5'6" 10st.8lb.
b. Blackrod 5 February 1909
d. Bournemouth 28 August 1986
 

Debut  4 January 1930 (20y 333d) Final Game 6 May 1933 (24y 90d)
First Goal 4 January 1930 Final Goal 18 March 1933
CAREER: Adlington Aug'23;Chorley Nov'27;Blackburn Rovers Jan'28 (£100);Aston Villa May'33 (£8,000 with Dix)[70-11];Middlesbrough Dec'35 (£3,000)[27-5];Burnley Apr'37[9];Hull City Jun'38[42-19];Rochdale Aug'45[23-5].
INTERNATIONALS   England  2 apps
’33 v Nir,Wal.
 

FL          129 apps  47 gls  3g 2
FAC        11 apps    8 gls
Total     140 apps  55 gls
Strike rate 229 mins
LC          4 apps

Cunliffe had played in the West Lancashire League before moving to  Chorley. He was to stay at his new club only six weeks, playing only  three games because of a facial injury, before  the Rovers signed him. At Ewood he took time to settle but was a revelation when introduced to the first team, a winger who could fly down the touch line, cross with precision or cut in and shoot with venom. His merit was rewarded with an international cap but the club was in financial difficulty and could not resist when Aston Villa  stepped in and took him and Ronnie Dix to Villa  Park for a huge fee. Cunliffe continued in the Football League for many seasons but was never quite the force he had been in Blackburn. He kept fit during the war, guesting for many clubs and turned out with Rochdale  before becoming their trainer. He moved to Bournemouth in a similar capacity in 1950 and held this position until 1971 when he was appointed  their physiotherapist.