Bill Cleary (footballer, born 1931)

Bill Cleary

Personal information
Full name	William Cleary
Date of birth	(1931-04-20)20 April 1931
Place of birth	England
Date of death	12 March 1991(1991-03-12) (aged 59)
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

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.

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 club 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. 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. He moved on to King's Lynn, before returning to old club Wisbech Town. He became a coach, manager, and finally a director at the club.

Career statistics

Club	Season	Division	League		FA Cup		Total
			Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Norwich City	1953–54	Third Division South	4	0	1	0	5	0
	1954–55	Third Division South	9	0	2	0	11	0
	1955–56	Third Division South	5	0	0	0	5	0
	Total		18	0	3	0	21	0
Port Vale	1957–58	Third Division South	8	0	2	0	10	0
Boston United	1958–59	Southern League North-West	0	0	0	0	0	0