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Alexander was a great
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Tributes poor in for the pioneer manager who touched the football world
THE FOOTBALL world is still in shock after the sad death of Macclesfield Town manager Keith Alexander.
Alexander, who suffered a brain aneurysm in November 2003, passed away after arriving home last night from the League Two match at Notts County.
He had recently returned to work after taking time out because of illness.
To confirm Alexander’s standing in the game, many in the football family were keen to pay tribute.
Piara Powar, director for Kick It Out, football’s equality and inclusion campaign, said:
“Keith’s passing is a tragedy for English football. He was a pioneering figure, whose talent spoke for itself, an unstinting supporter of equality in the game.
Chris Ramsey, of the Tottenham FC academy said: It’s a great tragedy. My thoughts go out to his family. It’s a big loss to football.”
Alexander was twice a recipient of a Voice Black List award, which recognised the contributions of the black football fraternity.
Leon Mann, co-founder of the Black List, told the Voice of Sport:
“In 20–30 years we might see a Rio Ferdinand or someone similar managing England. When we get to that point we should make sure we look back and recognise what Keith Alexander did for us as black people.
Former Tottenham legend and Kick It Out ambassador Garth Crooks, said:
“In one way or another we all live to serve, but we have lost one of our great trailblazers. He served the game, and our community, with distinction and without fuss. We’ll miss him.”
Alexander played as a striker for Barnet, Grimsby, Stockport, Lincoln and Mansfield and took over as Lincoln manager for the first time in 1993.
In November 2003 he collapsed with a double aneurysm, revealing afterwards that he had to be brought back to life three times.
Alexander left Lincoln by mutual consent shortly after the defeat to Grimsby in 2006 and moved to Peterborough, but left in January 2007 after a disappointing run of results.
He took the position of director of football at Bury before being appointed Macclesfield manager in February 2008, agreeing a two-year contract extension in the January of this year.
Published: 31 December 1979
Issue: 1413
