A traditional centre-forward, Harry had two spells at St George’s Lane between 1956 and 1962, interrupted by eighteen months at Cardiff City. City paid a club record fee to bring “Our ‘Arry” back home and in total he made 200 appearances for us, scoring 148 goals.

Born in Hednesford on 8 September 1932, Harry earned a professional contract with Walsall FC in 1950/51, but was discarded after only 10 League games. He started work at a bookbinder’s and signed for Stourbridge, then Kidderminster Harriers, winning a good reputation as a bustling forward alongside future England international Gerry Hitchens. National Service disrupted his career, and Harry played for Oswestry Town before returning to Kidderminster.

Worcester signed him in May 1956 and he soon became popular with his all-action, no nonsense style of play. “Knowles for goals” became a popular saying. In 1956/57 season he scored 43 goals and the next season he got 45, including a dramatic last-gasp equaliser against Aldershot in the FA. Cup.

In 1958/59 season his reputation spread as he led the line in our great F.A. Cup run. In both the Millwall and Liverpool games, Harry hounded full-time League defenders non-stop. Against Millwall game Harry scored twice and set up the opening goal. Both of our goals against Liverpool were as a direct result of Harry unsettling very experienced men on an icy pitch. Frequently he would draw defenders out of position by switching with his team-mate Tommy Brown and attacking from the right wing rather than straight down the middle.

Football League scouts had been watching Harry for some time, and soon after City’s cup run was over he was transferred to Cardiff City for a fee of £3,000. Harry’s time at Cardiff was not a huge success. Although he was top goalscorer for the reserves, Harry found that he was unable to use his trademark style of football to get the better of Football League defenders. In two seasons at Cardiff, Harry made 8 Football League appearances without scoring, and in September 1961 he re-joined City for a fee of £2,000 plus promising teenager Peter King, who went onto enjoy a long professional career.

Having taken up work as a van driver, Harry returned to Southern League football and carried on scoring goals for another two seasons. He eventually moved from Worcester to Wellington Town in July 1962, by when age and injuries were catching up on him.

Harry moved on to rejoin his former clubs Stourbridge and Oswestry for short spells in 1964, before moving to Cornwall as player coach of St Just FC in the South Western League.

He made his home in Penzance and took up a new sport, fishing. He excelled and twice won the European Sea Angling championship.

Harry visited the Lane on a number of occasions following his retirement and his affection for his old club was very apparent. He was always happy to share stories about his time here and always brought with him his photo album to show his treasured pictures from his time at Worcester.

Harry had not been in the best of health for some time but it’s hard to believe that the greatest City legend of all time is no longer with us. He will be sadly missed but never forgotten.

Worcester City FC