| Bill Cleary | |
| Fullname: | William Cleary |
| Birth Date: | 20 April 1931 |
| Birth Place: | England |
| Position: | Half-back |
| Youthclubs1: | South Bank East End |
| Youthclubs2: | Sunderland |
| Years1: | 1953–1956 |
| Clubs1: | Norwich City |
| Caps1: | 18 |
| Goals1: | 0 |
| Clubs2: | Wisbech Town |
| Years3: | 1957–1958 |
| Clubs3: | Port Vale |
| Caps3: | 8 |
| Goals3: | 0 |
| Clubs4: | Boston United |
| Caps4: | 0 |
| Goals4: | 0 |
| Clubs5: | Wisbech Town |
| Clubs6: | King's Lynn |
| Totalcaps: | 26+ |
| Totalgoals: | 0+ |
| Managerclubs1: | Wisbech Town |
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.
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.[1] He played eight Third Division South and two FA Cup games in the 1957–58 season. Still, he failed to nail down a regular slot at Vale Park. He 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]
| 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[2] | Southern League North-West | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |