Bill Cleary (footballer, born 1931)
William Cleary (20 April 1931 – 12 March 1991) was an English footballer who played at half-back for Sunderland, Norwich City, Wisbech Town, Port Vale, Boston United, and King's Lynn.
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | William Cleary[1] | ||
Date of birth | [1] | 20 April 1931||
Place of birth | England[1] | ||
Date of death | 12 March 1991 59) | (aged||
Position(s) | Half-back | ||
Youth career | |||
South Bank East End | |||
Sunderland | |||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
1953–1956 | Norwich City | 18 | (0) |
Wisbech Town | |||
1957–1958 | Port Vale | 8 | (0) |
Boston United | 0 | (0) | |
Wisbech Town | |||
King's Lynn | |||
Total | 26+ | (0+) | |
Managerial career | |||
Wisbech Town | |||
*Club domestic league appearances and goals |
Career
Cleary played for South Bank East End and Sunderland (without making a first team appearance), before joining Norman Low's Norwich City in 1953. He played 18 Third Division South games for the "Canaries", as the Carrow Road outfit posted mid-table finishes in 1953–54, 1954–55, and 1955–56. He then played non-League football for Wisbech Town. He was signed again by Norman Low, now manager of Port Vale, in November 1957.[1] He played eight Third Division South and two FA Cup games in the 1957–58 season, but failed to nail down a regular slot at Vale Park and so was transferred to Southern League side Boston United in July 1958.[1] He moved on to King's Lynn, before returning to old club Wisbech Town.[1] He became a coach, manager, and finally a director at the club.[1]
Career statistics
Club | Season | Division | League | FA Cup | Total | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
Norwich City | 1953–54[2] | Third Division South | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
1954–55[2] | Third Division South | 9 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 11 | 0 | |
1955–56[2] | Third Division South | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | |
Total | 18 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 21 | 0 | ||
Port Vale | 1957–58[2] | Third Division South | 8 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 10 | 0 |
Boston United | 1958–59[3] | Southern League North-West | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
References
- Kent, Jeff (1996). Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. p. 61. ISBN 0-9529152-0-0.
- Bill Cleary at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)
- "Statistics Season 1958/59". www.bufc.drfox.org.uk. Retrieved 15 February 2023.