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 captained the Hammers to winning the Division Two championship in the 1957–58 season and thereby leading the club into the top flight for the first time since 1932.

[4] In his first managerial role at Coventry City Cantwell had the onerous task of following Jimmy Hill who had taken the club into the First Division for the first time in their history.

He departed from Highfield Road on 12 March 1972, but within seven months was back in English football as manager of Peterborough United.

He played five times for Ireland[5] making his debut in what was his sole first-class match[6] versus Scotland at Edinburgh in 1956, scoring 31 and 17.