LSSC legends: Tony Knapp
This month, Waterloo Sunset’s ‘legend’ takes us back to the sixties and features, Tony Knapp, Skipper of Ted Bates’ all conquering promotion team of 1966.
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June 2010 – Tony Knapp
Tony Knapp was signed by Ted Bates in August 1961; a move that displayed Southampton’s serious intent in securing top flight status.
Knapp was considered to be an England contender whilst at his previous club, Leicester City, and had represented the Football League against The Scottish League in March 1960 and travelled with the England squad on a tour of Hungary.
Bates had taken advantage of Knapp’s restlessness due to the fact that he had lost his place at Filbert Street after injury and missed the FA Cup final as a result. Saints more than doubled their record transfer fee in getting their man.
It was Knapp, as Captain, that led Saints to the First Division in 1966. He was regarded as an extremely cultured centre-back and a natural leader.
He moved onto Coventry City in 1967 but only made a handful of appearances before moving to the US. He returned to England for a two year spell with Tranmere Rovers before moving onto an extensive managerial career.
He started at non-league Poole Town as Player Manager, then Assistant Manager at Norwich City before moving to a successful career in Iceland and Norway that has included two spells as Iceland national team manager.
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He still lives in the Southampton area and is a regular visitor to St Marys.
Tony Knapp factfile
Born: 13th October 1936.Newstead, Nottinghamshire.
Appearances and goals
1955-61: Leicester City 86 (0)
1961-67: Southampton 260 (2)
1967-68: Coventry City 11 (0)
Managerial career
1971-72: Poole Town
1974-77: Iceland
1978-81: Viking FK
1982-83: Fredrikstad FK
1984-85: Iceland
1986-87: SK Brann
2003: Stavanger IF
2004-05: Hundvag FK
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