Northern Ireland international goalkeeper Allen McKnight, who had made first team appearances for Celtic and West Ham, played ten times for Exeter City at the end of his professional career. 

Allen played youth football for Crumlin Boys, Crumlin Recreation and Chimney Corner before signing for Irish League Distillery in 1984. Moving to Celtic in 1986, he made 12 Scottish League appearances for the club - and won a Scottish Cup winners medal in 1988 - as well as having a loan spell with Albion Rovers and winning the first of his ten caps for Northern Ireland in 1987.

After his Scottish Cup success, Allen joined West Ham United where he made 23 league appearances during 1988/89. Slipping back into the reserves the following season, Allen was later released and played for a succession of clubs including Airdrieonians, Stockport County, Rotherham United and Walsall ahead of a longer stay with South China in Hong Kong. 

Back in Britain Allen reached a short-term agreement with Exeter City and, having played very little professional football in this country since leaving Upton Park, made his Grecians debut in the draw against Brighton and Hove Albion on 26 March 1994.

Remaining at St James’ Park for the remainder of the season, Allen featured in ten league games before settling in the Essex area to work as a timber merchant and play for Collier Row, Romford and the later Collier Row/Romford merged club.