfielder
Halifax Town: 1969-72 – 97 appearances, 16 goals
Other Clubs: Blackpool, Bolton Wanderers, Bournemouth, Cambridge United, Chester, Stockport County.
Craig Middleton
Position: Midfielder
Halifax Town: 2000-02 – 76 appearances, 8 goals
Other Clubs: Bedworth, Cambridge United, Cardiff City, Coventry City, Plymouth Argyle.
Jamie Murphy
Position: Defender
Halifax Town: 1996-97 – 63 appearances, 3 goals
Other Clubs: Blackpool, Cambridge United, Doncaster Rovers, Morecambe.
Everyone else…
David Adekola, Simon Ainge, Phil Bolland, John Francis, Peter Graham, Steve Guinan, Mike Heathcote, Tommy Horsfall, Neil Horwood, Scott Houghton, Paul Kent, Andy Lee, Mick Norbury, Steve Richards, Dave Smith.
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