Keith Alexander (footballer)

Non-league career Alexander began his career in non-league football, joining Arnold as a nineteen-year-old. After a short spell at Corby Town, which witnessed Alexander score one goal in two games, he joined Spalding United where he scored 18 goals in the Northern Counties East Football League during his solitary season at the club in 1982–83. He went on to have brief spells at Boston Town, Grantham Town, and King's Lynn in 1983, before joining Kettering Town just before the start of the 1983–84 season; where he spent two seasons and played 74 games for the Northamptonshire side, scoring 11 times. During his time at Kettering, Alexander had a brief, but successful, loan spell at Wisbech Town, and was instrumental in the club's FA Vase run that year – scoring a hat-trick against Harwich & Parkeston in a 5–0 win on his debut, followed by a goal in the semi-final against Southall. In the middle of 1986, Barry Fry secured the signing of Alexander at Barnet, who were playing in the Football Conference at the time. He scored 22 goals in 72 games in his two years at the club as the club narrowly missed out on promotion. He made his Grimsby debut against Torquay United in September 1988, and went on to score 14 league goals in 44 games during the club's 1988–89 campaign; including a goal against FA Cup holders Wimbledon at Plough Lane. During his brief spell at Cliftonville during the 1994–95 season, Alexander scored on his debut in a 4–3 victory over Portadown, as well as netting a further goal against Glentoran. He also scored twice for Cliftonville as they eliminated Linfield in the League Cup quarter final at Windsor Park. He returned to his parent club, Mansfield, at the end of the season and made one further appearance the following year; coming on as a substitute in a game against Exeter City in January 1996. It was to signal the end of Alexander's playing days, as he broke his leg in injury-time. Honours Alexander won the FA Vase in 1980 with Stamford, scoring one of the goals in a 2–0 win over Guisborough Town at Wembley. While he was playing for Grimsby Town, Alexander played international football for St. Lucia, earning three international caps in 1990.{{cite news ==Management career==

First spell with Lincoln City With his playing career winding down, Alexander was appointed youth team coach for Lincoln City, during which time he developed the likes of Darren Huckerby and Matt Carbon. At the end of the 1992–93 season, Lincoln's chairman John Reames announced that Steve Thompson's contract as first team manager would not be renewed and Alexander was placed in caretaker charge, steering the Imps to a 2–0 home victory over Darlington in the final game of the season. Officially appointed to the role in the summer of 1993, Alexander became the first permanently appointed black manager in the Football League; Edwin Stein had earlier been in temporary charge at Barnet. He lasted only a season in charge before Sam Ellis succeeded him in the hot seat. Lower league management For the best part of a decade, Alexander then managed two semi-professional teams, Ilkeston Town during 1996–2000 and Northwich Victoria during 2000–01. During his time at Ilkeston, Alexander ensured the club's highest ever league placing, as well as two FA Cup runs that witnessed the side beat league opposition in the form of Boston United and Carlisle United. He is believed to be "the most successful manager in Ilkeston Town's history". Return to Lincoln City On 11 July 2001, Alexander returned to Sincil Bank as Director of Coaching on a three-year contract. He was tasked with ensuring the continuity of coaching and football from the Centre of Excellence through youth to the first team and acting as Assistant Manager to Alan Buckley, his former Grimsby Town manager. With Lincoln entering administration at the end of the 2001–02 season, Buckley was relieved of his duties as manager on financial grounds and Alexander placed in charge of all football matters. 2002–03 season On 3 May 2002 Lincoln successfully petitioned to go into administration but the financial crisis would leave the first team squad bereft of players as the day saw five senior players – Jason Barnett, Grant Brown, David Cameron, Steve Holmes and Justin Walker – released at the end of their contracts with a sixth, Lee Thorpe, departing for Leyton Orient. A hectic day finished with confirmation of Alexander's official appointment as team manager. Three other senior players, Tony Battersby, Kingsley Black, and Ian Hamilton, would later leave the club by mutual consent as their contracts, including appearance money, had made them too expensive for Alexander's plans. Remaining at the club were former Tottenham Hotspur youngsters Alan Marriott and Peter Gain, Northern Ireland B international centre-back Paul Morgan along with midfielders Adam Buckley, Mark Camm and Ben Sedgemore and wing-backs Mark Bailey and Stuart Bimson and Alexander complemented their talents with a series of signings from outside of the Football League. After just one week in the job, Alexander completed his first two signings bringing Ben Futcher and Dene Cropper to the club on initial one-year contracts. One week later, Alexander made a second double swoop with Simon Weaver and Simon Yeo joining the ranks. Alexander oversaw an upturn in fortunes at the club, who were now owned by their Supporters' Trust. He used direct tactics and, following a good season with an impressive away record, they finished in the play-off places with a chance of promotion to the Second Division. However, Lincoln were defeated by AFC Bournemouth in the play-off final at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff. The 5–2 result established a new record for goals scored in a playoff final. Alexander was highly praised for his work at Lincoln during the 2002–03 season, taking a club that had finished two places off the bottom of the League and was working its way out of administration, to a play-off position on a shoe-string budget. He subsequently earned the nickname 'Alexander The Great'. Despite still sitting in 8th in the league, his contract was mutually terminated following 6 straight league defeats in January 2007. Macclesfield Town Alexander was appointed manager of Macclesfield Town on 27 February 2008, signing a contract until the end of the season.{{cite news He signed a two-year contract extension on 18 January 2010.{{cite news ==Charitable work==

Alexander was involved in supporting a number of charities. In Saint Lucia, the country Alexander represented in his playing days, he established the Sacred Sports Foundation to help increase sporting opportunities for St Lucian children. ==Death==

Alexander, who suffered a brain aneurysm in 2003 when manager of Lincoln City, was taken to hospital before a match in March 2009 after complaining of feeling unwell but was later given a clean bill of health. Alexander was reported to be feeling unwell as he returned from a game at Notts County on 2 March 2010. He was taken to Lincoln Hospital after he had collapsed, and died shortly after at the age of 53. It was reported that Alexander had been suffering from a bout of hiccups three weeks before his death. 's Sincil Bank Tributes were paid to Alexander following his death. Paul Ince, a friend of Alexander, described him as "a figure that all managers should aspire to". Northern Ireland football team Cliftonville also paid respect to Alexander, with their chairman, Gerard Lawlor, saying "I thank Keith Alexander for the great goals, the great nights and for always being a friend to our club". Clubs across the country also held either a minute's applause or a minute's silence in respect to Alexander. Alexander's funeral was held at Lincoln Cathedral on 15 March 2010, with thousands of people paying their respects. It was announced that a benefit match for Keith Alexander would take place on 3 May 2010 at Sincil Bank. Players such as Paul Merson, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, and Les Ferdinand took part in the match, with over 1,000 tickets being sold.{{cite news ==Managerial statistics==

Individual • League Two Manager of the Month: February 2006 ==References==