David Knight (English footballer)

David Sean Knight (born 15 January 1987) is an English footballer who last played for Spennymoor Town as a goalkeeper.

David Knight
Knight playing for York City in 2010
Personal information
Full name David Sean Knight[1]
Date of birth (1987-01-15) 15 January 1987[1]
Place of birth Houghton-le-Spring, England
Height 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)[1]
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Youth career
1998–2005 Middlesbrough
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2005–2007 Middlesbrough 0 (0)
2005–2006 → Darlington (loan) 3 (0)
2006 → Oldham Athletic (loan) 2 (0)
2007–2008 Swansea City 0 (0)
2008 Mansfield Town 0 (0)
2008–2009 Middlesbrough 0 (0)
2009 Darlington 7 (0)
2010–2011 Histon 12 (0)
2010–2011 → York City (loan) 1 (0)
2011 → Blyth Spartans (loan) ? (?)
2011–2012 Blyth Spartans ? (?)
2012–2014 Spennymoor Town ? (?)
National team
England U16 ? (?)
England U17 ? (?)
England U18 ? (?)
England U19 ? (?)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 23:00, 1 July 2013 (UTC)

Club career

Born in Houghton-le-Spring, Tyne and Wear,[1] Knight began his career with the Middlesbrough youth system at the age of 11 after he was spotted by a scout playing for his local team Hetton Juniors.[2][3] He played in both legs of the 2004 FA Youth Cup Final, which Middlesbrough won 4–0 on aggregate.[4] Knight signed a professional contract with Middlesbrough on 3 February 2005 and his first involvement with the first team came weeks later after being named on the substitutes' bench for a 2–2 draw with Charlton Athletic in the FA Premier League on 27 February.[1][5] Knight joined League Two team Darlington on an emergency one-month loan on 30 December 2005 to cover injuries to Sam Russell and Bertrand Bossu and he made his debut the following day in a 2–2 draw against Lincoln City.[1][6][7][8] After he picked up a hip injury during a 3–2 defeat to Notts County he finished the loan with three appearances.[8][9][10] He signed a new one-year contract with Middlesbrough in June 2006.[11] Knight signed for League One team Oldham Athletic on a one-month loan on 24 August.[12] His debut lasted only 39 minutes after he was "wrongly" sent off for handling the ball outside the box, with the game finishing a 0–0 draw with Carlisle United.[13][14] He made one more appearance for Oldham before suffering from swollen glands and a hip injury before finishing the loan with two appearances.[13][14]

He left Middlesbrough to join League One team Swansea City on a free transfer on 31 August 2007.[15] His first and only appearance of the 2007–08 season came in a 2–1 victory over Billericay Town in the FA Cup first round on 10 November 2007.[16] He was released by the club after his contract expired on 30 June 2008 and he signed for Conference Premier team Mansfield Town on 13 October following a trial.[17][18][19] Having made no appearances he left Mansfield on 3 November and returned to Middlesbrough to play in the reserves on a month-to-month contract.[2][20][21] Knight left the club for the second time in May 2009 after failing to earn a long-term contract.[22] He agreed on 2 July to re-sign for Darlington on a one-year contract once the League Two club had left administration.[23][24] His 2009–10 season started with a "flurry of errors" and his second debut for the club came in a 3–1 defeat at Aldershot Town on 8 August 2009.[25][26] Knight left Darlington on 8 December when manager Steve Staunton released him from his contract by mutual consent, having played nine games for the club.[24]

Knight moved to Conference Premier side Histon in February 2010 on a one-and-a-half-year contract following a two-week trial.[27] He made his debut in a 1–0 defeat to Rushden & Diamonds on 3 March 2010 and he finished the 2009–10 season with 12 appearances for Histon.[26] Despite being told he had a future with Histon,[28] Knight joined York City on a two-week trial in July with a view to signing on a season-long loan.[29] Illness resulted in him missing York's pre-season friendly with Hull City although he later played one half of York's 2–0 defeat to Barnsley,[30][31] with manager Martin Foyle saying he "did well".[32] After playing in the 1–0 friendly victory over Morecambe Foyle said he was interested in signing Knight.[33][34] He eventually signed for the club on 30 July.[35] His debut came in a 2–1 victory over Forest Green Rovers on 22 January 2011 as Michael Ingham was serving a one-match suspension.[36][37] This proved to be his only appearance for the club.[36] With another year remaining on his Histon contract, he was unsure of his future at the club after returning,[38] while player-manager David Livermore said he intended to transfer Knight from the club.[39] He was handed a free transfer by the club and allowed to talk to other clubs.[40]

