The football community in Waterford is in mourning following the sad passing of Roy Butler, who was aged just 23.
An employee at Bausch & Lomb, the Villa FC player passed away suddenly.
Roy came through the Villa academy and was a highly thought of centre half. He won a multitude of honours at schoolboy level with club and county - eventually signing for his boyhood club Waterford United in 2014, when he joined the Blues’ U-19 team.
Roy went on to be the Blues’ U-19 Player of the Year in 2015, before being drafted into the first team and becoming a regular starter in the First Division under the management of Roddy Collins.
Butler fulfilled a boyhood dream, twice captaining the Blues - in the Munster Senior Cup against Ringmahon Rangers, and also in the club’s final game before being re-branded against Shelbourne.
Always known to give a hand at his native Connors Park, Butler was part of the coaching team of the Villa squad that won last year’s Munster Youth Cup, and he had recently lined out as a Premier League player for the men in hoops.
A diehard Waterford FC fan, Roy was in attendance at the RSC just two weeks ago when the Blues beat Bohemians 1-0.
In tributes paid online, he has been described as an amazing footballer, true gentleman and people’s person - with sympathies extended to his family, friends, work colleagues and team mates.
May Roy rest in peace.
