In a dazzling display of emerging talent, Ruben Butt, the 18-year-old son of Manchester United icon Nicky Butt, announced his arrival in professional football with a spectacular two-goal performance on his full debut for Salford City.
A Dream Debut on a Chilly Night
The young striker was handed his first start on a cold Tuesday night at the Peninsula Stadium, facing Wolverhampton Wanderers' Under-21 side in the Vertu Trophy. After several appearances from the substitutes' bench, this was his chance to lead the line from the outset, and he seized the opportunity with both hands.
Salford emerged victorious with a 4-2 win over the Black Country club, with Butt's contributions proving decisive. His first goal, the team's fourth of the evening, arrived in the 77th minute. Collecting the ball on the left wing, he cut inside and expertly guided a shot into the far corner of the net.
Sealing the Victory with Style
Just moments later, the teenager wearing the number 34 shirt doubled his tally in sublime fashion. Latching onto a through ball, he demonstrated remarkable composure by lofting a delightful chip over the advancing Wolves goalkeeper and into the back of the net.
Speaking to club media after the final whistle, an elated Butt admitted, 'I couldn't be happier' with his dream start. He reflected on his performance, stating, 'I should have scored at least one goal in the first half, maybe two. So in the second half I thought: "I'm going to have to score one here," and I scored two! So yes, I couldn't be happier.'
A Famous Footballing Family
The debutant's father, Nicky Butt, was until recently a central figure at the club. The 50-year-old former England international served as Salford City's chief executive for three years after replacing Gary Neville in 2022. He stepped down from the role this past summer, citing a desire to return to coaching and player development.
In a statement announcing his departure, Nicky Butt said, 'While I have enjoyed the day-to-day responsibilities of the CEO role, I have recently realised how much I miss coaching and training players, and this has increased my desire to return to that side of the game.'
He remains a co-owner of the club alongside his famed 'Class of '92' teammates—Gary Neville, Phil Neville, Ryan Giggs, and Paul Scholes—and expressed his intention to return to the club in a coaching capacity in the future. Nicky Butt himself enjoyed a distinguished playing career, making 387 appearances for Manchester United over 12 years in the first team before spells at Newcastle United, Birmingham City, and a final stint in Southern China.
