{{Short description|English footballer}} {{Use British English|date=August 2024}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2024}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Darryl Knights | image = Darryl Knights Vs Tamworth.png | caption = Knights playing for Stourbridge in 2022 | full_name = Darryl James Knights | birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|1988|5|1}} | birth_place = Ipswich, England | height = 5 ft 7 in | position = Striker, winger | currentclub = Stourbridge (assistant manager) | clubnumber = | youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 = Ipswich Town | years1 = 2004–2007 | clubs1 = Ipswich Town | caps1 = 1 | goals1 = 0 | years2 = 2007 | clubs2 = → Yeovil Town (loan) | caps2 = 4 | goals2 = 0 | years3 = 2007–2008 | clubs3 = Yeovil Town | caps3 = 3 | goals3 = 0 | years4 = 2007 | clubs4 = → Cambridge United (loan) | caps4 = 4 | goals4 = 0 | years5 = 2008 | clubs5 = → Kidderminster Harriers (loan)| caps5 = 18 | goals5 = 4 | years6 = 2008–2010 | clubs6 = Kidderminster Harriers | caps6 = 78 | goals6 = 5 | years7 = 2010–2012 | clubs7 = Newport County | caps7 = 64 | goals7 = 8 | years8 = 2012–2016 | clubs8 = Solihull Moors | caps8 = 166 | goals8 = 30 | years9 = 2016–2017 | clubs9 = Kidderminster Harriers | caps9 = 15 | goals9 = 1 | years10 = 2017–2018| clubs10 = Tamworth | caps10 = 41 | goals10 = 10 | years11 = 2018–2020| clubs11 = AFC Telford United | caps11 = 58 | goals11 = 7 | years12 = 2020–2024| clubs12 = Stourbridge | caps12 = 83 | goals12 = 6 | years13 = 2024–2025| clubs13 = Stourport Swifts | caps13 = | goals13 = | manageryears1 = 2024 | managerclubs1 = Stourbridge (interim) | manageryears2 = 2025 | managerclubs2 = Stourbridge | club-update = 18:38, 16 June 2024 (UTC) | nationalyears1 = 2003–2004 | nationalteam1 = England U16 | nationalcaps1 = 4 | nationalgoals1 = 0 | nationalyears2 = 2004–2005 | nationalteam2 = England U17 | nationalcaps2 = 7 | nationalgoals2 = 0 | nationalteam-update = }}
'''Darryl James Knights''' (born 1 May 1988) is an English football player and manager, who played as a striker. He is currently assistant manager of {{English football updater|Stourbri}} club Stourbridge.
==Playing career== Born in Ipswich, Knights was a product of the youth system at Ipswich Town<ref name="Harriers loan" /> and played for England at youth and Under-17 level.<ref name="Yeovil loan">{{cite news| url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/y/yeovil/6334213.stm| title=Yeovil set to sign Ipswich teen |date=22 February 2007|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=5 June 2008}}</ref> He made his debut for the club as a 16-year-old in November 2004 but did not play for the first team again.<ref name="Yeovil loan" /> After impressing Yeovil Town manager Russell Slade in training, Knights joined the League One side on loan in February 2007 for the remainder of the 2006–07 season.<ref name="Yeovil loan" /> He made five substitute appearances for Yeovil, including one in the League One play-off final against Blackpool in May 2007. He then joined the club on a one-year contract in July 2007 after being given a free transfer by Ipswich at the end of the season.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/y/yeovil/6261580.stm|title=Yeovil manager makes Knights move |date=2 July 2007|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=5 June 2008}}</ref>
Knights was unable to establish himself in the first team at Yeovil and joined Cambridge United on loan in October 2007.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/y/yeovil/7052701.stm |title=Walker in, Knights out at Yeovil |date=19 October 2007|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=5 June 2008}}</ref> He returned to Yeovil in December 2007<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/cambridge_utd/7149645.stm|title=On-loan Knights leaves Cambridge |date=18 December 2007|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=5 June 2008}}</ref> He then joined Kidderminster Harriers on loan the following month for the rest of the 2007–08 season.<ref name="Harriers loan">{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/k/kidderminster_harriers/7220364.stm|title=Harriers clinch double loan move|date=31 January 2008|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=5 June 2008}}</ref> After a successful loan spell at Kidderminster in which he scored four goals, he joined the club on a permanent basis in the summer of 2008.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/k/kidderminster_harriers/7422108.stm| title=Three new players in at Harriers |date=27 May 2008|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=5 June 2008}}</ref>
