Billy Knott

Sunderland

Knott was signed by Sunderland after he was released by Premier League rivals Chelsea in the 2010–11 season. He had been dismissed from the Chelsea Academy and forced to sign a confidentiality agreement after a "smoke grenade incident".

Knott joined Terry Brown's League Two side AFC Wimbledon on loan on 11 January 2012, and made his debut in a 2–1 win against Port Vale three days later. He scored his first goal in professional football at Kingsmeadow in a 2–1 win over Macclesfield Town on 24 January. The 19-year-old received the "Dons" Young Player of the Year award, despite only playing half the 2011–12 season, having scored three goals in twenty appearances.

On 8 October 2012, Knott joined Conference Premier side Woking on a one-month loan. He made his debut at Kingfield Stadium in a 2–1 win over Cambridge United the following day. His first goals came for Garry Hill's "Cardinals" came against Luton Town on 1 January 2013, when he scored twice in a 3–1 win. He scored another two goals on 2 February, in a 2–1 win over Hyde. He was awarded the club's Goal of the Season award for his curled effort against Hyde, which was also nominated for the Conference's Goal of the Season competition. Knott scored eight goals in twenty league games, and returned to the Stadium of Light, at the end of Woking's season, after a 2–1 defeat to Tamworth. Manager Paolo Di Canio handed him his Sunderland debut on 19 May 2013, the last day of the 2012–13 Premier League season, coming on as a substitute in a 1–0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane.

Knott joined League Two side Wycombe Wanderers on a one-month youth loan deal on 20 August 2013. He made his Wycombe debut four days later in a 2–2 draw with local-rivals Oxford United, and manager Gareth Ainsworth stated that: "Billy Knott had an immense debut. He has energy, passion, drive, everything that I like in a player, and on top of that he's got Premiership quality with his left foot." He settled into the first team at Adams Park, and his loan spell was twice extended. On 14 September, he scored his first goal for the "Chairboys", in a 3–0 win over Plymouth Argyle. He was re-called by Sunderland on 13 January, 16 days before his loan spell was due to end.

On 22 January 2014, Knott joined League One club Port Vale on loan for the remainder of the 2013–14 season. He scored his first goal at Vale Park with a left-footed strike from 25-yards on 22 March, in a 3–2 win over Tranmere Rovers. In doing so he boosted his chances of winning a contract from "Valiants" manager Micky Adams when his contract at Sunderland expired in the summer. On 1 April, he scored with a 20-yard strike in a 2–1 home win over Crawley Town that was later voted as the club's Goal of the Season.

Bradford City

Knott signed a two-year contract with League One club Bradford City in May 2014, and stated that "[having heard] manager Phil Parkinson's plans to take the club forward you can't really turn that down." Knott made his debut on 9 August in a 3–2 win against Coventry City at Valley Parade. Knott scored his first goal for the "Bantams" on 19 August, in a 3–1 win away to Crawley Town. On 27 August, he scored in a 2–1 win against West Yorkshire rivals Leeds United in the Second Round of the League Cup. On 24 January, he played the first 80 minutes of City's 4–2 FA Cup giant-killing of Premier League champions Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, which he described as the greatest achievement of his career. After the game, he received a signed shirt from "Blues" captain John Terry, which he passed on to his Chelsea-supporting father. In the next round he helped Bradford beat another Premier League team, as they ran out 2–0 winners over his former club Sunderland. However, he lost his first team place to Josh Cullen, and was released at the end of the 2015–16 season.

Gillingham

In June 2016, Knott signed a two-year contract with League One club Gillingham. Manager Justin Edinburgh said he was "a very bright talent". He struggled for form at Priestfield early in the season as he said he was "playing on the left in a diamond... but I would rather play top or bottom of the diamond to get on the ball"; he then was sidelined with a hamstring injury before manager Edinburgh was sacked in favour of Adrian Pennock in January.

Lincoln City

On 2 February 2017, Knott joined National League side Lincoln City on loan for the remainder of the 2016–17 campaign. On 1 April, he scored the only goal of the game against Bromley at Sincil Bank to send the "Imps" to the top of the table; speaking after the game, manager Danny Cowley said Knott was a "super-talented kid... [who] can be whatever he wants to be". Lincoln achieved promotion back to the English Football League as National League champions with a 2–1 home win over Macclesfield Town on 22 April. At the conclusion of the 2016–17 season Gillingham announced that Knott had been transfer listed by the club.

Knott secured his release from Gillingham, and signed a one-year deal at Lincoln City in June 2017.

International career

Knott has represented England at under-16, under-17 and under-20 level. He scored for the under-17s in a 7–0 win over Estonia in a qualifier for the 2009 UEFA European Under-17 Championship on 24 October 2008. Brian Eastick selected Knott and Sunderland teammate Blair Adams in the 21 man squad for the 2011 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Colombia.

Style of play

Knott is a left-footed midfielder with a 'high-intensity, high-energy' playing style. He prefers to play as an attacking midfielder, but can also play on the left-side of midfield.

Career statistics

Honours