{{short description|English footballer}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2016}} {{Use British English|date=April 2016}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Tom McKnight | image = | fullname = Thomas McKnight | birth_date = April 1868 | birth_place = Lichfield, England | death_date = {{death year and age|1930|1868}} | position = Forward | years1 = 1890–1891| clubs1 = Aston Villa| caps1 = 10 |goals1 = 1 }} '''Thomas McKnight''' (April 1868 – 1930) was an English soccer-player who played in the Association-Football-League for Aston Villa.<ref>{{cite book|last=Joyce|first=Michael|title=Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939|year=2004|publisher=SoccerData|isbn=1-899468-67-6}}</ref>
As a new signing for Villa, McKnight played in the benefit match held for Small Heath player, Chris Charsley, ahead of his retirement; despite the admission charge being increased for the occasion,<ref>Notes on Sport. ''Birmingham Daily Post''. p. 8. 21 April 1890.</ref> around 6,000 spectators turned up to watch a schoolboys' match followed by the main attraction. In an encounter described by the ''Birmingham Daily Post'' as "perhaps the closest and most exciting ever played on the field", Villa drew 2–2 with a Small Heath eleven.<ref name=CCBenefit>Football. Aston Villa v. Small Heath. ''Birmingham Daily Post''. p. 7. 6 May 1890.</ref> A substantial sum was raised.<ref name=CCTribute>Notes on Sport. ''Birmingham Daily Post''. p. 7. 12 May 1890.</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:McKnight, Tom}} Category:1868 births Category:1930 deaths Category:English men's footballers Category:Aston Villa F.C. players Category:English Football League players Category:Men's association football forwards Category:Footballers from Lichfield {{England-footy-forward-1860s-stub}}