Graham Cawthorne had Football League experience with Grimsby Town and Doncaster Rovers when he played for Exeter City in a friendly in October 1983. Hailing from the Doncaster area, he later moved to the South Hams and became involved in local football.

Starting his career with Harworth Colliery Welfare, he turned professional with Grimsby Town as a twenty-year-old in 1979 and made one league appearance in a two-year stay. Switching to Doncaster Rovers, his local club, he added another thirty-three league appearances before leaving Belle Vue in the summer of 1983.

Appearing for Spalding United in non-league football, he travelled to Devon in autumn 1983 for an unsuccessful trial that saw him having a run-out for the Grecians in a game at Bideford at a time when manager Gerry Francis was desperately seeking new players.    

Returning to Doncaster, he later moved to South Devon and, some thirty years after his brief stay at St James’ Park, was managing Loddiswell in the South Devon League.