Alan Knight: 'I'm not the Superman I thought I was - but wonderful Portsmouth family have given me strength for cancer fight'

Accompanying his wife Heather around the Bedhampton store, maintaining the mundane household routine provided a sliver of normality for the Blues Legend to cherish ahead of a life-changing period. 

Likewise, the gentleman who briefly paused his shopping trip to approach with warm well wishes served as a touching reminder how the city is firmly behind Knight.

It had been little under 48 hours since opting to bring his prostate cancer battle into the public glare, not that the 63-year-old’s motivation was driven by a craving to occupy the spotlight.

Instead it was a desire to raise awareness of a disease often shrugged off through manly pride which prompted Knight to share a very personal fight with the Pompey family which adores him.

The subsequent outpouring of love across the city which has been home for approaching 50 years was to be expected, nonetheless the depth of affection still floored the ever-modest Pompey club ambassador.

Having previously successfully fought against alcoholism and depression, Knight is well aware his latest challenge won’t be faced alone.

‘I never wanted this to be all about poor old Al, that’s definitely not the reason why I decided to go public,’ he told The News.

‘Everyone is, in some way, affected by cancer. Most of us have been touched in some shape or form, whether that’s personally or with family and friends. The word is scary, but I want to create awareness.

‘I have always been around and involved with people with cancer, whether that’s raising money or visiting them in QA Hospital. I never thought it would ever happen to me, I’m not the Superman I thought I was.

‘Before I went public, I told my family and closest friends. I met up with Billy Gilbert and Vince Hilaire for a coffee, I’ve spoken to Andy Awford, Kit Symons and Gavin Maguire, while Big Kev McCormack has also been there for me. I’ve also had great support from Sporting Chance, who helped me get through my other issues, and Pompey, who have been brilliant with me.

‘Since announcing it publicly, my phone has been on fire and I’ve been absolutely blown away by the love sent my way by the Pompey family. The reaction has been unbelievable. That outpouring of love and support has been special.

‘I’ve had messages on WhatsApp and Messenger from people I don’t know, I’ve been stopped by people in the street who obviously know me from football, but I’m not familiar with them.

‘I was approached by a guy in Asda last Saturday, who wished me all the best - and I told him to take a test. These people are treating me like I am part of their family, which is lovely.

‘It’s hard to put into words, I’m not the most articulate as you know, but it has brought a tear to my eye.

‘It's going to be tough and not particularly pleasant, but I will do what needs to be done.’

These days Knight is troubled by his lower back and ankles, the pain serving as a nagging reminder of a playing career spanning four decades and 801 appearances with Pompey.

The toil of football, coupled with advancing years, necessitated his right hip being replaced in August 2023, swiftly followed by the other hip then requiring addressing just eight months later.

Fresh out of hospital, Knight was on crutches for the April unveiling of a new Fratton Park mural created by street artists MurWalls, depicting six Pompey heroes, as voted for by supporters.

Certainly he was in fine company, with his image portrayed alongside Robert Prosinecki, Paul Merson, Kanu, Guy Whittingham and Linvoy Primus.

However, recovery from his second hip operation contrasted with the first, with a persistent pain developing in the left-sided pubic area, albeit merely shrugged off as part of his recovery.

Come July, following successive nights disrupted by the need to frequently visit the toilet, Knight decided to act.

He added: ‘For my first hip operation, I was in hospital for three days. The second was completely different, being discharged after one day and having a catheter put in.

‘The catheter came out after a little while, but I didn’t feel quite the same, there was a slight pain in my lower abdomen, just above that left hip which had been replaced. It was a dull ache, uncomfortable, but I wouldn’t call it proper pain.

‘I then experienced the need to get up every hour at night for the toilet. I was there for ages, with a weak stream, before going back to bed, only to have to get up again. Yet there wasn’t any pain when I weed.

‘After a couple of nights of that, I mentioned my health to a lifelong friend, Trevor Inch, a former Pompey goalkeeper and the best man at my wedding to Heather. He advised me to get tested as a few of his friends have experienced trouble with their prostate.

‘As it happened, on the Monday I was scheduled to visit my doctor at Oaks Healthcare in Cowplain for a routine diabetes test, which takes place every two years. While I was there, I asked the nurse about how to get a PSA test.

‘She took it there and then, it’s just a blood test from your arm. Two days later I received a phone call from the doctors asking me to go back.

‘I was told my PSA was abnormally high, measuring at 31.4 when it should be between 4 and 9. When the doctor examined me, he discovered an enlarged prostate and I was put on urgent suspected cancer referral.

‘Within two weeks I underwent a CT scan, a bone scan, an MRI and a biopsy. QA Hospital have been brilliant, really friendly, while I have also visited the Macmillan Centre, which is based at the hospital.

‘Looking back, I think I half-knew it was something more, this was no normal post-operation pain. Yet I kidded myself into thinking it was all down to my hip replacement. I’d be in big trouble now if I hadn’t asked for that PSA test.’

Following an anxious three-and-a-half week wait to learn his results, Knight was requested to attend QA’s oncology department in September, the day before Pompey’s televised encounter with West Brom.

Joined by his wife, they were informed he has high-grade prostate cancer, effectively an aggressive form of the disease.

Indeed, following a week away in Tenerife, they returned earlier this month to be given a fresh diagnosis - the cancer had also spread to his left hip area.

Knight said: ‘The truth is, had they caught it earlier, it could have been dealt with before escaping into another part of my body.

‘If you can catch it while it’s within the prostate, your survival rate is greatly enhanced, around a 97 per cent recovery. They either take it out or manage it through hormone therapy.

‘Mine is a little more difficult considering it has spread into my hip. I have been told it’s very, very small, so hopefully we can get it before it goes too far. The idea is it can be managed through chemotherapy.

‘The cancer in my hip is never going to go away, they can’t kill it, but, through treatment, they can control it and hope it will never flare up again. The longer you leave it, though, the worse it spreads around your body.

‘Treatment so far has been hormone therapy with injections, which I will need to take every 28 days for the rest of my life or until something else comes along. Since I’ve been taking that, the hip pain has gone and going to the toilet is now fine.

‘Chemo will hopefully start within the next two weeks, I am on a shortlist. Once that begins, I will have treatment every three weeks for a total of six sessions, alongside taking steroid tablets.

‘They haven’t said whether they have got the cancer early, but this is the reality and I am optimistic. It has happened so quickly and there are still a lot of questions I also need to ask my consultant and oncology nurse.

‘I’ll carry on with my Pompey role until I start chemo. At that stage, I’ll be more susceptible to infection and will need to step back and get myself well. Maybe I can return to the job in five months, it all goes to plan. The club have been incredibly understanding, which I am very grateful for.

‘If you notice anything different about your body, something you don’t think is right, get it checked. You know your body best. I was a bit caught out by blaming my hip replacement and took my eye off the ball.’

Last Thursday, Knight released a statement through Pompey informing supporters of his cancer battle, accompanied by pleas for others to get themselves checked.

Although the causes of prostate cancer are largely unknown, most cases develop in men aged 50 or older, while it is more common in black men and less common in Asian men. Recent research also suggests obesity increases the risk.

Having previously successfully fought against alcohol and depression, Knight has no qualms about this latest challenge.

Indeed, September 28 represented 16 years sober, a proud landmark emanating from a 28-day residency at Sporting Chance in 2008 which is credited by Knight as saving him. 

He has subsequently rebuilt his life, marrying Heather in July 2010, within 18 months of meeting at her ex-mother-in-law’s funeral, while he was appointed Pompey’s club ambassador in October 2013.

And a determined Knight will continue fighting.

He added: ‘My previous experiences will definitely help me face what’s coming.

‘Alcoholism never leaves you, I will always be an alcoholic, yet I have fought to get sober and to stay sober, so I will take strength from that.

‘Sporting Chance gave me the opportunity to rebuild my life with a fantastic family which I was close to losing completely at one stage. I am truly grateful for that. Now I have grandchildren I thought I’d never have the chance to get to know.

‘There has been depression too, it does come and go, but I can’t say it’s around at the moment. Depression is different for everyone, if you’ve had it, it can always come back, I don’t think it ever fully goes away, but you become more aware of that, what triggers it and the severity.

‘Mine is more anxiety, but, even with this, I’m staying positive. I don’t see any reason why not to be at the moment. If I react well to the chemo, I can get into remission and everything is good.

‘But this isn’t about poor old Al, I am where I am. It has been a bit of a kick in the gut, but it’s something I’m prepared to face. It’s not going to be easy, the treatment will be a bit rough, but I don’t want people to tread on eggshells around me.

‘I’m not doom and gloom. I know I’m a miserable so-and-so, but I’m okay. I will probably have up and down days, yet I just want to get on with it.

‘All I’m asking is to please get checked. It’s just a simple little blood test - I can’t imagine where I’d be if I hadn’t taken it.’

For more information, please visit the websites of Prostate Cancer UK and Macmillan Cancer Support.