The Ministry of Social Transformation, Youth and Sports yesterday learnt of the passing away of a Saint Lucia sporting giant—Keith Alexander, at the age of 53 at his home in England.

The Ministry of Social Transformation, Youth and Sports, extended deepest condolences to his family, especially his sister Nova, and brother Delroy, who have been residing here for some time.

Read a statement: “We understand the difficulties they face at the loss of a loved one, especially having worked so closely with one in realizing the family’s dreams.”

A former national footballer, who represented Saint Lucia in 1990, it was the dream of Keith Alexander to work together with the sporting fraternity in Saint Lucia towards the improvement of sports. Alexander, who suffered a brain aneurysm in November 2003, passed away after arriving home on Tuesday night from the League Two match at Notts County; having recently returned to work after taking time out because of illness.

The Ministry of Social Transformation, Youth and Sports recognizes the invaluable contribution made to football by Alexander, and his deep desire to have Saint Lucian footballers either on trial, or to secure contracts with football clubs in England.
He recognized the immense talent evident in Saint Lucia, and did introduce a coaching programme for talented youngsters.

He was instrumental in putting together a programme which resulted in the formulation of a National Coaching Plan for Saint Lucia.

During his brief visits to Saint Lucia which is also the home to him, Alexander, a Saint Lucian by birth, was able to assist a number of individuals and organizations, therefore establishing the level of rapport between himself, the organizations and individuals, and his Scared Sports and Scared Cows organizations, respectively.

Alexander for many years plied his trade as a lower division footballer, most notably for Grimsby Town and Stockport County, before temporarily ending his playing career with Lincoln City after the 1992–93season.

After a short spell as Lincoln City manager, he played a few more games for Mansfield Town and Cliftonville.

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

Alexander began a short spell as manager of Lincoln in 1993, before being replaced by the then chairman John Reames after less than a year in charge. He became the first black professional football manager in the United Kingdom when he took up the position.

For the best part of a decade, Alexander then managed two semi-professional teams, Ilkeston Town during 1995–2000, and Northwich Victoria during 2000–01.

With the appointment of Alan Buckley, his former manager at Grimsby, to the position of manager at Sincil Bank, Alexander returned to the club and filled the twin roles of Director of football and Assistant Manager. The partnership ended when Lincoln finished the 2001–02 season precariously close to relegation to the Conference, and in dire financial straits.

As one of many cost cutting measures that were made to avoid liquidation, Buckley was relieved of his duties and replaced a week later by Alexander, who accepted the role with considerably more experience than when first taking the post in 1993–94.

He immediately set about reshaping a squad which had been decimated by the loss of high profile players such as Ian Hamilton, Kingsley Black and Justin Walker, who had settled the remainder of their expensive contracts with the club’s administrators.

Veterans David Cameron, Steve Holmes and record appearance maker Grant Brown, also moved on. He managed to retain important players such as former Tottenham Hotspur youngsters Alan Marriott and Peter Gain, Northern Ireland B international centre-back Paul Morgan, Ben Sedgemore, and wing-backs Mark Bailey and Stuart Bimson.

He complemented also their talents with the addition of centre backs Ben Futcher and Simon Weaver, midfielder Richard Butcher and strikers Simon Yeo and Dene Cropper.
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 A.F.C. 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.

The 2003–04 season began poorly, and in November 2003 Alexander suffered a cerebral aneurysm. Alexander had been accompanied by his assistant Gary Simpson on a scouting mission that evening but felt ill on returning home and retired to bed.

His wife later called an ambulance and Alexander was rushed to the Royal Hallamshire Hospital in time for potentially life saving surgery. His condition slowly improved and he returned to work in February 2004, where Simpson had been acting as caretaker manager.

Despite their poor start to the season, Lincoln’s campaign improved. Veteran Stuart Bimson had moved on to Cambridge United, and youngster Paul Mayo was sold to Watford for an initial £75,000, but the acquisitions of Jamie McCombe, Marcus Richardson, Gary Taylor-Fletcher, Francis Green and loanee Kevin Ellison meant that they finished in the play-off places, as Lincoln were beaten by Huddersfield Town in the semi-finals.

In the close season Alexander purchased Gareth McAuley and Ciaran Toner. Toner and Marcus Richardson were later involved in a training ground fracas, and both were allowed to leave on loan with a view to a transfer.

Regardless, rumours persisted that the morale of the squad was low both because of this incident, and in relation to the payment of bonuses. Lincoln again finished in the play-off places and played Southend United in the final, again at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium.

Neither side could manage a goal in normal time, resulting in all three strikers being replaced in the second half. Derek Asamoah, who was in poor form, was brought on alongside defenders Matt Bloomer and Lee Beevers. However, Southend scored twice in extra time to win.

Alexander signed a new three year contract in May 2005. During the close season, Simon Yeo, Richard Butcher, and Peter Gain chose to leave the club, whilst Gary Taylor-Fletcher was surprisingly released amid speculation about his conduct.

Captain Paul Morgan, however, signed a new three-year deal which reportedly made him the highest paid player at the club. Lincoln lost yet again in the play-offs at the end of the 2005–06 season, this time to local rivals Grimsby Town, giving Alexander the unenviable record of being the only manager to lead a team to four consecutive play-off defeats. Shortly after this defeat, Alexander left Lincoln by mutual consent.

On May 30 2006, Alexander was named the new manager of Peterborough United replacing Steve Bleasdale, who had left at the end of April, citing his reason for joining Peterborough as the need for a new challenge. Alexander signed a 4-year contract with the club. On January 15, his contract was mutually terminated following six straight league defeats, despite still being eighth in the league.

Alexander was appointed as Bury’s new director of football on May 9 2007, but was dismissed on January 14 2008, accompanying sacked manager Chris Casper. Alexander was appointed manager of Macclesfield Town on February 27 2008, signing a contract until the end of the season. He replaced Ian Brightwell who had left the club one point away from the League Two relegation zone.

A run of four wins and three draws in nine games took the club away from the relegation zone, and in April 2008 Alexander was awarded a new two-year contract, and signed a two-year contract extension on January 18 2009. In 2003 during his tenure as manager of Lincoln City, Alexander suffered a brain aneurysm. He was taken to hospital before a match in March 2009 after complaining of feeling unwell, but was later given a clean bill of health.