“Before 1950s Scunthorpe United were known as the Knuts. The origin is uncertain but it is generally accepted as being when they won one of the local charity cups. The vicar of Frodingham, the Rev Cryspant Rust said “that indeed Scunthorpe and Lindsey United were a tough (k)nut to beat”. It stuck from 1910ish to about 1950.”
I assumed it was from an early typo before spellcheck was invented.
