In 1951, Cunning was on the Sunderland roster playing outside left. In 1952 and 1953, he was on the Hamilton roster. In the 1953/54 season, he played 19 games and scored 2 goals for Hamilton. In 1954, he signed to the Rangers for £2,500. His first match for Rangers was against Clyde in the Glasgow Cup. This was on 9 September 1954 when he was 24. Cunning played seven games for the Rangers. His vision problems ended his career. Cunning died 24 January, 1983 in Dunoon, Scotland.