Image source, ShutterstockImage caption, Knight (right) played 683 league games across 22 years for Portsmouth, with 801 games in total for the club
- Published1 September 2026, 11:41 BST
Former Portsmouth goalkeeper Alan Knight has died aged 65 after being diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2024.
Knight spent 22 years playing at Fratton Park, making 801 appearances between 1978 and 2000 – the record for a keeper at a single English club.
Pompey fans gave him the nickname The Legend and after retiring he became both a coach and ambassador for the club.
In a moving tribute to their former player, a club statement, external 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 posted 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".
Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Knight made his debut in 1978 and represented the club in all four divisions
Knight kept a clean sheet on his debut, aged 16, against Rotherham in the old Division Three in 1978 and he went on to represent the club in all four divisions.
There were three promotion-winning campaigns, including a Division Three title success and Pompey's return to top-flight football for the first time in 28 years in the 1986-87 season.
Knight's final appearance for the club came aged 38 on 3 January 2000 in a 2-1 Division One defeat at Norwich, making him the only Blues player to have played across four decades.
Knight was awarded an MBE following his retirement, and was also handed the Freedom of the City of Portsmouth.
Portsmouth legend Knight reveals cancer diagnosis
- Published10 October 2024
'Football helped me through my cancer diagnosis'
- Published18 March 2025
Speaking to the BBC following his cancer diagnosis, Knight said it "came as a massive shock" but he wanted to discuss it publicly to encourage others to seek advice if they spot symptoms.
He joined a group of men playing walking football in Portsmouth and said it helped them all come to terms with their diagnoses.
"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."
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