Thomas McKnight (April 1868 – 1930) was an

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ide ...

soccer-player who played in the Association-Football-League for

Aston Villa Aston Villa Football Club is a professional football club based in Aston, Birmingham, England. The club competes in the , the top tier of the English football league system. Founded in 1874, they have played at their home ground, Villa Park ...

. As a new signing for Villa, McKnight played in the

benefit match A benefit is a match or season of activities granted by a sporting body to a loyal sportsman to boost their income before retirement. Often this is in the form of a match for which all the ticket proceeds are given to the player in question. Howeve ...

held for Small Heath player,

Chris Charsley Charles Christopher Charsley (7 November 1864 – 10 January 1945) was an English footballer who played as a goalkeeper for Small Heath and England, and a police officer who rose to the rank of Chief Constable. Career Born in Leicester, he j ...

, ahead of his retirement; despite the admission charge being increased for the occasion,Notes on Sport. ''Birmingham Daily Post''. p. 8. 21 April 1890. 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.Football. Aston Villa v. Small Heath. ''Birmingham Daily Post''. p. 7. 6 May 1890. A substantial sum was raised.Notes on Sport. ''Birmingham Daily Post''. p. 7. 12 May 1890.

References

1868 births 1930 deaths English men's footballers Aston Villa F.C. players English Football League players Men's association football forwards Sportspeople from Lichfield Footballers from Staffordshire {{England-footy-forward-1860s-stub