John McKnight (English footballer)
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | John McKnight | ||
| Position(s) | Centre forward | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1892–1893 | Middlesbrough Ironopolis | ||
| 1893–1894 | Darwen | 24 | (10) |
| 1894–1895 | Burnley | 22 | (6) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
John McKnight was a professional footballer who played as a centre forward. He played almost fifty matches in the Football League with Burnley and Darwen, and also played for Middlesbrough Ironopolis in the Northern Football League.
Playing career
[edit]Early career
[edit]McKnight began as a centre forward with Grimsby Town in September 1889, in the opening match of the 1889–90 season.[1] He also played for Aston Villa before joining Middlesbrough Ironopolis,[2] where he played from 1892 to 1893. One review during his time with Aston Villa in 1891 described McKnight as "elephantine".[3] At the end of the 1892 season with Ironopolis, it was reported that "McKnight makes a wonderful difference in the team", which had averaged one goal per game when he was absent for a stretch, but "since his reappearance... registered 20 goals in four matches".[4] It was also reported at that time that McKnight and other core players had signed on with Middlesbrough for the next season.[4]
Darwen
[edit]In March 1893, it was reported that "McKnight, the centre-forward of the Middlesbrough Club, has been engaged by Darwen".[5] Later that year, it was speculated that "McKnight, ex-Grimsby, ex-Aston Villa, ex-Middlesboro, ex-nearly everywhere, is likely to leave Darwen for Ardwick", although this departure did not materialise, and McKnight remained with Darwen for the following year.[2]
In the January 1894 FA Cup first round match between Darwen and Derby County, McKnight "got off capitally" in a corner recovery of a blocked goal attempt against Darwen, then had a goal attempt of his own blocked despite being "an excellent shot", and "was caught red-handed by the referee when getting up after his dirty work, and he was promptly cautioned, some laughter being caused by the offender being on his knees".[6] Later in the season, McKnight was singled out for praise in Darwen's 3–0 victory over Walsall Town Swifts, scoring one goal "with a high shot", assisting with another, and scoring a goal from offside towards the end of the match.[7] In total he made 24 appearances in the Football League for Darwen, scoring 10 goals.[8]
Burnley
[edit]After two seasons with Darwen, McKnight moved to Burnley of the First Division. In September 1894, McKnight was injured in one game, having to be carried from the field with a twisted knee during a match against Nottingham Forest, in which McKnight's scoring efforts had been frustrated several times during the game.[9] Later that month, however, McKnight scored the winning goal in a 2–1 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers, though some observers felt that the player McKnight received the ball from was offside, and the goal should not have counted.[10]
In a March 1895 match against Small Heath, McKnight was criticised for "harassing and questionable tactics", including a blow to the ribs of an opposing player that caused a stoppage of the game, which Burnley went on to lose.[11] McKnight was again frustrated in an April 1895 match against Aston Villa, being called for a foul while "bearing down on the home goal" in a match that Burnley lost 5–0.[12] In total he made 22 Football League appearances for Burnley, scoring 6 goals.[8]
References
[edit]- ^ "Football Notes: Grimsby Town v. West Bromwich Albion", Hull Daily Mail (9 September 1889), p. 3.
- ^ a b ""Brevities", The Walsall Advertiser (28 October 1893), p. 4.
- ^ "Football Notes", The Birmingham Daily Mail (5 January 1891), p. 4.
- ^ a b "Association Notes, By Referee", The Darlington North Star (19 March 1892), p. 4.
- ^ "Sports and Pastimes", The Nottingham Evening Post (27 March 1893), p. 4.
- ^ "To-Day's Football. The English Cup. Derby County v. Darwen", Derby Daily Telegraph (29 January 1894), p. 3.
- ^ "Darwen v. Walsall Town Swifts", Birmingham Daily Gazette (5 March 1894), p. 3.
- ^ a b Joyce, Michael (2004). Football League Players' Records 1888-1939. SoccerData. p. 171.
- ^ This Day's Football. The League.—Division I. Notts Forest v. Burnley", The Nottingham Evening Post (1 September 1894), p. 3.
- ^ "The Wolves Make A Good Show At Burnley", Birmingham Daily Gazette (24 September 1894), p. 6.
- ^ "Two Points At Last", Birmingham Daily Gazette (25 March 1895), p. 6.
- ^ "Saturday's Football. The League.—Division I. Aston Villa v. Burnley", Birmingham Daily Gazette (8 April 1895), p. 6.