'He was my big cuddly mate' - Kit Symons pays tribute to Alan Knight and the 'huge influence' he had on his life

Former Pompey defender Kit Symons has paid tribute to Alan Knight calling his death a “huge loss” to the football club and to the city.

The Welsh International started his career at Fratton Park in 1988 when Knight was an experienced professional and credited the goalkeeper with having a ‘huge influence’ on him.

Speaking to The News after it was confirmed that the Portsmouth legend had died at the age of 65 following a battle with prostate cancer, Symons reflecting on his early years playing alongside Knight.

He said: “Jetting into the team as very young player, me and Awfs (Andy Awford), he was brilliant for us. A real calming influence. He played such a huge part for me and Awford coming through and playing at Pompey and everything since. He is just an incredible guy.

“There are so many funny stories from the playing days, a lot of them probably couldn’t go to print . I remember making my debut, I came on for Billy Gilbert against Hull in the Simod Cup. It was my first time in the first team, I was a bit nervous, and I go into the changing room and Knightsie is sitting on the toilet having a fag. It summed him up. It was different times back then but he was such a great character.”

Knight went into the record books after making 801 appearances for Portsmouth between 1977 and 2000, the most appearances by a goalkeeper at a single club. However, Symons believes people forget how good of a keeper he was.

He said: “He is a Pompey legend because of the longevity and for being a one-club man but sometimes people don’t realise the quality of keeper he was. As a shot stopper he was incredible. He could have moved on, he had opportunities to go for more money or whatever but he stayed with Pompey and became Mr Portsmouth.”

Knight faced his demons during his playing days, and afterwards, struggling with alcohol addiction and depression. His personality and how he handled those issues is something that made his colleagues respect him even more.

Symons, who made 160 appearances form Pompey between 1988 and 1995, said: “He was a big character and a big personality. We all looked up to him and respected him because of his experience. He was vulnerable and flawed like we all are but he was one of us. It was well documented some of the problems he had but that made him more like the rest of us almost.

“Although things had not always been easy for him, he then wanted to help other people and that was very much his personality and his character. As young players we sensed that and he had a huge influence on me and Awford.

“He was my big cuddly mate in the end. I got to know him as a snotty nosed kid coming through and he was a very experienced player. As time goes on and I got more established, I ended up leaving the club but Pompey was always very special to me and I came back on different occasions for games and functions. I would always see Knightsie and have a huge hug with him. I loved him, he was brilliant.”

Over the past few years, Symons has stayed in touch and would see Knight at functions and events after he had revealed his prostate cancer diagnosis.

He said: “You saw him up and down with the fight he was having. Sometimes you saw him and he looked good and got our hopes up and other times it looked he was struggling with it. He really put up an incredible fight.

“He was an incredible fella and it is a huge loss to the football club and to the city as well.”