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Alan Knight (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Alan Edward Knight MBE
(born 3 June 1961) is a former English footballer and currently the manager of Conference South
club Dorchester Town
. He holds the record for the most appearances for a single club by a goalkeeper, having played 683 league
games (and 801 games overall) for Portsmouth
between 1978 and 2000; this superseded Peter Bonetti
's record of exactly 600 goalkeeping appearances for Chelsea
. He helped Portsmouth to the 1992 FA Cup semi final which they lost on a penalty shootout to Liverpool.
Knight was born in Balham, London
. In addition to his goalkeeping record, he is the second-longest serving Portsmouth player of all time behind Jimmy Dickinson
, and is also the only player to have appeared in all four divisions of the Football League for the club. He was capped
at under-21 international level, but was never selected for the full England squad
.
Known by the Fratton Park
faithful as The Legend, Knight spent almost all of his 25-year playing career at Portsmouth, sometimes demonstrating world-class saving and acrobatics. His 800th appearance, as a substitute
in a cup tie at Blackburn
, saw fans in all corners of Ewood Park
rising to applaud his appearance on the pitch. A few weeks later, he played his last match for Portsmouth, at Norwich
in January 2000. In 2001, his loyalty to Portsmouth received royal approval when he was awarded an MBE
in the New Year's Honours List.
In 2003–04, due to an injury crisis, Knight was called on to the substitutes' bench for Portsmouth and was listed as a squad member, but was never actually called into action. He played briefly for the local non-league side Havant & Waterlooville
towards the end of his career. He also worked as goalkeeping coach at Portsmouth until he quit the job in summer 2005.
Knight was named goalkeepers' coach for the American Major League Soccer
team FC Dallas
in 2006. The head coach at Dallas was at the time, Knight's former Portsmouth teammate Colin Clarke.
In 2006 Knight ran football coaching clinics for B.E.S.T (British European Soccer Tuition) in the USA. The B.E.S.T patron of honour was Knight's former Portsmouth manager and World Cup winner, the late Alan Ball.
On 12 December 2006, it was announced that Alan Knight was named goalkeeping coach at AFC Bournemouth. Knight also served as goalkeeping coach at Conference South Side Dorchester Town
, where he was also a registered player, for the 2006/07 season. Knight appeared on the bench as a substitute, but did not make an appearance on the pitch.
Knight's autobiography entitled 'Legend' was published in September 2003 by Legendary Publishing. On 8 October 2007, Knight was appointed goalkeeping coach at Havant & Waterlooville
by the team's newly-appointed manager Shaun Gale
, a former teammate of Knight at Portsmouth.
In May 2009 Knight was named joint manager of Horndean
of the Wessex League
. He made a brief playing comeback for Horndean at the age of 48 in a Wessex League match against East Cowes Vics in November 2009.
Knight joined Aldershot Town
as a goalkeeping coach in December 2009. In July 2011 he left Aldershot for a coaching job at Havant & Waterlooville, but he left the Hawks to return to Dorchester
as first team manager on 29th November 2011.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(born 3 June 1961) is a former English footballer and currently the manager of Conference South
Conference South
Conference South is one of the second divisions of the Football Conference in England, taking its place immediately below the Conference National...
club Dorchester Town
Dorchester Town F.C.
Dorchester Town Football Club are a semi-professional football club, based in Dorchester, Dorset, England, and currently playing in the Blue Square Bet South...
. He holds the record for the most appearances for a single club by a goalkeeper, having played 683 league
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
games (and 801 games overall) for Portsmouth
Portsmouth F.C.
Portsmouth Football Club is an English football club based in the city of Portsmouth. The club is nicknamed Pompey. Portsmouth's home matches have been played at Fratton Park since the club's formation in 1898. The team currently play in the Football League Championship after being relegated from...
between 1978 and 2000; this superseded Peter Bonetti
Peter Bonetti
Peter Phillip Bonetti is a former football goalkeeper for Chelsea, the St. Louis Stars, Dundee United and England. Bonetti was known for his safe handling, lightning reflexes and his graceful style, for which he was given the nickname, "The Cat"...
's record of exactly 600 goalkeeping appearances for Chelsea
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
. He helped Portsmouth to the 1992 FA Cup semi final which they lost on a penalty shootout to Liverpool.
Knight was born in Balham, London
Balham, London
Balham is a neighbourhood of south London, England, and is part of the London Borough of Wandsworth and the London Borough of Lambeth.-History:...
. In addition to his goalkeeping record, he is the second-longest serving Portsmouth player of all time behind Jimmy Dickinson
Jimmy Dickinson
James William 'Jimmy' Dickinson was an English football player.Dickinson holds the record for number of league appearances for Portsmouth...
, and is also the only player to have appeared in all four divisions of the Football League for the club. He was capped
Cap (sport)
In sports, a cap is a metaphorical term for a player's appearance on a select team, such as a national team. The term dates from the practice in the United Kingdom of awarding a cap to every player in an international match of association football...
at under-21 international level, but was never selected for the full England squad
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
.
