Cyril Barry KNOWLES was born at Fitzwilliam, Yorkshire, on 13th July 1944.
He played for South Emshall Schools and had trials with Manchester United
and Blackpool before joining Middlesbrough in October 1962. He joined
Spurs in May 1964 and retired as a player in May 1976. His first
managerial appointment was with Hertford Town but he later became Spurs
Scout in the South Yorkshire region. He was appointed coach at Doncaster
Rovers in 1977 and returned to Middlesbrough as coach in 1981, becoming
Assistant Manager in February 1982. He was appointed Manager of Darlington
in May 1983 and resigned to take up a similar appointment with Torquay
United in June 1987. He then left for Hartlepool in December 1989 and was
in their employment when he died at Middlesbrough, Cleveland, on 31st
August 1991.
Did you know that Cyril played 401 league games for Spurs, scoring 15 goals? Two of those goals came in the vital 4-2 victory over Leeds at the end of the 74-75 season, when we needed to beat a famous and strong side to stay in Division One. Cyril inspired the hit song "Nice One Cyril" before the 1973 League Cup Final. His brother Peter was a talented Wolves winger, who gave up the game early to become a Jehovah's Witness