Following the cancellation of his contract at Histon by mutual consent, Knight signed for Conference North rivals Blyth Spartans, where he had made 18 appearances during an earlier three-month loan spell.[41] He left the club at the beginning of the 2012–13 season,[42] signing for Spennymoor Town in August 2012 [43] before leaving in 2014.

International career

Knight was capped for England at under-16, under-17 and under-18 level.[44] He was part of the under-17 team that participated in the 2004 Algarve Tournament.[45] He was called into the under-19 squad in May 2006 as a replacement for Ben Alnwick.[46]

Style of play

Knight plays as a goalkeeper.[47] He said in 2010 that "shot-stopping is a strength of mine".[47]

Career statistics
As of match played 22 January 2011.
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Middlesbrough 2004–05[48] FA Premier League 0000000000
2005–06[8] FA Premier League 0000000000
2006–07[14] FA Premier League 000000—00
Total 0000000000
Darlington (loan) 2005–06[8] League Two 3000000030
Oldham Athletic (loan) 2006–07[14] League One 2000000020
Swansea City 2007–08[16] League One 0010000010
Mansfield Town 2008–09[20] Conference Premier 0000—0000
Middlesbrough 2008–09[49] Premier League 000000—00
Darlington 2009–10[26] League Two 7000101[lower-alpha 1]090
Histon 2009–10[26] Conference Premier 12000—00120
2010–11[36] Conference Premier 0000—0000
Total 12000—00120
York City (loan) 2010–11[36] Conference Premier 1000—0010
Career total 250101010280
  1. Appearance in Football League Trophy

