William Jessop was born in Preston on 2nd April 1922. A product of Preston North End's youth system, along with Tom Finney, Andrew McLaren, William Scott, made the first team during the Second World War.

An outside left, Jessop played 25 games in the Preston team that won the the 1940-1941 North Regional League title. Preston also won the 1941 Football League War Cup and during this period was considered the best football club in England.

Jessop's career was interrupted by the Second World War. He never recaptured his earlier good form and after playing only four games in the 1946-47 season he was sold to Stockport County. The following year he moved to Oldham Athletic, where he scored 16 goals in 94 games. He also played for Wrexham before retiring from the game.

William Jessop died in 1994.