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| Version | User | Scope of changes |
|---|---|---|
| May 21 2008, 6:49 AM EDT (current) | auldbhoy | |
| May 9 2008, 7:34 AM EDT | auldbhoy |
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Personal
Date of Birth: Monday, 27th January 1964,
Birthplace: Antrim, Northern Ireland
Nationality: Northern Irish
International Caps 10
International Goals 0
Playing Career
| 1986-88 | Celtic | 15 Apps. | 0 goals |
Celtic Career Review
Allen McKnight signed for Celtic in the summer of 1986, following closely behind another Northern Irishman, Anton Rogan.
On arriving in Glasgow, McKnight found himself as third choice 'keeper behind Pat Bonner and Peter Latchford, and he was farmed out on a season-long loan to Albion Rovers. His time in the Scottish Second Division earned McKnight valuable experience in the Scottish game, and also a Lanarkshire Cup winner's medal.
On his return to Parkhead for the 1987/88 McKnight found a new manager, Billy McNeill having replaced David Hay, and quickly found himself in the first-team as Bonner went down with a virus. McKnight's debut came in a 5-1 League Cup win at Dumbarton on 26th August 1987. Three days later he made his Premier Division bow, keeping a clean-sheet in the heat of an Old Firm derby, Celtic beating Rangers 1-0. Ultimately Bonner reclaimed his place, but McKnight's twelve appearances and five clean-sheets helped the Championship trophy return to Parkhead.
1987/88 also saw Allen McKnight make his international debut, displacing George Dunlop for the European Championship qualification match with Yugoslavia in October 1987. He played every minute of that season's internationals, six in all, and kept clean-sheets against Turkey, France and Malta.
The highlight of McKnight's season was yet to come, Pat Bonner picking up calf and hamstring injuries in training just days before the Scottish Cup Final. Billy McNeill kept the Republic of Ireland Number One's injury a secret right up to Final Saturday, with the Northern Ireland man a surprise between the sticks. Celtic claimed the trophy, and the Double, with a 2-1 victory over Dundee United, but it was McKnight's poor clearance that allowed Kevin Gallacher in for United's consolation.
In July 1988, with Pat Bonner still Celtic's obvious goalkeeping choice, McKnight jumped at the chance to play topflight football in England, with West Ham United manger John Lyall paying £250,000 for his services.
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