Last week LCM had a second opportunity to catch up with Ex Imp midfielder Richard Butcher, now of Notts County. We were concluding the interview was started last week, and were lucky to get Butch just before he jetted off to Austria with County. Once again we thanked him for talking to us and got straight into the action. First off we were interested to find out:
What Floats Your Boat
LCM: What was the last DVD you bought Butch?
RB: I am Legend.
LCM: Ok, what is your favourite night out or in?
RB: It has to be a meal with the missus & nice bottle of red. I do like the odd lads night out though!
LCM: So if you're staying in what's your favourite night at home?
RB: If Sarah's (Butchs other half) is working nights then I grab a Chinese and
watch Match of the Day. Sarah is a good cook though so if she's at home I'll have something she cooks followed by an early night!!
LCM: If you were to have an imaginary dinner party with you and three others, who would you invite and why?
RB: Easy. Stevie G, because I'd like to know how he prepares for the big games. I'd have Jonathan Ross because I think he'd be a laugh and finally Sarah Harding from Girls Aloud for some eye candy!!!
Now for the quick fire round. Some more 50/50 choice for you Butch.
50/50
LCM: Labour / Tory
RB: Tory
LCM: McDonalds / Burger King
RB: McDonalds
LCM: Pro Evo / FIFA
RB: Pro Evo
LCM: X-Box 360 / PS3
RB: X-Box 360
LCM: Pro Evo on the 360 is our preferred choice to.... we'll have to have a game!!!
LCM: Wild Night Out / Cosy Night In
RB: Definitely a cosy night in!
So now we move on to the football bit, a chance to gain an insight into how Butch's career has been shaped.
The football bit
LCM: What's your career low point?
RB: I've got two unfortunately! Losing in the play off's was a low point, even though the experience and getting there was fantastic. You really want to win any finals you get to. The other was breaking my nose twice within about 2 months when I was at Oldham.
LCM: Which team do you most like to beat?
RB: None really. You have to just try to win every game you play in.
LCM: Team supported as a boy?
RB: I was an Everton fan.
LCM: What's the best ground you've played at?
RB: Millennium Stadium
LCM: What's the worst ground you've played at?
RB: Its either Dagenham or Accrington Stanley.
LCM: What was the first football match you went to?
RB: Coming from Northampton it would have been a Cobblers game at the County Ground. Can't remember exactly
LCM: Who was the player you most admired growing up?
RB: Gazza was simply amazing.
LCM: Gazza is a legend and it's a shame to see him today. Which of today's players do you admire?
RB: These days its Gerrard and Frank Lampard.
LCM: Who's your best friend in football?
RB: I used to be really good mates with Mazza but since he's a Dad I don't see as much of him. I do keep in contact with all the lads I was at Lincoln with and speak to Futch (Ben Futcher) and (Paul) Mayo most days.
LCM: Who is the best player currently in League Two in your opinion?
RB: It's hard to pick 'the best player' in any league, but one player who stood out for me last season was Jack Lester at Chesterfield.
LCM: Be honest - who's the best mascot in League Two?
RB: All the mascots are great of course. It's between Poacher and The Magpies!!!
Sadly our interview with Butch was coming to an end, but we just had a couple of toughies for him as we ask him to 'take the hotseat'.
The Hotseat
LCM: You were a fans favourite at City, but at Oldham quite the opposite was the case. However you overcame your problems there and finished your time at Oldham well. How?
RB: To be honest I didn't help myself at Oldham. I remember we had lost 4-0 at Barnsley and the fans were not best pleased. As we came off the pitch a few vented their frustration at me and made their feelings clear, and I gave them the V sign which didn't go down well at all. I've leant my lesson never to do it again! However that season I still played about 37 games for Oldham so didn't do too badly.
LCM: Do you blame anyone at Oldham for your tough time there?
RB: No I don't blame anyone but by the end of the season it felt right to move on and have a fresh start somewhere and thankfully I was allowed to do that.
LCM: Keith brought you to Peterborough but it was a short lived reunion. Has he been in touch since?
RB: I was gutted when Keith got the sack but these things happen in football. I still keep in contact with him now and would always consider playing for him in the future wherever he was, he's a top bloke.
LCM: How do you rate Lincoln's chances next season?
RB: City have made some very good signings this summer, and they will compliment the good players they already have. A top seven finish is definitely possible.
LCM: If you could pick an all time 'Richard Butcher' XI from players you've played with, what would it be?
RB: It'd be Mazza (Alan Marriott) in Goal. The defence would be Gaz McCauley (Lincoln), Jamie Day (Peterborough), Michael Johnson (Notts), and Adam Newton (Peterborough). In midfield George Boyd (Peterborough), Richie Wellens (Oldham), Andy Liddle (Oldham) and obviously me! I'd go two up top with
Aaron Mclean (Peterborough) and Chris Porter (Oldham)
LCM: Thanks Butch, it's been a real pleasure. We have one last thing to ask you though.....
And finally....
LCM With all the coverage in the newspaper recently, have you ever seen a
UFO? Could Simon Weaver be classed as one? 
RB: No I've never seen a UFO, which is a good thing! We always called Weaves the horse because we thought he ran like one so your more likely to see him at a race course than in the sky!!
With that we had to say thank you and good bye as Butch had pre season commitments with Notts, but he was certainly an excellent character to start this feature off. We asked him about Simon Weaver for a reason, he is just one of THREE further names we have lined up for the quiz. As well as Weaves we have also managed to secure the services of ex Imps striker Marvin Robinson to 'take the hotseat'. However the next person in the frame is none other than current Imps striker and another all round nice bloke, Mr Ben Wright. We'll be catching up with Ben after the Aston Villa friendly and asking him about scoring against Chelsea, plying his trade in Norway and how he rates The Imps chances next season.
Butch came across to LCM as a real genuine and honest bloke, and we appreciated his honesty about his time at Oldham. There's little doubt he rates amongst the best midfielders in our league, and his affection for City is still evident. In this day and age of pro footballers acting like spoilt children it's nice to encounter one who genuinely cares for clubs he has played at, and doesn't blame others when things go wrong. Notts County have a real asset in Butch, a view echoed on their message boards.