Bill Leivers

William Ernest Leivers (born January 29, 1932 in Bolsover) was an English professional footballer and football manager.

Playing career

Leivers, who played at right back and centre half, began his professional career in February 1950 with Chesterfield 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, [cite book |last=Clayton |first=David |title=Everything under the blue moon: the complete book of Manchester City FC - and more! |publisher=Mainstream publishing |location=Edinburgh |date=2002 |id=ISBN 1-84018-687-9|pages=127] making his debut against Preston North End in August 1954. [cite book |last= James|first= Gary| title= The Official Manchester City Hall of Fame |publisher= Hamlyn |date= 2005 |id= ISBN 0-600-61282-1| pages=140] 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. [cite book |last=Rowlands |first=Alan |title=Trautmann: The Biography |publisher=Breedon |location=Derby |date=2005 |id=ISBN 1-85983-491-4|pages=158] 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. [cite book |last=Penney |first=Ian |title=The Maine Road Encyclopedia |publisher=Mainstream |location=Edinburgh |year=1995 |id= ISBN 1-85158-710-1|pages=116] For a period in the latter part of his Manchester City career he was first team captain.cite book |last=Wallace|first=Dave |title=Century City – Manchester City Football Club 1957/58 |publisher=King of the Kippax |date=2007 |location=Leigh |id=ISBN 978-0-9557056-0-1] He made 250 league appearances for City before moving to Doncaster Rovers on 10 July 1964, where he became player-manager.

Coaching and managerial career

He resigned as Doncaster manager in February 1964 with Doncaster well-placed for promotion from the Fourth Division. 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 1989. He now lives in St Austell, Cornwall.

Honours

As a player

Manchester City F.C.

* FA Cup winner 1956

References