Academy legend Cantwell dies

Former Hammers full-back Noel Cantwell has died after a long illness.

Cantwell - West Ham's first choice left-back during the late 1950's and a pivotal figure in the promotion winning side of 1958/59 - lost his battle against cancer earlier today.

The 17-times capped Irish international spent eight years in East London before signing for Manchester United in a then-UK record deal for a defender in 1960.

Tributes to the former Hammer have flooded into KUMB today; one Irish-based West Ham supporter, posting on the KUMB forum earlier today, said:

"On a day when all in Southern Ireland are downbeat after the defeat against the French, to hear that a legend like Noel Cantwell has died puts everything into perspective.

"This guy was a true football legend and played an integral part in the history of West Ham. Noel was a REAL football man who loved West Ham United.

"May he rest in peace."

*Peterborough manager Barry Fry - a club for whom Cantwell did much after retiring from the game - have called upon the FA to observe a minutes silence ahead of this weekend's matches in memory of Cantwell.