Bill Leivers
Encyclopedia
William Ernest Leivers is a former English
professional footballer
and football manager.
whom he joined as amateur from Clay Lane Sports Club in 1948. He moved to Manchester City
in November 1953 for a fee of £10,500, making his debut against Preston North End
in August 1954. The match saw the introduction of the a tactical system which became known as the Revie Plan
. However, Leivers sustained an injury, and Manchester City lost 5–0. It was to be another five months before he made another senior appearance, and he made only three over the whole season. Though he was known as a centre half when he arrived at Maine Road
, it was at right-back that he established himself in the Manchester City team, during the 1955–56 season. That year Manchester City reached the FA Cup final, beating Birmingham City
3–1, giving Leivers the only major honour he was to achieve in his career. He gained a reputation as a committed defender; his desire to be part of the action resulted in several injuries. In ten years at Manchester City he broke his nose five times, and his elbow and ankle once. For a period in the latter part of his Manchester City career he was first team captain.He made 250 league appearances for City before moving to Doncaster Rovers
on 10 July 1964, where he became player-manager.
. In November 1966 he took over as manager of Workington
, but left in December 1967 to manage Cambridge United
in the Southern League
. Leivers led Cambridge United to the Southern League title in 1969 and 1970 and to promotion to the Football League. He also guided the side to promotion to Division Three
in 1973 but was unable to stop them being relegated the following season. He was sacked by Cambridge United in October 1974 after a disappointing start to the 1974-75 season.
He subsequently managed Chelmsford City
between February and December 1975, and in 1979 he returned to the Cambridge
area to manage Cambridge City
. In 1987 he became City's general manager, a position he held until retiring in 1999. He now lives in St. Austell, Cornwall.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
professional footballer
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
and football manager.
Playing career
Leivers, who played at right back and centre half, began his professional career in February 1950 with ChesterfieldChesterfield F.C.
Chesterfield Football Club is an English football club based in Chesterfield, Derbyshire. The club currently plays in Football League One, the third tier of English football. Despite being the fourth oldest Football League club in England, they have spent most of their existence in the lower...
whom he joined as amateur from Clay Lane Sports Club in 1948. He moved to Manchester City
Manchester City F.C.
Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894...
in November 1953 for a fee of £10,500, making his debut against Preston North End
Preston North End F.C.
Preston North End Football Club is an English professional football club located in the Deepdale area of the city of Preston, Lancashire, currently playing in the third tier of English league football, League One...
in August 1954. The match saw the introduction of the a tactical system which became known as the Revie Plan
Revie Plan
The Revie Plan was a tactical system in association football used by Manchester City in the 1950s. The system was named after Manchester City player Don Revie, who had the most important role in it....
. However, Leivers sustained an injury, and Manchester City lost 5–0. It was to be another five months before he made another senior appearance, and he made only three over the whole season. Though he was known as a centre half when he arrived at Maine Road
Maine Road
Maine Road was a football stadium in Moss Side, Manchester, England that was home to Manchester City F.C. from its construction in 1923 until 2003...
, it was at right-back that he established himself in the Manchester City team, during the 1955–56 season. That year Manchester City reached the FA Cup final, beating Birmingham City
Birmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
3–1, giving Leivers the only major honour he was to achieve in his career. He gained a reputation as a committed defender; his desire to be part of the action resulted in several injuries. In ten years at Manchester City he broke his nose five times, and his elbow and ankle once. For a period in the latter part of his Manchester City career he was first team captain.He made 250 league appearances for City before moving to Doncaster Rovers
Doncaster Rovers F.C.
Doncaster Rovers Football Club is an English football club, based at the Keepmoat Stadium in Doncaster, South Yorkshire. The team currently competes in the Football League Championship, after being promoted via the League One play-offs in 2008, and have remained there since.The club was founded in...
on 10 July 1964, where he became player-manager.
Coaching and managerial career
He resigned as Doncaster manager in February 1966 with Doncaster well-placed for promotion from the Fourth DivisionFootball League Fourth Division
The Fourth Division of The Football League was the fourth-highest division in the English football league system from the 1958–59 season until the creation of the Premier League prior to the 1992–93 season...
. In November 1966 he took over as manager of Workington
Workington A.F.C.
Workington A.F.C. is an English football club from Workington, Cumbria. They are in the Conference North, and play their home matches at Borough Park, which has a capacity of 3,101 . The club play in red, and are known locally as the Reds...
, but left in December 1967 to manage Cambridge United
Cambridge United F.C.
Cambridge United Football Club is a professional football club from Cambridge, England. They are currently playing the 2011-2012 season in the Conference National, the fifth tier of the English league system, where they have competed since 2005 following their relegation from the Football League...
in the Southern League
Southern Football League
The Southern League is an English football competition featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs from the South West, South Central and Midlands of England and South Wales...
. Leivers led Cambridge United to the Southern League title in 1969 and 1970 and to promotion to the Football League. He also guided the side to promotion to Division Three
Football League Third Division
The Football League Third Division was the 3 tier of English Football from 1920 until 1992 when after the formation of the Football Association Premier League saw the league renamed The Football League Division Two...
in 1973 but was unable to stop them being relegated the following season. He was sacked by Cambridge United in October 1974 after a disappointing start to the 1974-75 season.
He subsequently managed Chelmsford City
Chelmsford City F.C.
Chelmsford City F.C. is an English semi-professional football club based in the town of Chelmsford, Essex. The club are currently members of the Conference South and play at the Melbourne Stadium.-Chelmsford:...
between February and December 1975, and in 1979 he returned to the Cambridge
Cambridge
The city of Cambridge is a university town and the administrative centre of the county of Cambridgeshire, England. It lies in East Anglia about north of London. Cambridge is at the heart of the high-technology centre known as Silicon Fen – a play on Silicon Valley and the fens surrounding the...
area to manage Cambridge City
Cambridge City F.C.
Cambridge City Football Club is an English football club currently playing in the Southern League Premier Division.-History:The club was founded in 1908 Cambridge Town F.C., as Cambridge had not been granted city status at that point, and were committed to amateur sport...
. In 1987 he became City's general manager, a position he held until retiring in 1999. He now lives in St. Austell, Cornwall.