Noel Cantwell Dies

FORMER West Ham United and Republic of Ireland left-back Noel Cantwell sadly died early today, Thursday 8th September, after a long battle against cancer aged 73.

A skilled and attack-minded defender, Noel was born in Cork on 28th February, 1932 and joined the Hammers from Cork United in 1952.

Alongside John Bond, he formed one of the strongest full-back partnerships in West Ham United's history and played a major role in the team that won promotion to the old First Division in 1957-58.



















Noel made 263 senior appearances, many as captain, and scored 11 goals for the Hammers before his transfer to Manchester United for £29,500 in September 1960 (a record for a full-back at the time).

He went on to even greater triumphs with Manchester United, including skippering their 1963 FA Cup-winning team.

He won 17 caps for the Republic of Ireland before retiring from playing. He was then manager of Coventry City and Peterborough United, where he lived for many years.

Noel leaves a wife, Margaret and daughter, and will be greatly missed by his former team-mates and colleagues in the game he graced so elegantly.