Alan Knight, Portsmouth goalkeeping great, dies aged 65
Former Portsmouth goalkeeper Alan Knight has died aged 65 after being diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2024, the club announced. Portsmouth paid tribute to Knight, describing him by the nickname fans used for decades.
Knight spent 22 years at Fratton Park, playing between 1978 and 2000 and making 801 appearances for the club, a record for a goalkeeper at a single English club; he also featured in 683 league matches across those years. After retiring from playing he worked as both a coach and an ambassador for Portsmouth and remained a prominent figure among supporters.
Knight made his senior debut in 1978, keeping a clean sheet aged 16 against Rotherham in the old Division Three, and went on to represent Portsmouth in all four divisions. His time with the club included three promotion-winning campaigns, a Division Three title and Pompey's return to top-flight football in the 1986-87 season.
His final appearance came on 3 January 2000, aged 38, in a 2-1 Division One defeat at Norwich; that outing made him the only Blues player to have appeared for the club across four decades. The longevity of his playing career is reflected in the span of seasons from his 1978 debut to his 2000 farewell.
Knight received an MBE following his retirement and was later granted the Freedom of the City of Portsmouth, honours the club cited when recalling his contributions on and off the pitch.
In a club statement Portsmouth said: "The word legend is often overused in football, but the fact that Alan was still known as The Legend at Pompey more than 20 years after hanging up his gloves speaks volumes. "He will be sadly missed by the Fratton faithful, team-mates and all of us at the club who knew and loved him. "Our thoughts are with Alan's wife Heather, his daughters Jade and Rebekah and all his family and friends at this incredibly sad time. Rest in peace, The Legend". Portsmouth captain Marlon Pack wrote on social media: "RIP Knightsie. A true club legend who bled blue. A figure who has done so much for this football club and the wider community over so many years".
After his diagnosis Knight spoke to the BBC about the impact of prostate cancer, saying it "came as a massive shock" and that he wanted to discuss it publicly to encourage others to seek advice if they spot symptoms. He joined a group playing walking football in Portsmouth and said: "Once you get diagnosed, once the cancer word is used, it just changes everything," he said. "The support network, having your mates around you - family first and foremost - but then to have your mates and your team-mates around you is huge. "It gives you that lift when you can be slipping into that bit of depression."
