Paul started his career with Newcastle United, his home town club.

Cannell would actually start his career as a school boy down the road on Wearside before switching to the Magpies youth system after Joe Harvey visited his parents to offer him a contract after his A-Levels.

He would play one game in 1972, in the Texaco Cup, but would not really break into the first team until 1974. He would play 69 games in that three year spell before leaving the club in 1978 (to Washington Diplomats, where he'd spent a brief loan spell).

He would have three spells in the North American League before retiring at Berwick Rangers in 1984.