References
  1. Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2010). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2010–11. Mainstream Publishing. p. 239. ISBN 978-1-84596-601-0.
  2. "Knight has no regrets over Boro exit". The Northern Echo. Darlington. 8 July 2009. Retrieved 21 July 2010.
  3. "Histon sign Sheringham". Non-League Daily. 12 February 2010. Retrieved 4 January 2011.
  4. "Football Association – Youth Cup". Theborofc. Retrieved 22 October 2010.
  5. "Middlesbrough 2–2 Charlton". BBC Sport. 27 February 2011. Retrieved 19 May 2011.
  6. "Middlesbrough keeper snapped up on loan". Darlington F.C. 30 December 2005. Retrieved 19 May 2011.
  7. "David Knight signed for one month". Darlington F.C. 31 December 2005. Retrieved 19 May 2011.
  8. "Games played by David Knight in 2005/2006". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 17 October 2012.
  9. "Quakers hit by injury to keeper". BBC Sport. 9 January 2006. Retrieved 6 May 2011.
  10. "Notts County 3–2 Darlington". BBC Sport. 7 January 2006. Retrieved 6 May 2011.
  11. "Knight extends Middlesbrough deal". BBC Sport. 15 June 2006. Retrieved 17 October 2012.
  12. "Oldham make loan swoop for Knight". BBC Sport. 24 August 2006. Retrieved 17 October 2012.
  13. "David Knight". Evening Gazette. Middlesbrough. 15 November 2006. Retrieved 21 July 2010.
  14. "Games played by David Knight in 2006/2007". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 17 October 2012.
  15. "Swansea confirm signing of Knight". BBC Sport. 31 August 2007. Retrieved 17 October 2012.
  16. "Games played by David Knight in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 17 October 2012.
  17. "Martinez runs eye over goalkeeper". BBC Sport. 2 August 2008. Retrieved 17 October 2012.
  18. "Stags swoop for goalkeeper Knight". BBC Sport. 14 October 2008. Retrieved 17 October 2012.
  19. "Two trialists to feature tonight". Mansfield Town F.C. 30 September 2008. Retrieved 17 October 2012.
  20. Williams, Tony; Wright, James, eds. (2009). Non-League Club Directory 2010. Tony Williams Publications. pp. 120–121. ISBN 978-1-869833-66-4.
  21. "Knight leaves". Mansfield Town F.C. 3 November 2008. Retrieved 17 October 2012.
  22. Wilson, Scott (9 May 2009). "Fighting talk from Boro boss". The Northern Echo. Darlington. Retrieved 19 May 2011.
  23. "Ten new players set to sign". Darlington F.C. 2 July 2009. Retrieved 19 May 2011.
  24. Stoddart, Craig (8 December 2009). "Three exit club as Quakers pay up contracts". The Northern Echo. Darlington. Retrieved 9 December 2009.
  25. "Saturday Spotlight: The best and worst of the decade". The Northern Echo. Darlington. 2 January 2010. Retrieved 21 July 2010.
  26. "Games played by David Knight in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 17 October 2012.
  27. "Charlie Sheringham makes Histon switch". BBC Sport. 15 February 2010. Retrieved 17 October 2012.
  28. Vaughton, Michael (25 June 2010). "Keepers must fight for jersey, says Beck". Cambridge News. Retrieved 21 July 2010.
  29. Beyeler, Marc (15 July 2010). "Beck closing in on his final Histon squad". Cambridge News. Retrieved 21 July 2010.
  30. Flett, Dave (19 July 2010). "York City boss Martin Foyle impressed by trialist David McDermott". The Press. York. Retrieved 17 October 2012.
  31. Flett, Dave (21 July 2010). "York City 0, Barnsley 2". The Press. York. Retrieved 30 July 2010.
  32. Flett, Dave (21 July 2010). "York City ace Chris Carruthers limps out of 2–0 Barnsley defeat". The Press. York. Retrieved 17 October 2012.
  33. Flett, Dave (26 July 2010). "Minstermen deserve slice of fortune to keep foes Morecambe at bay". The Press. York. Retrieved 30 July 2010.
  34. "Foyle aiming to sign up Knight and McDermott". The Press. York. 26 July 2010. Retrieved 17 October 2012.
  35. Flett, Dave (30 July 2010). "Signing of David Knight to end York City recruitment". The Press. York. Retrieved 17 October 2012.
  36. "Games played by David Knight in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 17 October 2012.
  37. Carroll, Steve (20 January 2011). "Gary Mills tells York City players to move on from Luton Town debacle". The Press. York. Retrieved 17 October 2012.
  38. Beyeler, Marc (10 May 2011). "Knight's in the dark over future". Cambridge News. Retrieved 19 May 2011.
  39. "Livermore: We couldn't afford to keep Erkan". Cambridge News. 10 May 2011. Retrieved 19 May 2011.
  40. "Captain Murray gets the axe at Histon". Cambridge News. 27 May 2011. Retrieved 16 June 2011.
  41. "Spartans Sign David Knight". Blyth Spartans A.F.C. 19 December 2011. Archived from the original on 11 June 2012. Retrieved 30 December 2011.
  42. "David Knight leaves the club". Blyth Spartans A.F.C. 16 July 2012. Archived from the original on 20 April 2013. Retrieved 22 September 2012.
  43. "New Signings". Spennymoor Town F.C. 1 August 2012. Archived from the original on 1 July 2013. Retrieved 1 July 2013.
  44. "Hodgy Snaps up David Knight !". Vital Darlington. 31 December 2005. Retrieved 19 May 2011.
  45. "England U17s Squad". The Football Association. 16 February 2004. Retrieved 19 May 2011.
  46. "Hunter makes changes". The Football Association. 15 May 2006. Retrieved 19 May 2011.
  47. Carroll, Steve (6 August 2010). "David Knight's quest for York City goalkeeping glory". The Press. York. Retrieved 17 October 2012.
  48. "Games played by David Knight in 2004/2005". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 17 October 2012.
  49. "Games played by David Knight in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Retrieved 17 October 2012.
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