| William Clifford | |
| Full Name: | William Clifford |
| Birth Place: | Bearsted, Kent |
| Death Date: | 5 September |
| Death Place: | Gravesend, Kent |
| Batting: | Right-handed |
| Bowling: | Right-arm slow |
| Role: | Wicket-keeper |
| Club1: | Kent |
| Year1: | 1834–1841 |
| Type1: | FC |
| Debutdate1: | 7 July |
| Debutyear1: | 1834 |
| Debutfor1: | Kent XI |
| Debutagainst1: | England XI |
| Lastdate1: | 7 June |
| Lastyear1: | 1841 |
| Lastfor1: | Kent XI |
| Lastagainst1: | Sussex |
| Hidedeliveries: | true |
| Columns: | 1 |
| Column1: | First-class |
| Matches1: | 29 |
| Runs1: | 521 |
| Bat Avg1: | 12.70 |
| 100S/50S1: | 0/0 |
| Top Score1: | 49 |
| Catches/Stumpings1: | 20/3 |
| Source: | https://www.espncricinfo.com/player/william-clifford-11180 CricInfo |
| Date: | 1 June |
| Year: | 2022 |
William Clifford (christened 14 December 1811 – 5 September 1841) was an English cricketer who played for Kent county teams between 1834 and 1841. He was a right-handed batsman and a slow bowler who often fielded as a wicket-keeper.[1]
Clifford was christened at Bearsted in Kent in December 1811.[2] He was the son of Robert and Catherine Clifford;[3] his grandfather, also Robert Clifford, was a well-known all-rounder who bowled leg breaks for Kent sides at the end of the 18th-century and made more than 70 appearances in top-level matches. William's brother, Francis Clifford, also played in first-class matches for Kent County Cricket Club during the mid-19th century.[4]
Playing club cricket for a range of sides, including Bearsted and Leeds, William Clifford made his first-class cricket debut in 1834.[2] Renowned as one of the best batsmen in the Kent side, he played 17 of his 29 first-class matches for Kent teams, often opening the batting.[3] He played four times for the Players against the Gentlemen and for England sides and three times for the South against the North.[3] In 1841 he opened a cricket ground, Rucks Lane, at Gravesend and played his final first-class matches the same year.
Clifford worked as a wheelwright before becoming a publican at Gravesend in 1837. He died in September 1841 of a "bilious fever".[3] He was probably aged less than 30.[1]