Final farewell to football legend

MORE than 2,000 people – among them representatives from his time at Grimsby Town – attended the funeral of football legend Keith Alexander yesterday.

The Macclesfield Town boss, who died on March 3 aged 53, played for the Mariners from 1988 to 1990, having made his debut in a 1-0 win over Torquay United.

The striker achieved cult hero status at Blundell Park and finished as Town's top scorer with 15 goals in his first season at the club.

The £11,500 buy played international football for St Lucia before leaving the Mariners for Stockport County – having made 102 appearances for the club, scoring 29 goals.

He lived in Lincoln, where he had also enjoyed two management spells.

Grimsby Town were represented at the funeral by commercial manager David Smith, chief executive Ian Fleming and director Mike Parker.

Among others present with Grimsby Town TFC connections were John McDermott, John Cockerill, Gary Childs, Ben Futcher, Martin Gritton and former manager George Kerr.

Mr Fleming said: "I have known Keith over the years and from his time with the club.

"He would call in now and again and visit the club. He was a friendly character and a very popular player.

"His untimely death was a shock to everybody involved in football.

"Keith's son and the chairman of Macclesfield Town – Keith's last club – spoke at the service and it was a fitting tribute to the man that there were a lot of well-known football faces in attendance."

Gary Childs, who played with Keith for the Mariners between 1989 and 1990, said his former team-mate was always a "pleasure to be around."

He said the fact that so many famous figures from the world of football turned out to pay tribute to Keith showed the "affection" that people had for him.

Gary said: "Keith was always one of the lads around the dressing room that was a pleasure to be around.

"When you think about him you think of that big grin and a happy quip.

"I can't remember him getting upset with anyone. He was such a mild mannered person.

"He was such a fun lad and one of those people that, now he's gone, you wish you had spent more time around him."

Friend Lee Stephens, described Keith as a "one-off".

He said: "He was a trail-blazer in that he was the first black man in management.

"But his most endearing qualities were his personal qualities.

"It didn't matter who he was around, he put people at ease, he had a great sense of humour and a laid back approach, but he was fiercely passionate about what he did."

Pay tribute to Keith Alexander at our Lasting Tribute website