Inside-left Cleland played in the 'Test Match' at the end of the 1894/95 season against Bury. Liverpool was seriously depleted through injuries to key men and got Cleland on loan for this single game from St Bernard's in Edinburgh. Liverpool had finished bottom of the First Division that season and were relegated after losing 1-0 to Bury despite Cleland's help. Cleland, who was a Liverpool player for six days, was a Scottish international by then having made his only international appearance on 28 March 1891 against Ireland.