William Leese (born 10 March 1961) is an English former footballer who played for Port Vale and the Cleveland Cobras in the late 1970s.

Billy Leese
Personal information
Full name William Leese[1]
Date of birth (1961-03-10) 10 March 1961 (age 63)[1]
Place of birth Stoke-on-Trent, England[1]
Height 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)[2]
Position(s) Defender
Youth career
Port Vale
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1978–1980 Port Vale 1 (0)
1978Cleveland Cobras (loan)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Career

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Leese graduated through the Port Vale youth team to earn a loan move to American Soccer League side Cleveland Cobras in May 1978.[1] He returned to Vale Park three months later and signed as a Port Vale professional in March 1979.[1] His first-team debut in the Fourth Division came on 1 December, in a 5–1 defeat by York City at Bootham Crescent.[1] He was not selected by new boss John McGrath and instead was forced into retirement at the end of the 1979–80 season following an injury.[1]

Career statistics

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Source:[3]

Club Season Division League FA Cup Other Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Port Vale 1978–79 Fourth Division 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1979–80 Fourth Division 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
Total 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g Kent, Jeff (1996). Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. p. 172. ISBN 0-9529152-0-0.
  2. ^ Rollin, Jack (1980). Rothmans football yearbook. London: Queen Anne Press. p. 299. ISBN 0362020175. Retrieved 14 April 2020.
  3. ^ Billy Leese at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)