| William Purves | |
| Fullname: | William Michael Purves |
| Birth Date: | 1870 |
| Birth Place: | Belfast, Ireland |
| Years1: | 18??–1893 |
| Years2: | 1893–1897 |
| Caps2: | 40 |
| Goals2: | 0 |
| Years3: | 1897–1??? |
| Clubs3: | Glentoran |
William Michael Purves (1870 – after 1900) was an Irish professional footballer who played as a right back. He made 40 appearances in the Football League, playing for Small Heath in the 1890s.[1] He played three times for the Irish Football League representative side.[2]
Purves was born in Belfast and played for Glentoran before coming to England to join Small Heath[3] in March 1894. He played in the last three matches of the 1893–94 Football League regular season and in the test match that confirmed their ascent to the First Division.[1] [4] He played every game of the club's first top-flight season, but lost his place to Frank Lester in 1895–96[5] and returned to Glentoran. From 1900 he acted as Glentoran's trainer.[3]