Former Lincoln City assistant head coach Danny Butterfield is back in the dugout after landing a new role in non-league football.
The former Imp has joined Hednesford Town as assistant manager, linking up with newly-appointed boss Kelvin Davis as the Pitmen push for promotion.
Hednesford Town have confirmed the arrival of former Premier League keeper Davis as their new manager, with Butterfield stepping in alongside him at Keys Park. While the headline appointment centres on Davis, from a Lincoln perspective, it is Butterfield’s return to the dugout that draws the eye.
Butterfield, who served as assistant head coach at City under Mark Kennedy, left the Bank in October 2023 when Kennedy was sacked, or mutually terminated, whatever you think. His time with us came after a varied coaching journey that had taken him from academy football to the Football League and into the National League.
After retiring from a playing career that included more than 200 appearances for Crystal Palace and a spell with Southampton, Butterfield moved into coaching with the Saints academy before stepping into senior roles. He was part of the staff at Milton Keynes Dons during their promotion from League Two in 2018-19, later linking up again with Kennedy at Macclesfield Town and then at Lincoln.
His most recent post had been at Eastleigh FC in the National League, where he served as assistant manager until September 2025. Now, as of 11 February 2026, he finds himself in the Northern Premier League title race with Hednesford.
A new chapter at Keys Park
Davis arrives with an impressive playing CV, having represented Luton Town, Wimbledon, Ipswich Town, Sunderland and Southampton across a career spanning more than 600 appearances. Speaking about the move, he said:
“I was fortunate to come up and watch a game a few months ago. I saw the stadium and the environment in its early stages of development.
“In the non-league scene, what has been going on here is really positive. It is a club which has been spoken about on a positive journey and has been moving in the right direction.
“It is a timing thing. You look for opportunities out there, there are ones I would put my hand up for and wouldn’t. This was certainly one, when it came around, I jumped on it.”
He also highlighted the partnership with his new assistant, noting that with his knowledge and Danny’s, they believe they can help the club take the next step.
What it means for Danny Butterfield
For Butterfield, it is another opportunity to operate at the sharp end of a promotion chase. Hednesford sit firmly in the mix at the top of the Northern Premier League and have shown clear ambition by making a change despite being level on points at the summit.
From a Lincoln viewpoint, Butterfield was never the loudest voice in the room. Assistants rarely are. They work behind the scenes, shaping sessions, supporting the manager and maintaining standards on the training ground (well, some do). During his time with us, he cut a thoughtful figure, diligent and measured, and while he was not front and centre in media duties, his influence was evident in the detail of Kennedy’s setup.
I always liked Danny. He seemed approachable, and although he was at the scene of the crime the night Kennedy turned on me, he didn’t join in the pile-on. Hopefully, this move turns out to be a good one for him,
You must be logged in to post a comment.