Career
Born in Rawtenstall, Rossendale, Lancashire, Cartwright was signed from school as a trainee in 1989 by North End boss John McGrath. Having broken into the first team, Cartwright remained a regular for the rest of the season. In the following season, 1991-1992, he missed only a handful of matches as he picked up the club"s player of the year award as reward for a string of consistently good displays.
In 1992-1993, Preston were relegated from the Football League Second Division, although Cartwright"s performances attracted interest from both Oldham Athletic and Blackpool.
Persuaded to stay by new manager John Beck, Cartwright would remain at Deepdale for the next eleven years. In his thirteen years at the club, Cartwright became a North End legend making a total of 472 appearances for the club, scoring 30 goals.
Cartwright also played in the 1993-1994 Third Division and 2000-2001 First Division play-off final defeats. In January 2004, Cartwright moved to Stockport County on a free transfer, where his 18-month stay was disrupted by injury, and then to Rochdale, where injuries limited him to 29 appearances before he was released.
Cartwright signed for Hyde United for the 2007-2008 Conference North season, before retiring from football.