Richard Knight (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Richard Knight is an English footballer who played professionally in the Football League
for Carlisle United
, Hull City
, Macclesfield Town
, Oxford United
and Colchester United
. He plays as a goalkeeper and his most recent club was Oxford City
.
, Staffordshire
. He began his football career with Burton Albion
, where he made one appearance in 1994 match against Salisbury City
, replacing Darren Acton as a half-time substitute, however he was sent off after playing only 10 minutes after bringing down a Salisbury City player in the penalty box, this sending off meant that outfield player Darren Stride
was forced to go in goal, despite this Stride did save the subsequent penalty. Burton lost the game 2–0. He then joined Derby County
in 1997. He spent time on loan at clubs including Carlisle United
, for whom he made his Football League debut, in Division Three
on 27 March 1999 in a 2–1 defeat at Cardiff City
, Birmingham City
, for whom he appeared only in one League Cup
game, Hull City
, and Macclesfield Town
.
He finished off his loan spells with two separate stints with Oxford United
, his impressive form playing a significant part in the club avoiding relegation
, and joined them on a permanent basis in 2000 without ever having appeared in a competitive match for his parent club. He lost his place in December 2000 when blamed for costing the club a place in the third round of the FA Cup
, only regaining it in March 2001, yet at the end of the season, with the club bottom of Division Two, he won Oxford United's supporters' player of the year award. He lost his place again to the newly-arrived Ian McCaldon
, had a spell on loan at Colchester United
, and was released at the end of the 2001–02 season.
In January 2004 he signed for Didcot Town
as cover, and played in the final of the Hellenic League
Cup as Didcot beat Bishops Cleeve 3–1. He moved on to Brackley Town
in 2004, and remained at the club until he was released in the summer of 2009. He then joined Oxford City
, but left the club in October 2010, due to commuting difficulties from his Derbyshire
home.
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...
for Carlisle United
Carlisle United F.C.
Carlisle United F.C. is an English football club based in Carlisle, Cumbria, where they play at Brunton Park. Formed in 1904, the club currently compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system....
, Hull City
Hull City A.F.C.
Hull City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, founded in 1904. The club participates in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football...
, Macclesfield Town
Macclesfield Town F.C.
Macclesfield Town Football Club is an English football team. The club was formed in 1874 and is based in the town of Macclesfield in Cheshire. The team play its home games at the 6,355 capacity Moss Rose stadium...
, Oxford United
Oxford United F.C.
Oxford United Football Club is an English association football club based in Oxford, Oxfordshire. The club play in League Two, following promotion from the Conference National in May 2010. The club had been a non-League side since their relegation from the Football League in the 2005–06 season. The...
and Colchester United
Colchester United F.C.
Colchester United Football Club is an English football club based in Colchester. The club was formed in 1937, and briefly shared their old Layer Road home with now defunct side Colchester Town who had previously used the ground from 1910....
. He plays as a goalkeeper and his most recent club was Oxford City
Oxford City F.C.
Oxford City Football Club is an English football club, currently playing in the Southern Football League Premier Division after gaining promotion via the Division One South & West playoffs...
.
Playing career
Knight was born in Burton upon TrentBurton upon Trent
Burton upon Trent, also known as Burton-on-Trent or simply Burton, is a town straddling the River Trent in the east of Staffordshire, England. Its associated adjective is "Burtonian"....
, Staffordshire
Staffordshire
Staffordshire is a landlocked county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. Part of the National Forest lies within its borders...
. He began his football career with Burton Albion
Burton Albion F.C.
Burton Albion Football Club are a professional English football club based in the town of Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire. The club's home ground is the Pirelli Stadium, having moved from Eton Park in 2005...
, where he made one appearance in 1994 match against Salisbury City
Salisbury City F.C.
Salisbury City Football Club is an English football club based in Salisbury, Wiltshire currently playing in the Conference South. They were formed in 1947 and play at The Raymond McEnhill Stadium...
, replacing Darren Acton as a half-time substitute, however he was sent off after playing only 10 minutes after bringing down a Salisbury City player in the penalty box, this sending off meant that outfield player Darren Stride
Darren Stride
Darren Stride is an English professional association football footballer currently playing for Northern Premier League side Chasetown....
was forced to go in goal, despite this Stride did save the subsequent penalty. Burton lost the game 2–0. He then joined Derby County
Derby County F.C.
