William (Bill) Cranston was born in Kilmarnock on 18 January 1942. Cranston played for Saxone Youth Club and signed professionally to Blackpool in August 1960.
Cranston made his Seasiders debut in a 7-2 victory over Wolves on 20 January 1962.
He was used sparingly make just three appearances in the seasons 1961/62 and 1962/63.
He finally established himself in the first team in the1963/64 season, making 22 league appearances.
After 5 appearances in 1964/65 Cranston joined Preston in December 1964 after making 33 appearances for Blackpool, although he didn’t score a goal.
Cranston made his Lilywhite debut in a 3-0 defeat at Coventry on 28 December and made a further 13 appearances during the season. The 1965/66 season Cranston made a further 14 appearances and in the following season Cranston made 18 appearances. His only PNE league goal came in the 1967/68 season when he replaced Jimmy McNab in the 3-2 home win over Hull on 7 October 1967. That season Cranston made 14 appearances.
The 1968/69 season Cranston only made 9 league appearances; these included the last 7 matches of the season.
The 1969/70 season saw Preston relegated to the Third Division for the first time and although he only made 17 appearances during the season Cranston won the official player of the season. The 2-1 defeat at home to Cardiff on 20 April 1970 was not only the last day of the season but also his last game for the Lilywhites, he had scored once in 86 appearances.
In July 1970 Cranston joined Fourth Division Oldham and scored once in 36 appearances as the Latics finished third and promotion to Division Three. Cranston scored another goal in 30 appearances during 1971/72 season.
Cranston’s final season for Oldham he made 34 appearances as the Latics finished fourth in Division Three to take his league appearances to exactly 100.
Following his retirement from football Cranston became a Maintenance Officer at Burnley Police Station.