Noel Cantwell

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Noel Euchuria Cornelius Cantwell (December 28, 1932 – September 8, 2005) was an Irish cricketer and football player born in County Cork, Irish Free State. He was educated at the Roman Catholic Presentation Brothers College in Cork.

Contents 1 Playing career 2 Management career 3 Cricket Career 4 Death

[edit] Playing career

Cantwell played as a full-back for Western Rovers F.C., Cork Athletic F.C., West Ham United (1952-1960) (248 appearances and 11 goals), and Manchester United (1960-1967). While at West Ham, he featured in the London XI side that competed in the 1955-58 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup final on 1 May 1958. He would see his greatest success while at Old Trafford. Cantwell would help the club win the 1965 and 1967 league titles and the 1963 FA Cup. He joined United in 1960 and left the club in 1967 after scoring eight goals. He won 36 full International caps for Ireland (typically playing at centre-forward), scoring 14 goals. He also served as Chairman of the Professional Footballers Association. When West Ham played Aston Villa on September 12th 2005, a one minute silence was held in Noel's honour and the players wore black armbands. West Ham United won the game 4-0.

[edit] Management career

Upon retirement he managed Coventry City (1967-1972), Peterborough United (1972-1977) and (1986-1988), Boston Tea Men, New England Tea Men (1977-1978) and the Jacksonville Tea Men. He served as General Manager at Peterborough United (1988-1989). He became the licensee of the New Inn at Peterborough (1989-1999).

In his first managerial role at Coventry City he had the onerous task of following Jimmy Hill who had managed the Sky Blues from Division Three to Division One in four years. Cantwell kept the Sky Blues in the top flight by the skin of their teeth in his first two seasons before taking them to a sixth place finish, and qualification for a European place in 1969-70.

[edit] Cricket Career

He also played cricket for Cork Bohemians Cricket Club and Ireland as a left-handed batsman and a right-arm medium bowler. He played five times for Ireland [1] making his debut in what was his sole first-class match [2] versus Scotland at Edinburgh in 1956, scoring 31 and 17. [3] His last match for Ireland was against Lancashire in July 1959. [4]

[edit] Death

Noel Cantwell died on September 8, 2005, after a battle against cancer at the age of 72. He left a widow Maggie and two children.