Derby County Football Club is an English football based in Derby. the club play in the Football League Championship and is notable as being one of the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888 and is, therefore, one of only ten clubs to have competed in every season of the English...
in 1997. He spent time on loan at clubs including Carlisle United
Carlisle United F.C.
Carlisle United F.C. is an English football club based in Carlisle, Cumbria, where they play at Brunton Park. Formed in 1904, the club currently compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system....
, for whom he made his Football League debut, in Division Three
Football League Third Division
The Football League Third Division was the 3 tier of English Football from 1920 until 1992 when after the formation of the Football Association Premier League saw the league renamed The Football League Division Two...
on 27 March 1999 in a 2–1 defeat at Cardiff City
Cardiff City F.C.
Cardiff City Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Cardiff, Wales. The club competes in the English football pyramid and is currently playing in the Football League Championship. Cardiff City is the best supported football club in Wales, averaging approximately 22,500 for...
, Birmingham City
Birmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
, for whom he appeared only in one League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
game, Hull City
Hull City A.F.C.
Hull City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, founded in 1904. The club participates in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football...
, and Macclesfield Town
Macclesfield Town F.C.
Macclesfield Town Football Club is an English football team. The club was formed in 1874 and is based in the town of Macclesfield in Cheshire. The team play its home games at the 6,355 capacity Moss Rose stadium...
.
He finished off his loan spells with two separate stints with Oxford United
Oxford United F.C.
Oxford United Football Club is an English association football club based in Oxford, Oxfordshire. The club play in League Two, following promotion from the Conference National in May 2010. The club had been a non-League side since their relegation from the Football League in the 2005–06 season. The...
, his impressive form playing a significant part in the club avoiding relegation
Promotion and relegation
In many sports leagues around the world, promotion and relegation is a process that takes place at the end of each season. Through it, teams are transferred between divisions based on their performance that season...
, and joined them on a permanent basis in 2000 without ever having appeared in a competitive match for his parent club. He lost his place in December 2000 when blamed for costing the club a place in the third round of the FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
, only regaining it in March 2001, yet at the end of the season, with the club bottom of Division Two, he won Oxford United's supporters' player of the year award. He lost his place again to the newly-arrived Ian McCaldon
Ian McCaldon
Ian McCaldon is an English football goalkeeper, who is currently a free agent following his release from Berwick Rangers. McCaldon previously played for Livingston, St. Mirren, Oxford United, Chester City, Ross County and Peterhead....
, had a spell on loan at Colchester United
Colchester United F.C.
Colchester United Football Club is an English football club based in Colchester. The club was formed in 1937, and briefly shared their old Layer Road home with now defunct side Colchester Town who had previously used the ground from 1910....
, and was released at the end of the 2001–02 season.
In January 2004 he signed for Didcot Town
Didcot Town F.C.
Didcot Town F.C. are a football club based in Didcot in Oxfordshire, England. They won the FA Vase in 2005 and are currently members of Division One South & West of the Southern League, having been relegated from the Premier Division in 2010–11....
as cover, and played in the final of the Hellenic League
Hellenic Football League
The Hellenic Football League is an English football league covering an area including the English counties of Berkshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, southern Buckinghamshire, southern Herefordshire, western Greater London, and northern Wiltshire. There is also one team from Hampshire.The league...
Cup as Didcot beat Bishops Cleeve 3–1. He moved on to Brackley Town
Brackley Town F.C.
Brackley Town Football Club are a football club based in Brackley, England, who play their home games at St. James Park. They were established in 1890. They have won the Hellenic League twice in their history...
in 2004, and remained at the club until he was released in the summer of 2009. He then joined Oxford City
Oxford City F.C.
Oxford City Football Club is an English football club, currently playing in the Southern Football League Premier Division after gaining promotion via the Division One South & West playoffs...
, but left the club in October 2010, due to commuting difficulties from his Derbyshire
Derbyshire
Derbyshire is a county in the East Midlands of England. A substantial portion of the Peak District National Park lies within Derbyshire. The northern part of Derbyshire overlaps with the Pennines, a famous chain of hills and mountains. The county contains within its boundary of approx...
home.