In July 2010, Knights signed for Newport County.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/sport/8275299.County_sign_striker_Knights/|title=County sign striker Knights|date=16 July 2010|publisher=South Wales Argus}}</ref> He subsequently scored the equaliser in the Welsh derby match between Newport and Wrexham in September 2010. On 12 May 2012, he played for Newport in the FA Trophy Final at Wembley Stadium which Newport lost 2–0 to York City, coming on as a second-half substitute.<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/18017573 2012 FA Trophy final]</ref> Knights was released by Newport the following week at the end of his contract.<ref>[http://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/sport/football/newportcounty/9710179.Four_more_leave_as_Spytty_exodus_continues/ Knights released by Newport]</ref>
Knights joined Conference North side Solihull Moors on 1 August 2012 following his release from Newport. On 6 December 2016, Knights rejoined Kidderminster Harriers after leaving Solihull Moors.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.harriers.co.uk/news/article/2016-17/kidderminster-harriers-re-sign-attacking-midfielder-darryl-knights-3454665.aspx |title=Darryl Knights makes Harriers return |publisher=Kidderminster Harriers F.C. |date=6 December 2016 |accessdate=23 January 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202030406/http://www.harriers.co.uk/news/article/2016-17/kidderminster-harriers-re-sign-attacking-midfielder-darryl-knights-3454665.aspx |archive-date=2 February 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref> He remained at the club until the end of the season, making 15 appearances and scoring one goal, before being released. Knights became the first signing of the 2017–18 season for National League North side Tamworth when he joined on 17 May 2017.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Knights Checks In |url=http://www.thelambs.co.uk/news/knights-checks-in-3980.htm |publisher=TheLambs.co.uk |date=17 May 2017 |accessdate=17 May 2017 }}{{Dead link|date=August 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
In June 2024, Knights joined Midland League Premier Division side Stourport Swifts.<ref>{{cite tweet|number=1801994853468787141|title=Welcome to Swifts @DarrylJKnights 💛🖤|user=StourportSwifts|author-link=Stourport Swifts F.C.|date=15 June 2024|accessdate=16 June 2024}}</ref> In December 2025, Knights stepped back to become assistant manager, following the appointment of Scott Adey-Linforth as manager. <ref>https://www.expressandstar.com/sport/football/non-league/2025/12/15/scott-adey-linforth-returns-to-stourbridge-as-manager-with-darryl-knights-as-assistant/</ref> ==Career statistics== {{updated|match played 1 January 2024}}
{| class=wikitable style="text-align: center" |+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition |- !rowspan=2|Club !rowspan=2|Season !colspan=3|League !colspan=2|FA Cup !colspan=2|League Cup !colspan=2|Other !colspan=2|Total |- !Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals |- |rowspan=4|Ipswich Town |2004–05<ref name=sb0405>{{soccerbase season|40394|2004|access-date=8 January 2024 }}</ref> |Championship |1||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||1||0 |- |2005–06<ref name=sb0506>{{soccerbase season|40394|2005|access-date=8 January 2024 }}</ref> |Championship |0||0||0||0||0||0||colspan=2|—||0||0 |- |2006–07<ref name=sb0607>{{soccerbase season|40394|2006|access-date=8 January 2024 }}</ref> |Championship |0||0||0||0||0||0||colspan=2|—||0||0 |- !colspan=2|Total !1||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||1||0 |- |Yeovil Town (loan) |2006–07<ref name=sb0607/> |League One |4||0||0||0||0||0||1{{efn|Appearance in League One play-offs}}||0||5||0 |- |Yeovil Town |2007–08<ref name=sb0708>{{soccerbase season|40394|2007|access-date=8 January 2024 }}</ref> |League One |3||0||0||0||0||0||1{{efn|Appearance in Football League Trophy}}||0||4||0 |- |Cambridge United (loan) |2007–08<ref name=sb0708/> |Conference Premier |4||0||2||0||colspan=2|—||0||0||6||0 |- |Kidderminster Harriers (loan) |2007–08<ref name=sb0708/> |Conference Premier |18||4||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||1{{efn|name=FAT|Appearance(s) in FA Trophy}}||0||19||4 |- |rowspan=3|Kidderminster Harriers |2008–09 |Conference Premier |36||1||2||0||colspan=2|—||1{{efn|name=FAT}}||0||39||1 |- |2009–10<ref name=soccerway>{{cite web |title=D. Knights: Summary |url=https://uk.soccerway.com/players/darryl-knights/36154/ |website=Soccerway |publisher=Perform Group |access-date=8 January 2024}}</ref> |Conference Premier |42||4||2||0||colspan=2|—||5{{efn|name=FAT}}||1||49||5 |- !colspan=2|Total !78||5||4||0||colspan=2|—||6||1||88||6 |- |rowspan=3|Newport County |2010–11<ref name=soccerway/> |Conference Premier |41||7||1||0||colspan=2|—||3{{efn|name=FAT}}||0||45||7 |- |2011–12<ref name=soccerway/> |Conference Premier |23||1||2||0||colspan=2|—||7{{efn|name=FAT}}||2||32||3 |- !colspan=2|Total !64||8||3||0||colspan=2|—||10||2||77||10 |- |rowspan=6|Solihull Moors |2012–13<ref name=soccerway/> |Conference North |37||4||0||0||colspan=2|—||2{{efn|name=FAT}}||0||39||4 |- |2013–14<ref name=soccerway/> |Conference North |33||3||0||0||colspan=2|—||0||0||33||3 |- |2014–15<ref name=soccerway/> |Conference North |39||12||0||0||colspan=2|—||1{{efn|name=FAT}}||0||40||12 |- |2015–16<ref name=soccerway/> |National League North |37||11||0||0||colspan=2|—||1{{efn|name=FAT}}||0||38||11 |- |2016–17<ref name=soccerway/> |National League |20||0||3||0||colspan=2|—||0||0||23||0 |- !colspan=2|Total !166||30||3||0||colspan=2|—||4||0||173||30 |- |Kidderminster Harriers |2016–17<ref name=soccerway/> |National League North |15||1||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||3{{efn|name=FAT}}||0||18||1 |- |Tamworth |2017–18<ref name=soccerway/> |National League North |41||10||0||0||colspan=2|—||0||0||41||10 |- |rowspan=3|AFC Telford United |2018–19<ref name=soccerway/> |National League North |39||5||2||0||colspan=2|—||5{{efn|name=FAT}}||0||46||5 |- |2019–20<ref name=soccerway/> |National League North |19||2||1||0||colspan=2|—||1{{efn|name=FAT}}||0||21||2 |- !colspan=2|Total !58||7||3||0||colspan=2|—||6||0||67||7 |- |rowspan=5|Stourbridge |2020–21<ref name=aylesbury>{{cite web |title=Darryl Knights Profile |url=https://www.aylesburyunitedarchive.com/player/darryl-knights/6688 |website=aylesburyunitedarchive.com |publisher=Aylesbury United F.C. |access-date=7 January 2024 }}</ref> |Southern League<br />Premier Division Central |8||1||1||1||colspan=2|—||1{{efn|name=FAT}}||0||10||2 |- |2021–22<ref name=aylesbury/> |Southern League<br />Premier Division Central |36||4||1||0||colspan=2|—||11{{efn|Six appearances in FA Trophy, five appearances in Birmingham Senior Cup}}||0||48||4 |- |2022–23<ref name=aylesbury/> |Southern League<br />Premier Division Central |32||1||2||0||colspan=2|—||7{{efn|Two appearances in FA Trophy, five appearances in Birmingham Senior Cup}}||0||41||1 |- |2023–24<ref name=aylesbury/> |Southern League<br />Premier Division Central |7||0||4||0||colspan=2|—||4{{efn|Three appearances and one goal in FA Trophy, one appearance in Birmingham Senior Cup}}||1||15||1 |- !colspan=2|Total !83||6||8||1||colspan=2|—||23||1||114||8 |- !colspan=3|Career total !535||71||23||1||0||0||55||4||613||76 |}
{{notelist}}
==Honours== '''Ipswich Town''' *FA Youth Cup: 2004–05<ref>{{Cite web | url = https://www.twtd.co.uk/ipswich-town-news/8089/town-win-youth-cup! | publisher = TWTD | accessdate = 25 March 2020 | date = 23 April 2005 | title = Town Win Youth Cup! }}</ref>
'''Solihull Moors''' *Birmingham Senior Cup: 2015–16
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *{{Soccerbase}} *{{Soccerway}}
{{2015–16 National League North Team of the Year}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Knights, Darryl}} Category:1988 births Category:Living people Category:Footballers from Ipswich Category:English men's footballers Category:Men's association football forwards Category:England men's youth international footballers Category:English Football League players Category:National League (English football) players Category:Southern Football League players Category:Ipswich Town F.C. players Category:Yeovil Town F.C. players Category:Cambridge United F.C. players Category:Kidderminster Harriers F.C. players Category:Newport County A.F.C. players Category:Solihull Moors F.C. players Category:Tamworth F.C. players Category:AFC Telford United players Category:Stourbridge F.C. players Category:Stourport Swifts F.C. players Category:21st-century English sportsmen