William John Cearns[2] (1882 – 19 February 1950)[3][4] was a chairman of English football club West Ham United and Managing Director of Wimbledon Stadium.
Cearns worked at the famous market in Smithfield, London, aged 14 before studying book-keeping at the West Ham Technical Institute.
[6][7][8] Known as "the Cockney millionaire", Cearns was involved in the construction industry and was responsible for the first underground car park in the country.
He was also prominent in funding the construction of West Ham's Boleyn Ground, (building the main grandstand)[5] and a swimming pool in Wanstead High School.
[5] In 1928 the South London Greyhound Racecourses Ltd began construction on Wimbledon Stadium.