Former sports reporter and Portman Road PA announcer Bryan Knights died in Ipswich Hospital earlier today, aged 72, after a long illness.

Knights reported and commentated for Radio Orwell, SGR FM and from 2001 until recently BBC Radio Suffolk on Town, the Ipswich Witches and Suffolk County Cricket Club.

Current BBC Suffolk commentator Brenner Woolley, Knights's successor paid tribute, telling TWTD: “One of the words I’d use to describe Bryan would be generous. Very, very generous with his time with his advice with his encouragement towards me.

“Because, of course, when I first came down to Suffolk it would have been easy for him to be worried by this young whippersnapper coming in and maybe had his nose put out of joint but there was never any of that from Bryan towards me, he was always absolutely wonderful in terms of his generosity.

“He had a huge passion for his local sport, he kept abreast of everything and was a very, very funny man on top of that, very opinionated but great company and I’ll have nothing but fond memories and an awful lot of respect for a thoroughly wonderful man.”

Extremely saddened to hear that Bryan Knights of Radio Suffolk has passed away. A fine broadcaster and an even finer man.– Matt Holland (@mattholland8) March 7, 2016

BBC Suffolk editor Peter Cook added: "He was a legend of a broadcaster.

"Many Town fans will have grown up listening to his commentaries and he really was the voice of Ipswich Town for season after season.

"Away from the microphone Bryan was a warm, kind man with a smile for everyone. We'll miss him terribly."

For more than 20 years he was also the PA announcer at Portman Road, as he was at Foxhall Stadium and he was also on the committee of Suffolk County Cricket Club.

A sad loss, our thoughts go out to Bryan's family and friends at this terrible time. From everyone at #itfc, RIP x https://t.co/LJJooz4NPj– Ipswich Town FC (@Official_ITFC) March 7, 2016

Prior to his involvement in local radio, Knights, who was also the headteacher at Murrayside County Primary, was on the committee of the ITFC Supporters Club and was the DJ on the famous Blue Arrow trains which travelled to away games in the early 1970s.

UPDATE: We've had a message from Bryan's family this morning saying they've been very touched by all the kind words that have been posted about him since his death yesterday.

RIP Bryan Knights...... Knightsy was a top man and reported on #ITFC games home and away for years.I was his sidekick for 2 years #sgrfm– Simon Milton (@Milts25) March 7, 2016

Photo: BBC Suffolk

Photo: Action Images

pegasus added 21:27 - Mar 7 Devastated by this news. Bryan and I were schoolmates and then college mates, sharing digs for a year. Hadn't seen him for over 40 years (having moved away) but had spoken on the phone a couple times. I hadn't known about his work at Foxhall, but he was the sportsman's sportsman, a cricketer and a rugby player, as well as an ITFC man whose blood ran blue...and ALWAYS the life and soul of the party. In fact, he could start a party in an empty room. When he read the advertisements over the Portman Road PA at half time, before his commentating days, he was adamant that he always mispronounced one of the specialities in a construction company's ads, as 'sectional buildings', rather than... Rest in Peace, Bryan

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Warkys_Tash added 21:29 - Mar 7 Sad news indeed. Thanks for all the great commentary over the years Bryan. Ipswich Town was definitely in his blood, a true blood. Always made good drama with his commentary & dull matches interesting. As good as Brenner is now, Bryan was then. A very distinctive voice & sound of the Town. RIP. Phil, do you know when Bryan's last match commentating on Town was?
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itfchorry added 23:51 - Mar 7 Had the great pleasure of knowing Knightsy for nearly 30 years. In the late 80's/90's - Prior to the Internet and mobile phones - he would travel and report on every Town away game - As a student - I can still remember filling the phone box with 10 and 20ps, so I could find out how got on. Had the greatest pleasure to have worked with him at the Ipswich Witches. Golden age of Ipswich Town FC. Very sad day.

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horsehollerer added 00:37 - Mar 8 Bryan was the voice of Ipswich Town when I was growing up. I will never forget the unbearable tension of waiting out the "Goal Action!" jingle to find out if Town has scored - or conceded. Such fond memories of a much simpler time. I also managed to blow through most of my student loan listening to Bryan's Soccerline updates from a phone box in the West Midlands.
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soapy added 08:06 - Mar 8 GOALL ACTION. RIP Bryan Knights. Another piece of my wonderful childhood passes away.
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bluelodgeblue added 09:23 - Mar 8 Shared many a pint in the Greyhound in the company of Bryan.... RIP
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paulcooperisgod added 10:58 - Mar 8 My memories of the great man was as the p.a man at Portman road. When you was queued up outside the churchmans and heard his voice you knew you was home
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Lightningboy added 10:58 - Mar 8 I remember listening to his voice on the phone when you had to ring "club call" back in the 90s to get all the latest news from your football team (long before twtd). RIP Bryan.
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planetblue_2011 added 11:06 - Mar 8 RIP Bryan, what a lengend
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itsonlyme added 11:17 - Mar 8 Great man and will be sadly missed by all. Loved his reporting of itfc. R.I.P Bryan.
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SteveBrooke added 12:28 - Mar 8 RIP Mr Knights. He was my teacher at Dale Hall Primary school around 69-70. He was also our school football & cricket coach. My family moved to Australia in 1973 so didn't see him again until we met at Portman Rd in 1996, and he said remembered me because I was his school GK. Good memories, all the best to his family.
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Carrotblue added 12:29 - Mar 8 RIP Knghtsy When I was 10 he ran the Ipswich West football team so have known him for 47 years once took him to Barnsley and he was doing his intro in the car. Cricket at Copdock and of course at East Bergholt where the annual cricket week was a joy. Miss you old dear, Suffolk has lost a legend From Top Head
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Foreverdon_Blue added 12:35 - Mar 8 RIP Bryan. I had the pleasure of knowing you for a number of years and grew up listening to you on the radio - great memories! A very sad day.
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Jimmy86 added 12:50 - Mar 8 RIP Brian Knights!!! Remember when he used to do commentary with Terry Baxter. Certainly had a real affinity to the club, a lot more so than Brenner woolley!!! Who is a tool....
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Pendejo added 14:07 - Mar 8 Just seen the news on BBC Suffolk. Was surprisingly hit emotionally and am very sad at this news. I guess it is the fact that he is so strongly associated with the Robson Glory years in my heart & memories, as much a part of the match day experience as anyone. Thinks "Amazing Grace" and scarves held aloft all around the ground with the faithful singing "Ipswich" Remember getting his autograph as a kid in the days that GRE used to run an annual sports quiz at their sports ground; GRE v ITFC v Radio Orwell V EADT. RIP Brian, usual respects to family & friends.

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Seasider added 16:48 - Mar 8 Reading the above brings back many fond memories,especially 'Goal Action' Feel that Jimmy86's remark about Brenner Woolley is uncalled for. RIP Knightsy and give my regards to Sir Bobby when you meet up with him again. God bless
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Jimmy86 added 22:15 - Mar 8 Seasider, not often that we disagree. I don't like Brenner Woolley, because he is everything that Brian Knights wasn't!!! He doesn't have any affinity towards the club, like knights clearly did and I feel his on air gaffe about the "great unwashed" was more uncalled for than my original comment. He's lucky to still be in a job. The loss of Knights is very sad for local sport in this area

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