'He never let Pompey down' - Barry Harris pays tribute to Pompey legend 'very good friend' Alan Knight
‘He had one hell of a career’
A Pompey stalwart has paid tribute former colleague and “very good friend” Alan Knight MBE following the news of his passing.
Barry Harris, who spent over 70 years working at Fratton Park, has spoken of his sadness after it was revealed that Knight passed away on September first. His time at Fratton Park meant that he witnessed the entirety of the goalkeepers career from a young apprentice to his last match in a Pompey shirt at the age of 38.
Harris said: “I knew Alan for 50 odd years, I watched him grow up and we became very good friends. I am devastated, I don’t have the words to explain it. I am just trying to think of the good times we had together and all the pleasure he gave thousands of people.”
Knight went on to play 801 games for Pompey, putting him only behind Jimmy Dickinson in terms of appearances for the Blues.
“I watched him in the youth team, and I was his physio in the youth team,” Harris said, “I travelled on the coach with him for the first team and it was always a pleasure to sit with to talk about the game. Alan was very knowledgeable.
“He was always reliable between the sticks, he never let Pompey down. I saw his first game at Rotherham when he was 16 and I saw his last at Norwich when he was in his late 30s. I didn’t miss many of his games. He played in all four divisions for us and had one hell of a career. I even watched him in his England under-21 games, I went with his dad.”
Knight was much more than just a good footballer, Harris saw his impact off the field during his playing days and after.
He said: “He was a good voice in the dressing room. He was great mates with Andy Awford and Kit Symonds who played at the back with him and they had a great understanding.
“I have lost a very good friend, he was wonderful person to me and my wife. When I was ill two years ago he was one of the first people to come and see me in hospital.
“It is a very sad day but he is not suffering anymore. I will see him one day on the other side.”