Portsmouth goalkeeper legend Knight dies aged 65

What the report says

Former Portsmouth goalkeeper Alan Knight has died at the age of 65, BBC Sport Football reported, citing that he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2024. Knight was one of the club’s most celebrated figures, known for a 22-year spell at Fratton Park and a club-record 801 appearances between 1978 and 2000 for a single English club by a goalkeeper.

According to the BBC, Knight made his debut as a 16-year-old and kept a clean sheet against Rotherham in the old Division Three. He went on to play for Portsmouth across all four divisions and was part of three promotion-winning campaigns, including the club’s return to the top flight in the 1986-87 season after 28 years away.

His final Portsmouth appearance came in January 2000, and he was later given an MBE and the Freedom of the City of Portsmouth. After retiring, he remained involved with the club as a coach and ambassador, and supporters nicknamed him “The Legend.”

The BBC also noted that Knight had spoken publicly about his cancer diagnosis in 2024 to encourage others to seek medical advice if they noticed symptoms. His death is significant for Portsmouth because he was closely tied to the club’s identity across multiple eras and generations.