When Keith Alexander died in 2010, the tributes stretched far beyond the clubs he had managed. England players wore black armbands at Wembley, and clubs across the country observed a minute’s silence in memory of a manager who was admired and respected throughout the game — and who helped pave the way for more black managers in English professional football.
As part of Black History Month, those who knew him best have been reflecting on what he left behind. “Keith remains a beacon of hope for us all, and I know his story continues to inspire us,” says Leon Mann, co-founder of the Football Black List, which hands out an award in Alexander’s memory. “When we see a number of black British or black managers in the Premier League, we should pause and remember Keith’s contribution, because it would have played its part, one hundred per cent.”
Alexander was not the first permanent black manager in the Football League — Tony Collins took charge at Rochdale in 1960 — but his spells in charge of Lincoln City, Peterborough United and Macclesfield, among others, inspired a generation to follow him. Born in Nottingham in 1956 to St Lucian parents, he was proud of both his English upbringing and his Caribbean heritage, say his sons Matt and Paul.
He spoke openly during his life about the racism he encountered as a player, including monkey chants and bananas thrown at him. “He experienced loads of it, especially in his early days,” Matt says. “There was loads of racism and throwing bananas, that kind of stuff. I’d be really surprised if you spoke to any black footballer of that generation who hadn’t experienced the same sort of thing.” Paul says race was rarely discussed at home. “It was never a conversation about how difficult it was for black youths growing up. It was, you will be successful at what you do and you work hard for what you want.” He adds, though, that his father was conscious he had to work twice as hard.
After a long playing career, Alexander took charge of Lincoln City in 1993. Following a season in charge he moved on to manage non-league Ilkeston Town and Northwich Victoria, before being named Lincoln boss for a second spell in 2002. Working with a tight budget, he helped guide the club from the depths of administration to the League Two play-off places in four successive seasons.
Former striker Franny Green believes Alexander will always be remembered for “bringing players from non-league and giving them an opportunity”. “If you go through Lincoln’s history, Keith’s name is going to be one of the biggest when it comes to what he did,” he says. Green, who met Alexander as a 16-year-old on trial at Ilkeston, recalls a real affinity with him. “I think it helped because of my race and Keith’s race,” he adds. “I was 16, this tall slim kid with a mini afro and he was just really charming towards me. He said just go and play football — there’s no pressure.”
Simon Weaver, who joined Lincoln City in the summer of 2002 after previously playing under Alexander at Ilkeston, remembers a manager with a rare ability to unite a dressing room. What sticks with him is his first training session at Ilkeston, after which he knocked on the manager’s office door to find Alexander with his feet up and a bunch of grapes. Weaver was simply asked to come and play on the Saturday. “He was just so relaxed. He just made me feel at ease, saying just come and do what you did,” he recalls. “We played away first game and won — I got a black eye and I’m thinking, ‘I’m liking this, this is my cup of tea’.”
Alexander was managing Macclesfield when he died in 2010, aged 53, having fallen ill at home after a game. Tributes poured in from across football. At the time, his son Paul described him as “a very humble man”, adding: “He didn’t realise the impact he had on others just by walking into a room.”
His legacy continues in other forms. Recent recipients of the Keith Alexander Award from the Football Black List include Yaya Toure, Shaka Hislop and Kerry Davis, the first black woman to play for the England women’s national team. Alexander also founded the Sacred Sports Foundation in St Lucia to help young people through sport. For Mann, he will be remembered for the opportunities he created for others and his willingness to challenge racism in football — something, he says, that should never be forgotten.