Billy Leese

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	10 March 1961[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)
1978	→ Cleveland Cobras (loan)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Playing career

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]

Statistics

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

1. 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)