As Macclesfield Town try to come to terms with the death of Richard Butcher, his former team-mates around the country were paying their own tributes to ‘Butch.’

Peterborough striker Craig Mackail-Smith revealed his RIP Butch T-shirt after one of the goals scored by Posh – one of the late midfielder’s former teams – in a 2-1 victory over Brentford at London Road.

Fellow striker Sergio Torres, who was a Lincoln City colleague of Butcher’s last season, dedicated his winning goal for Crawley Town to the 29-year-old.

Torres netted a last-gasp winner for the Red Devils as they faced Championship Derby County in the third round of the FA Cup.

"It was a fantastic feeling to beat Derby," he said after the game. "But I would like to dedicate this to the family of Richard Butcher. I played with him at Lincoln and it was really sad news for us to hear going into the game."

The Premier League has also seen a gesture of remembrance, as Blackpool midfielder Gary Taylor-Fletcher displayed his own tribute after he scored the first goal in the Seasiders’ memorable 2-1 win over Liverpool.

Taylor-Fletcher, a Reds fan, was a long-term friend of his Lincoln engine-room colleague, despite Butcher’s support of their Merseyside rivals Everton.

The two played together for a couple of years in the Imps’ midfield and Taylor-Fletcher couldn’t resist one final friendly Toffees jibe.

Macclesfield Town have retired the number 21 shirt, in memory of a fine professional and much-missed young man.

An inquest into his death has been opened and adjourned at Bolton Coroner’s Court. The cause of death was not disclosed during the short hearing.