Billy Knott

DOB: 28th November 1992

Position: Attacking midfielder

Season of first appearance: 2022/23

Season of last appearance: 2022/23

Full Appearances: 1

Substitute: 2

Goals: 0

Also played for:

Sunderland, AFC Wimbledon, Woking, Wycombe Wanderers, Port Vale, Bradford City, Gillingham, Lincoln City, Rochdale, Concord Rangers, Chelmsford City, Bowers & Pitsea, Billericay Town, Canvey Island, Great Wakering Rovers, Southend Manor, Erith Town

Player Profile:

Talented attacking midfielder Billy grew up on Canvey Island and joined the academy at West Ham United at the age of ten before moving with his family to Spain. In Spain, West Ham arranged for a trial with Real Madrid but, after the family returned to London, he chose to join Chelsea’s academy rather than rejoin West Ham.

Billy represented England at under-16, under-17 and under-20 level. He played for England in the 2011 Under-20 World Cup held in Colombia.

He joined Sunderland after being released by Chelsea in 2011. Chelsea had made him sign a confidentiality agreement after an incident with a smoke grenade at the training ground.

He played one first-team game for Sunderland - on 19.5.13 as a sub in a 1-0 Premier League defeat at Tottenham Hotspur. He spent periods on loan at AFC Wimbledon, Woking, Wycombe Wanderers and Port Vale.

He joined Bradford City in May 2014. On 24.1.15, he played the first 80 minutes of City’s shock 4-2 FA Cup Fourth Round win at Premier League champions Chelsea. Billy remained with Bradford for two seasons and made more than 60 appearances before he joined Gillingham in June 2016.

He went to Lincoln City on loan in January 2017 and joined the club permanently after he helped the Imps to the 2016-17 National League title.

He joined Rochdale on loan in January 2018 before transferring to National League South side Concord Rangers in June 2018.

In 2018, Billy spoke in an interview about his struggles with alcoholism and depression which had started in 2015.

He switched to Chelmsford City in March 2019 and joined Bowers & Pitsea in September 2020. 

He later played for Billericay Town, Canvey Island, Great Wakering Rovers and Southend Manor and had another spell at Bowers & Pitsea. He had made one appearance for Erith Town in the SCEFL before coming to Margate in January 2023.

Billy made his Margate debut as a sub in an Isthmian League Cup tie at home to Whitehawk on 10.1.23. Even though he only came on with 20 minutes left, it was an eventful match for Billy as he went down injured in added time but the referee did not stop play as Whitehawk scored their fourth goal in a 4-3 victory. Billy was replaced by Henry Young in the time that remained.

Billy also played as a sub in a 1-0 home defeat to Carshalton on 18.2.23 and started a 3-0 Kent Senior Cup win at home to Cray Valley on 21.2.23. He then left the club.

Ahead of 2023-24, Billy re-signed for Concord Rangers and remained with them in 2024-25 after their relegation from the Isthmian Premier.