Butler settling in nicely

Recent signing Ellie Butler is up and running after marking her first Wolves start with a goal to set up last Sunday’s 3-2 win at Huddersfield Town, the victory taking Dan McNamara’s team to the top of the Northern Premier Division table.

The 20-year-old striker, whose previous clubs were Bristol City and Tottenham Hotspur, had a week earlier made her debut as a second half substitute in the 3-1 National League Cup win against Leeds United.

It’s been a whirlwind start as a first team player for Butler, who had played Academy football with Bristol City and at reserve level for Spurs, the latter’s senior team lying second in the FA Super League table ahead of this weekend.

“It was great for my football development at Bristol and Tottenham,” says the young striker, “but it had got to the point where I wanted to experience first team football and when the chance to join Wolves came along I jumped at it.

“The chance came through [Wolves midfielder] Tammi George, who I’d played with for Tottenham Reserves. She put me in touch with Macca and after seeing the way the women’s team is run at Wolves, I was delighted to sign.

“Everything about the women’s set-up here is immaculate, from the training ground facilities to the detailed research the management does on opponents to give us the best game plan we can have going into matches.”

Those game plans have worked to great effect so far this season, as the league table shows – Wolves have won five and drawn one of their six games to date, conceding just two goals to sit three points clear in top spot.

Both of the goals conceded came in last week’s hard fought win at Huddersfield, the home side taking an early lead before Butler hit the equaliser to spark a battling team performance that ultimately earned a deserved three points.

Next up is a trip to Midland rivals Stoke City on Thursday evening, when Butler will be aiming to help her new colleagues bag a second successive victory on the road. “I can’t wait for the next game to come around,” she says.

“I’m loving it at Wolves and really looking forward to getting to know the Northern Premier Division. It’s not a league I know much about so it’s intriguing to look ahead, but I’ve already seen how tough it can be.

“Huddersfield gave us a hard game and I’m sure it will be the same at Stoke. But we’ll go there with every player knowing her job on the night and we can hopefully keep the unbeaten run going – preferably with another three points.”

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