Knight: The Man who Saved the Albion
Posted on: Mon 18 May 2009
By Tim Dudding
Dick Knight's reign as chairman finished today, bringing to an end one of the most memorable chapters in the club's history.
The man who rescued the club during its darkest hour will become life president, with major investor Tony Bloom taking over at the helm.
Having made his fortune in the advertising business, lifelong Albion fan Knight replaced Bill Archer as chairman two games before the end of the tumultuous 1996/97 season, watching as the club escaped relegation - and possible extinction - on the final day of the season at Hereford.
Robbie Reinelt's famous goal meant that the club retained its league status, and although Knight's boardroom would temporarily be one of exile at Gillingham's Priestfield, it was not long before the Albion chairman achieved his first goal - to bring the team back to Brighton.
Over the next decade supporters would be treated to back-to-back championships, the play-off penalty drama against Swindon and the final victory at the Millennium Stadium which followed, two memorable seasons in the second flight and even the recent great escape - just some of the many enthralling occasions over the last 12 years.
Much of this success was down to Knight's shrewd managerial appointments; the likes of Micky Adams, Peter Taylor, Steve Coppell and Mark McGhee all in one way or another contributed to the rich fabric of the club's recent history.
Knight has also been integral in many of the club's most significant transfers; Gary Hart, Michel Kuipers, Leon Knight, Steve Sidwell and Bobby Zamora, to name but a few of the stars to wear the blue and white stripes during his tenure, not forgetting the sale of Adam Virgo to Celtic for £1.5 million.
Off the pitch, Knight has worked tirelessly to win the club's most important battle - the struggle for a new stadium. With construction on the stunning arena at Falmer now well underway, Knight can look back with pride at years of ingenious campaigning and manoeuvring through legal battles and public inquiries, with the knowledge that a permanent home is now only two years away.
But Knight will be best remembered for leading the club out of the darkness and into light; for ensuring that, despite constant adversity, football fans in Sussex and beyond have a league club they can call their own.
"Never a dull moment at the Albion", Knight always says, and, certainly while he has been chairman, never has a truer word been spoken.
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I would just like to thank Dick for all the good that he has done for the club
The only thing I would say is it would have been nice for him to acknowledge Dean Wilkins - whatever has gone on and been said over the past year (myself included) he could have at least acknowledged the person that had been at the club for over 20 years and was a big part of the youth set up at the club and good times at the club
Posted on: Mon 18 May 2009
By Tim Dudding
Dick Knight's reign as chairman finished today, bringing to an end one of the most memorable chapters in the club's history.
The man who rescued the club during its darkest hour will become life president, with major investor Tony Bloom taking over at the helm.
Having made his fortune in the advertising business, lifelong Albion fan Knight replaced Bill Archer as chairman two games before the end of the tumultuous 1996/97 season, watching as the club escaped relegation - and possible extinction - on the final day of the season at Hereford.
Robbie Reinelt's famous goal meant that the club retained its league status, and although Knight's boardroom would temporarily be one of exile at Gillingham's Priestfield, it was not long before the Albion chairman achieved his first goal - to bring the team back to Brighton.
Over the next decade supporters would be treated to back-to-back championships, the play-off penalty drama against Swindon and the final victory at the Millennium Stadium which followed, two memorable seasons in the second flight and even the recent great escape - just some of the many enthralling occasions over the last 12 years.
Much of this success was down to Knight's shrewd managerial appointments; the likes of Micky Adams, Peter Taylor, Steve Coppell and Mark McGhee all in one way or another contributed to the rich fabric of the club's recent history.
Knight has also been integral in many of the club's most significant transfers; Gary Hart, Michel Kuipers, Leon Knight, Steve Sidwell and Bobby Zamora, to name but a few of the stars to wear the blue and white stripes during his tenure, not forgetting the sale of Adam Virgo to Celtic for £1.5 million.
Off the pitch, Knight has worked tirelessly to win the club's most important battle - the struggle for a new stadium. With construction on the stunning arena at Falmer now well underway, Knight can look back with pride at years of ingenious campaigning and manoeuvring through legal battles and public inquiries, with the knowledge that a permanent home is now only two years away.
But Knight will be best remembered for leading the club out of the darkness and into light; for ensuring that, despite constant adversity, football fans in Sussex and beyond have a league club they can call their own.
"Never a dull moment at the Albion", Knight always says, and, certainly while he has been chairman, never has a truer word been spoken.
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I would just like to thank Dick for all the good that he has done for the club
The only thing I would say is it would have been nice for him to acknowledge Dean Wilkins - whatever has gone on and been said over the past year (myself included) he could have at least acknowledged the person that had been at the club for over 20 years and was a big part of the youth set up at the club and good times at the club
