Portsmouth mourn Alan Knight, 'The Legend' who made 801 appearances, dead at 65

Alan Knight, Portsmouth’s second-highest appearance maker of all time and a figure so revered at Fratton Park that he was still known as ‘The Legend’ two decades after retirement, has died at the age of 65.

The club confirmed his passing without specifying a cause, though Knight had publicly disclosed a prostate cancer diagnosis in October 2024, saying he wanted to raise awareness and encourage others to get tested.

Knight made 801 appearances for Portsmouth — surpassed only by Jimmy Dickinson — after making his debut as a 16-year-old on the final day of the 1977-78 season. Over a career that stretched to the year 2000, he was part of three promotion-winning campaigns, including Pompey’s return to the top flight in 1986-87, and featured in the side that reached the FA Cup semi-finals in 1991-92.

In a statement, the club 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, teammates and all of us at the club who knew and loved him.”

After retiring at 38, Knight moved into coaching with non-league Havant and Waterlooville before returning to Portsmouth in a coaching capacity. His connection to the club was underlined in 2004 when manager Harry Redknapp, short on available goalkeepers, placed the then-retired Knight on the bench for a Premier League fixture against Aston Villa.

Following further coaching spells in the United States and England, he came back to Fratton Park in 2013 to work with the goalkeepers and was later appointed club ambassador — a role that formalised what supporters had always known.

Portsmouth extended their condolences to Knight’s wife Heather, daughters Jade and Rebekah, and the wider family. The club’s statement closed simply: “Rest in peace, The Legend.”