Knight joined Portsmouth as an apprentice at the age of 14[4] and signed a professional contract with the club in 1977. He went on to make his debut for the club a year later, keeping a clean sheet in a 2–0 Football League Third Division win against Rotherham United with Portsmouth's relegation to the fourth tier of English football already confirmed.[5][6] Knight served as reserve goalkeeper to Peter Mellor for the next three seasons, making eight appearances during Pompey's 1979–80 promotion season, before establishing himself as the team's first choice goalkeeper during the 1981–82 season where he was named the fans' player of the season for the first time.[6] Knight was a member of the team that won the Third Division championship in 1982–83 and was given a debut for the England U21 team in a 1984 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifier against Greece at Portsmouth's ground Fratton Park. He made one further appearance for the England U21s against Hungary,[7] before first choice goalkeeper Gary Bailey returned from injury.[8] England went on to win the final tournament.
Following two near misses, Portsmouth achieved promotion to the First Division in 1986–87, meaning Knight would represent the club in all four divisions of The Football League.[6] Portsmouth were relegated from the top flight after only one season, with Knight keeping a clean sheet in a 2–0 win over south coast rivals Southampton at The Dell one of the few highlights.
During the 1991–92 season, Knight was a part of the Portsmouth team that reached the FA Cup semi–final, losing to eventual winners Liverpool in a penalty shootout, with both teams unable to be separated after 240 minutes of football.[5] The next year, Portsmouth missed out on promotion to the Premier League on goals scored (80 goals to West Ham United's 81).[9]
Knight's testimonial match took place in 1995 with a South Coast Derby against Southampton played in front of 18,000 fans at Fratton Park. Southampton won the match 5–1, with Knight scoring the only goal for the home side from the penalty spot.[4]
After resisting competition from Estonian international goalkeeper Mart Poom and being named Portsmouth's player of the season for two consecutive seasons during the mid-1990s,[6] Knight eventually found himself being phased out of the first team by first Terry Fenwick, and later Alan Ball, with the young goalkeeper Aaron Flahavan becoming first choice. However, Flahavan's inconsistent form and health issues[10][11] saw Knight continue to appear for Portsmouth into his late 30s. He started for Portsmouth against eventual winners Chelsea in the 4–1 FA Cup quarter-final defeat at Fratton Park in March 1997, and appeared 25 times during the 1998–99 season keeping five clean sheets, most notably in a 1–0 FA Cup win away at Premier League club Nottingham Forest.[12]
Knight made his final appearance at Fratton Park as a late substitute for Flahavan in a Football League Cup tie against Torquay United on 24 August 1999. His 800th appearance came as a substitute at Blackburn Rovers and saw fans in all corners of Ewood Park rising to applaud his appearance on the pitch. On 3 January 2000, at the age of 38, Knight played his last match for Portsmouth at Norwich City's Carrow Road, becoming the only player to appear for the club in four different decades.[13]
In 2001, he was awarded an MBE in the New Year's Honours List.[14] He also has an honorary Master of Science degree, which he was awarded by the University of Portsmouth in 1996.[6]
Knight played briefly for Havant & Waterlooville in 2001, making three appearances.
In 2003–04, after injuries to Shaka Hislop and Harald Wapenaar, Knight was called on to the substitutes' bench for Portsmouth and was listed as a squad member, but was never actually called into action.Knights last competitive game was at Horndean when he came on to replace the injured Matt Cole [15][16]
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.
Knight's autobiography entitled 'Legend' was published in September 2003 by Legendary Publishing.
