Jim Cleary (Northern Irish footballer)

James Cleary (born on 27 May 1956) is a former Northern Ireland international footballer who played for Enniskillen Rangers, Portadown and Glentoran.

Jim Cleary
Personal information
Full name James Cleary
Date of birth (1956-05-27) 27 May 1956
Place of birth Enniskillen, Northern Ireland
National team
Northern Ireland

Cleary began his career with Enniskillen Rangers before making the step up to the Irish League with Portadown in 1975. He spent five seasons at Portadown before moving to Glentoran in 1980.

He scored in the first round of the 1981–82 European Cup .

He is widely regarded as one of the best footballers to have represented Glentoran in the 1980s, as well as one of the best in the Irish League during this period. Cleary was noted for his passing and shooting skills with his left foot and an excellent scoring record from midfield. Glentoran won two Irish League championships and six Irish Cups during his nine-year stay, which also included a few notable European performances.

Cleary was one of four Irish League players to be included in Billy Bingham's World Cup squad in 1982.[1] He had five caps for the Northern Ireland national football team. He was named the Ulster Footballer of the Year for the 1982/83 season.[2]

References
  1. 1982 FIFA World Cup: Northern Ireland Squad FIFA. Retrieved 2 February 2010.
  2. M. Brodie (ed.), Northern Ireland Soccer Yearbook 2009-2010, p. 102. Belfast:Ulster Tatler Publications
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