Known by the Fratton Park
Fratton Park
Fratton Park is a football stadium in the English city-port of Portsmouth. It has been the home of professional club Portsmouth F.C. since its construction in 1898.-Description:...
faithful as The Legend, Knight spent almost all of his 25-year playing career at Portsmouth, sometimes demonstrating world-class saving and acrobatics. His 800th appearance, as a substitute
Substitute (football)
In association football, a substitute is a player who is brought on to the pitch during a match in exchange for an existing player. Substitutions are generally made to replace a player who has become tired or injured, or who is not performing well; there may also be tactical reasons such as...
in a cup tie at Blackburn
Blackburn Rovers F.C.
Blackburn Rovers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. The team currently competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football....
, saw fans in all corners of Ewood Park
Ewood Park
Ewood Park is a football stadium in the English town of Blackburn, Lancashire, and is the home of Blackburn Rovers Football Club — one of the founder members of the Football League and Premier League. Rovers have played there since they moved from Leamington Street in the summer of 1890. The...
rising to applaud his appearance on the pitch. A few weeks later, he played his last match for Portsmouth, at Norwich
Norwich
Norwich is a city in England. It is the regional administrative centre and county town of Norfolk. During the 11th century, Norwich was the largest city in England after London, and one of the most important places in the kingdom...
in January 2000. In 2001, his loyalty to Portsmouth received royal approval when he was awarded an MBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
in the New Year's Honours List.
In 2003–04, due to an injury crisis, Knight was called on to the substitutes' bench for Portsmouth and was listed as a squad member, but was never actually called into action. He played briefly for the local non-league side Havant & Waterlooville
Havant & Waterlooville F.C.
Havant & Waterlooville Football Club are an English football club based in Havant, Hampshire. The club formed in 1998 after a merger between Havant Town and Waterlooville, and are currently members of the Conference South. Nicknamed The Hawks, they play at West Leigh Park.-History:In 1998 Havant...
towards the end of his career. He also worked as goalkeeping coach at Portsmouth until he quit the job in summer 2005.
Knight was named goalkeepers' coach for the American Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
team FC Dallas
FC Dallas
FC Dallas is an American professional soccer club based in the Dallas suburb of Frisco, Texas which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States of America and Canada...
in 2006. The head coach at Dallas was at the time, Knight's former Portsmouth teammate Colin Clarke.
In 2006 Knight ran football coaching clinics for B.E.S.T (British European Soccer Tuition) in the USA. The B.E.S.T patron of honour was Knight's former Portsmouth manager and World Cup winner, the late Alan Ball.
On 12 December 2006, it was announced that Alan Knight was named goalkeeping coach at AFC Bournemouth. Knight also served as goalkeeping coach at Conference South Side Dorchester Town
Dorchester Town F.C.
Dorchester Town Football Club are a semi-professional football club, based in Dorchester, Dorset, England, and currently playing in the Blue Square Bet South...
, where he was also a registered player, for the 2006/07 season. Knight appeared on the bench as a substitute, but did not make an appearance on the pitch.
Knight's autobiography entitled 'Legend' was published in September 2003 by Legendary Publishing. On 8 October 2007, Knight was appointed goalkeeping coach at Havant & Waterlooville
Havant & Waterlooville F.C.
Havant & Waterlooville Football Club are an English football club based in Havant, Hampshire. The club formed in 1998 after a merger between Havant Town and Waterlooville, and are currently members of the Conference South. Nicknamed The Hawks, they play at West Leigh Park.-History:In 1998 Havant...
by the team's newly-appointed manager Shaun Gale
Shaun Gale
Shaun Michael Gale is an English former footballer who is manager of Havant & Waterlooville F.C. in the Conference South league....
, a former teammate of Knight at Portsmouth.
In May 2009 Knight was named joint manager of Horndean
Horndean F.C.
Horndean F.C. is an English football club based in Horndean, Hampshire. The club are currently members of the Wessex League Premier Division and play at Five Heads Park.-History:...
of the Wessex League
Wessex League
The Wessex League is an English association football league formed in 1986, with its premier division currently at the fifth step of the National League System, or the ninth tier of the overall English football league system...
. He made a brief playing comeback for Horndean at the age of 48 in a Wessex League match against East Cowes Vics in November 2009.
Knight joined Aldershot Town
Aldershot Town F.C.
Aldershot Town Football Club is an association football club based in Aldershot, Hampshire, England, founded in the spring of 1992 just after the closure of debt-ridden Fourth Division club Aldershot Football Club...
as a goalkeeping coach in December 2009. In July 2011 he left Aldershot for a coaching job at Havant & Waterlooville, but he left the Hawks to return to Dorchester
Dorchester Town F.C.
Dorchester Town Football Club are a semi-professional football club, based in Dorchester, Dorset, England, and currently playing in the Blue Square Bet South...
as first team manager on 29th November 2011.