Gary Butcher is the youngest son of former Glamorgan, Surrey and England batsman Alan Butcher, and the younger brother of Surrey and England opening batsman Mark Butcher. Gary made his debut for the Welsh county's junior side when his father was the Glamorgan captain in the early 1990's, and he made his first team debut in 1994. The compact right handed batsman and swing bowler initially found limited opportunities, although he did claim a wicket with his first ever delivery in the Sunday League against Somerset at Swansea. An injury to David Hemp early in the 1996 season gave the youngster an extended run in the 1st XI, and he responded with a run of half-centuries in four successive Championship matches. 1997 saw Butcher hit a maiden century against Oxford University, and he became an important member of the county's one day team. Unable to establish a place in the Championship side, he drifted out of contention, and joined his brother in Surrey in 1999.