| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Allen Darrell McKnight[1] | ||
| Date of birth | (1964-01-27)27 January 1964 (age 61) | ||
| Place of birth | Antrim, Northern Ireland | ||
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | ||
| Position(s) | Goalkeeper | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Crumlin Boys | |||
| Crumlin Rec. | |||
| Chimney Corner | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1984–1986 | Distillery | 68 | (0) |
| 1986–1988 | Celtic | 12 | (0) |
| 1986–1987 | →Albion Rovers (loan) | 36 | (0) |
| 1988–1991 | West Ham United | 23 | (0) |
| 1991 | Airdrieonians | 2 | (0) |
| 1991 | Stockport County | 0 | (0) |
| 1991 | Rotherham United | 3 | (0) |
| 1991–1992 | Walsall | 8 | (0) |
| 1992–1994 | South China | ? | (?) |
| 1994 | Exeter City | 10 | (0) |
| 1994–1995 | Collier Row | ? | (?) |
| 1995–1996 | Romford | 23 | (0) |
| 1996–1997 | Collier Row & Romford | 19 | (0) |
| Total | 162 | (0) | |
| International career | |||
| 1987–1989 | Northern Ireland | 10 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Allen Darrell McKnight (born 27 January 1964) is a Northern Irish former internationalfootballer who played professionally in Northern Ireland, Scotland, England, and Hong Kong as agoalkeeper.
Born inAntrim, McKnight played youth football for a number of local clubs including Crumlin Boys, Crumlin Rec., andChimney Corner.
He began his senior career in 1984 withDistillery, and he also played forCeltic,Albion Rovers,West Ham United,Airdrieonians,Stockport County,Rotherham United,Walsall,South China andExeter City.
McKnight signed for Celtic in August 1986, joining up again with his former Distillery teammateAnton Rogan who had arrived at Parkhead a few months earlier.[2] He did not feature in any first-team games in his first year, and was loaned out to Albion Rovers to gain experience of the Scottish game. With the departure ofPeter Latchford in the summer of 1987, McKnight rose up in the pecking order at Celtic to second-choice keeper, behind first choicePackie Bonner. McKnight played several games for Celtic at the start of season 1987–88 in place of Bonner who had contracted a virus. He made his debut in a 5–1 win away toDumbarton in aleague cup tie on 26 August 1987[3] and went on to play in threeOld firm league games, a 1–0 win atParkhead, a2–2 draw atIbrox and a 2–0 win in the New Year game at Parkhead. Bonner regained his place in the team upon his recovery from illness, but McKnight's 12 league appearances and 5 clean sheets[4] helped the club to win the League Championship. An injury to Bonner in May 1988 saw McKnight play in the 1988Scottish Cup Final[5] againstDundee Utd, and he won another winner's medal as Celtic triumphed 2–1 at Hampden.[6] McKnight left Parkhead for West Ham a couple of months later.
During his West Ham United career he was known by the fans asMcKnightmare because of his frequent goalkeeping errors.[7][8] Signed from Celtic in the summer of 1988 McKnight made his West Ham debut on 10 September 1988 in a 1–0 away win againstWimbledon.[9] Competing for the goalkeeper's place withPhil Parkes, McKnight played all his 23 league games for West Ham in his first season. His last league game coming on 23 May 1989, a 5–1 away defeat toLiverpool which saw West Ham relegated tothe Second Division. He had to wait eighteen months for his next game, also a 5–1 defeat, away toLuton Town in theFull Members Cup.[9]
He later played non-league football with teams includingCollier Row,Romford andCollier Row & Romford (a merger of his two previous teams).
McKnight earned 10 caps for theNorthern Ireland national football team between 1987 and 1989.