Jimmy Knowles (footballer)

Jimmy Knowles (born 25 January 2002) is an English footballer who plays as a forward for EFL League Two club Accrington Stanley.

Jimmy Knowles

Personal information
Full name	Jimmy Knowles[1]
Date of birth	(2002-01-25) 25 January 2002 (age 22)
Place of birth	Sutton-in-Ashfield, England
Height	1.84 m (6 ft 0 in) [2]
Position(s)	Forward
Team information
Current team	Accrington Stanley
Number	11
Youth career
	Nottingham Forest
	Mansfield Town
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2019–2023	Mansfield Town	6	(1)
2020–2021	→ Notts County (loan)	29	(6)
2021–2022	→ Greenock Morton (loan)	10	(0)
2023	→ Kettering Town (loan)	11	(3)
2023–2024	Boston United	47	(18)
2024–	Accrington Stanley	13	(2)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 00:35, 17 November 2024 (UTC)

Career

Knowles was called up to the Mansfield Town senior team by manager David Flitcroft after he scored four goals in a reserve game against Port Vale in March 2019.^[3] He signed a two-year professional contract with the "Stags" three months later.^[4] Manager John Dempster gave Knowles his debut in the English Football League in a 0–0 draw with Stevenage at Field Mill on 24 August, putting him on as an 89th-minute substitute for Alex MacDonald.^[5] He scored his first goal for the club in an EFL Trophy tie against Crewe Alexandra on 8 October 2019.^[6]

He was loaned to Notts County in September 2020.^[7] On 5 April 2021 Knowles scored his first senior hat-trick during a 4–2 win in a Vanarama National League fixture at Woking, scoring in the 60th, 66th & 79th minutes.^[8]

Knowles was loaned to Scottish Championship club Greenock Morton in August 2021. There he suffered a ruptured ACL and missed the remainder of the season.^[9]

In February 2023, Knowles joined National League North club Kettering Town on an initial one-month loan deal.^[10] This was later extended until the end of the season.^[11]

He was released by Mansfield at the end of the 2022–23 season and joined National League North side Boston United F.C.^[12]

Knowles made an encouraging start to his career at Boston United by scoring a brace to claim the three points during his home debut against South Shields^[13]

On 12 June 2024, Knowles signed for Accrington Stanley on a two-year contract.^[14]

Style of play

The Mansfield Town club website described Knowles as a forward with "great work ethic, possesses bags of pace and has an eye for goal".^[15]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			FA Cup		EFL Cup		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Mansfield Town	2019–20[16]	League Two	5	1	0	0	0	0	3[a]	1	8	2
	2020–21[17]	League Two	0	0	0	0	0	0	1[a]	0	1	0
	2021–22[18]	League Two	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	2022–23[19]	League Two	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
	Total		6	1	0	0	0	0	4	1	10	2
Notts County (loan)	2020–21[20]	National League	23	6	0	0	—		4[b]	4	27	10
Greenock Morton (loan)	2021–22[20]	Scottish Championship	10	0	0	0	0	0	2[c]	0	12	0
Kettering Town (loan)	2022–23[20]	National League North	11	3	0	0	—		1[b]	0	12	3
Boston United	2023–24	National League North	38	18	3	1	—		1[b]	0	42	19
Career total			88	28	3	1	0	0	12	5	103	34

1. Appearance(s) in the Football League Trophy
2. Appearance(s) in the FA Trophy
3. Appearance(s) in Scottish Challenge Cup

Honours

Boston United

• National League North play-offs: 2024^[21]

References

1. "Notification of shirt numbers: Mansfield Town" (PDF). English Football League. p. 41. Retrieved 22 October 2019.
2. Jimmy Knowles at Soccerway
3. "Mansfield Town youngster Jimmy Knowles trains with first-team after four-goal reserves haul". www.chad.co.uk. 28 March 2019. Retrieved 17 September 2019.
4. Lomas, John (25 June 2019). "Teen striker Jimmy Knowles signs two year pro deal for Mansfield Town". www.chad.co.uk. Retrieved 17 September 2019.
5. "Mansfield Town 0-0 Stevenage". BBC Sport. 24 August 2019. Retrieved 17 September 2019.
6. "MATCH REPORT: Mansfield Town again lose Trophy penalties shoot-out after draw with Crewe". chad.co.uk. 8 October 2019. Retrieved 9 October 2019.
7. "Jimmy joins on loan".
8. "Knowles reflects on hat-trick".
9. Dodds, Christopher (18 August 2021). "Morton boss expects loan signing Jimmy Knowles to be goal threat". Greenock Telegraph. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
10. @KTFCOfficial (17 February 2023). "JIMMY JOINS| The club are delighted to announce the loan signing of Jimmy Knowles from @mansfieldtownfc. The centre forward, who has previously had spells at Notts County and Greenock Morton, joins us for a month! Welcome to the club, Jimmy. Now let's get to work 👊 #est1872" (Tweet). Retrieved 12 May 2023 – via Twitter.
11. @KTFCOfficial (17 March 2023). "LOAN EXTENDED| We're delighted to announce that we have extended the loan of Jimmy Knowles (@jimmy_K10) until the end of the season! #est1872" (Tweet). Retrieved 12 May 2023 – via Twitter.
12. "Mansfield Town confirm retained list". www.mansfieldtown.net. 11 May 2023. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
13. "Boston United 3-1 South Shields". www.bostonunited.co.uk. 12 August 2023. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
14. "SIGNING: Reds snap up striker Jimmy Knowles". www.accringtonstanley.co.uk.
15. "Jimmy Knowles - Forward - Under 18s - Mansfield Town". www.mansfieldtown.net. Retrieved 17 September 2019.
16. "Games played by Jimmy Knowles in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 July 2019.
17. "Games played by Jimmy Knowles in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
18. "Games played by Jimmy Knowles in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
19. "Games played by Jimmy Knowles in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
20. Jimmy Knowles at Soccerway. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
21. "Match Report: Brackley Town 1–2 Boston United". Boston United FC. 4 May 2024. Retrieved 5 May 2024.