Chris Butt

Head of Academy Goalkeeping @HullCityAcademy. All views are my own.

[Luke O'Nien @LukeONien]

EUROPA LEAGUE was never the dream.

Not because I didn’t want it.

Because if I’m being honest, I never thought it was possible.

What kid would?

Especially when 12 years ago I was playing non league football in the Ryman Premier and Conference South, just trying to stay alive in the game.

What kid dreams about Europe when, two weeks into the off season, his dad has to tell him he’s been released by Watford F.C. over the phone?

I was heartbroken.

My dad looked at me and said:

“What are we doing tomorrow?”

To which I replied with the words he’d drilled into me my whole life:

“We’re training, Dad.”

So we trained.

Every single day.

My dad emailed every EFL club asking for an opportunity.

One club replied.

One.

That was all I needed.

An opportunity.

@WealdstoneFC and @wwfcofficial , I’ll always be indebted to you.

Then came the move to @SunderlandAFC .

A massive club.

A massive opportunity.

And I couldn’t wait to prove myself.

But 45 minutes into my debut… hooked.

“Rabbit caught in headlights. Waste of money. Get rid.”

Then came the Championship.

“He’s not good enough for this level.”

Then the Premier League.

“Let’s give him a debut and then get rid of him.”

I understood the doubt.

I’ve faced it my whole career.

And truthfully, you doubt yourself too at times.

But I’ve always tried to live by one mindset:

Outwork your doubt.

You don’t always need to see the full journey.

You just need to take the next step.

Then the next one.

And then another.

Even when social media tells you you’re not good enough.

Even when the voice inside your own head whispers the same thing.

Keep working.

Keep learning.

Keep showing up.

Because sometimes the places you end up are bigger than anything your younger self could’ve ever imagined.

To any young player reading this, don’t put a ceiling on yourself too early.

You genuinely have no idea where this game and life can take you.

And to the boys… thank you.

You removed the glass ceiling I’d placed on myself.

What a team.

What a club.

What a fanbase.

Sunderland… rocking all over Europe ❤️🤍

And in the words of Granit Xhaka:

“This is just the beginning.”

[Hull City @HullCity]

WE ARE HULL CITY. WE ARE PREMIER LEAGUE!

#hcafc

[Hull City Academy @HullCityAcademy]

History Makers 🙌

The Under-18s have reached the #U18PDL play-offs for the first time ever, with details of the national semi-final against Charlton Athletic revealed. ℹ️

➡️ https://t.co/bWoyqun4rb

#hcafc #hcafcU18

[Hull City Academy @HullCityAcademy]

The Academy are hosting a special Goalkeeper Talent ID event for the pre-academy at @tigerstrust later this month. 🧤

➡️ https://t.co/UOkajYnZ3x

#hcafc

[Hull City @HullCity]

💫 @HullCityAcademy

#hcafc

[Hull City @HullCity]

Keeping Up with the Keepers! 🧤

We sat down with @erbil_bozkurt while out in Türkiye to discuss the goalkeeping department 👇

#hcafKeeping Up with the Keepers! 🧤

We sat down with @erbil_bozkurt while out in Türkiye to discuss the goalkeeping department 👇

#hcafKeeping Up with the Keepers! 🧤

We sat down with @erbil_bozkurt while out in Türkiye to discuss the goalkeeping department 👇

#hcafKeeping Up with the Keepers! 🧤

We sat down with @erbil_bozkurt while out in Türkiye to discuss the goalkeeping department 👇

#hcafKeeping Up with the Keepers! 🧤

We sat down with @erbil_bozkurt while out in Türkiye to discuss the goalkeeping department 👇

#hcafc

[Hull City Academy @HullCityAcademy]

Dober večer iz Slovenije 🇸🇮

#hcafc

[Chris Butt @chrisbutt97]

2024/25 ✅

49 games. 170+ sessions.

Solid foundations in place—more to build next season @HullCityAcademy.

[Erbil Bozkurt @erbil_bozkurt]

24/25 done.. thank you to all the staff @HullCity and the fans for their support 🟠⚫️🧤

[UEFA Champions League @ChampionsLeague]

Yann Sommer masterclass ⛔👏

@QatarAirways | #LetsFly

[Hull City @HullCity]

Picking up his third award! 🧤🐼

#hcafc

[Chris Butt @chrisbutt97]

Good to follow up on our first GK specific psychology workshop last night, delving deeper into the behaviours associated with our selected psychological attributes & finishing with tasks to help inform the boys IDP’s leading into next season 🧠🧤

[Manchester United @ManUtd]

“I never wanted to be known as a great or a good footballer. But if you ask me, do I want to be known as a great man? Now we are talking.

"‘Adversity comes in different ways and affects people differently, but love and unity always wins."

Rest in peace, Joe ❤️

[Hull City Academy @HullCityAcademy]

🧤 Applications for our Goalkeeper Talent ID Event for Under-7s closes on Monday 24 March at midday. 🕛

🗳️ For more information and the open trial form for the event, please click the link below.

➡️ https://t.co/fPjWCjp1sz

🐯 #hcafc

[Hull City @HullCity]

An Ivor Pandur appreciation post ⛔️

#hcafc

[Adam Stansfield foundation @as9foundation]

A huge thank you to @chrisbutt97 for very kindly donating a squad signed 120th Anniversary @HullCity shirt for Tom to auction off for the @as9foundation. Please DM @TVickers1 with a bid, ends Tuesday 8PM. #hcafc Thank you Tom🙏🙏

[Chris Butt @chrisbutt97]

Thanks goes to @DavidMeyler for getting this sorted out. Happy to help a great cause 🤝🏼

[Tom Vickery @TVickers1]

A huge thank you to @chrisbutt97 for very kindly donating a squad signed 120th Anniversary @HullCity shirt for me to auction off for the @as9foundation please reply or DM me with a bid, ends Tuesday 8PM. #hcafc

[Hull City Academy @HullCityAcademy]

🧤 The Academy are hosting two trial sessions for goalkeepers (Under-7 & Under-8) later this month, with applications now open. 🗳️

➡️ https://t.co/fPjWCjpzi7

🐯 #hcafc

[Chris Butt @chrisbutt97]

Great to host the FA’s GK Club Engagement Evening for the Yorkshire region last night. Good discussions had around developing and supporting goalkeepers from a physical & psychological perspective, later brought to life on the pitch by @Meeky1989 🧤⚽️

[Hull City Academy @HullCityAcademy]

👊 𝐀𝐜𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐲 𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬: 𝐂𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐬 𝐁𝐮𝐭𝐭

🔖 In our monthly update, Head of Academy Goalkeeping @chrisbutt97 talks about the development of our shot-stoppers and the growing relationship with the first team. 🧤

➡️ https://t.co/zy9sryuVpo

🐯 #hcafc