Keith Alexander

Keith Alexander (14 November 1956 – 3 March 2010) was a footballer and manager.

Born in Nottingham, England, he was the manager of League Two side Macclesfield Town at the time of his death, in a career that included international appearances for Saint Lucia.

Alexander played for a large number of lower league football teams.

His main success, however, came from football management – managing in both non-league and the Football League.

He took League One side Lincoln City to four consecutive play-offs, taking them to two finals at the Millennium Stadium.

His eldest son, Matthew Alexander, is a FIFA licensed Football agent and works with many top flight players.

He was believed at the time of his death to have been the first full-time black professional manager in the Football League, though this was in fact Tony Collins at Rochdale in 1960.

He was the first black qualified referee in England, and is considered by many to be a pioneer of the modern game.

Alexander began his career in non-league football, joining Arnold as a nineteen-year-old.

He spent the 1977–78 season with Ilkeston Town, debuting in the home game with Louth United on 24 September 1977 and going on to make 17 appearances for the club, scoring a single goal, with his final game being the away fixture with Sutton Town on 5 April 1978.

In March 1979, Alexander joined Stamford from Alfreton Town and scored the first goal in the club's 2–0 FA Vase final win over Guisborough Town in April 1980 as the side won the unique treble of United Counties League Championship, League Cup and FA Vase during the 1979–80 season.

Alexander won the FA Vase in 1980 with Stamford, scoring one of the goals in a 2–0 win at Wembley.

Leaving at the end of the season, Alexander enjoyed spells with Boston United and King's Lynn before returning to Stamford for the 1981–82 season being part of a side which completed a United Counties League double.

In total he made 94 appearances for the Daniels, scoring 24 goals.

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.

After many years in non-league, Alexander ended his playing career in league football, most notably for Grimsby Town.

He earned his move from non-league to the Football League when then-Grimsby manager Alan Buckley saw Alexander playing for Barnet, and subsequently signed him for £11,500.

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.

The following season, Alexander scored a further 12 goals in 38 games, including the two goals that ensured Grimsby's promotion in a 2–0 win over Southend United.

While he was playing for Grimsby Town, Alexander played international football for St. Lucia, earning three international caps in 1990.

Alexander also became Mansfield Town's oldest ever goal scorer when he came off the bench to score twice against Crewe Alexandra at the age of 37.

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.

He then joined Stockport County, before linking up with Lincoln City for the 1992–93 season.

After a short spell as Lincoln City manager, he played a couple more games for Mansfield Town, before joining Northern Ireland outfit Cliftonville on loan.

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.

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.

He did, however, remain registered as a player in the first season of managing Ilkeston Town, although he did not make any first-team appearances.

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".