Keith Alexander and Chester City

As stated already, when Chester first appointed Mark Wright as their manager, owner Stephen Vaughan asked me what I thought of Wright.

I wasn't very complimentary about Wright, specifically his attitude to people - including myself.

Keith Alexander had also applied for the job. At the time he was director of coaching at Lincoln City.

Out of the blue Alexander called me up to ask what I knew about the vacant post at the Deva Stadium. I told him I thought Wright would get it.

Alexander asked me not to report the fact that he had applied as he had not been back at Lincoln long and he appreciated their offer of work. But he was obviously keen to get back into management full-time.

I agreed, only for Vaughan to mention his name to the local Chester press.

A year or so earlier I saw Alexander at an England semi-professional side at Altrincham's Moss Lane ground. As the Northwich Victoria boss, he was scouting for non-league talent. He was one of the few managers I saw there that night.

We spoke several times subsequently mostly by phone. He was not averse to returning my call from his Caribbean holidays. He operated above and beyond the call of duty. Certainly above the level of Mark Wright who would often ask me to call him back when he was at his gym in Southport and then just ignore my call.

In 2008 Alexander took over as boss of Macclesfield. Earlier this month (March 2, 2010) he passed away after Macclesfield's1-0 defeat away at Notts County. He was 53.

If you look at life being about having the pleasure of meeting people then Alexander was one of those people who made life a pleasure.

I enjoyed following his career. He was brilliant at spotting lower league talent. He put effort into his football, he put effort into treating people well.

Tributes came flooding in. Everyone respected him.

By a strange twist of fate I also spent a week in Tobago with his delightful sister, who showed me round the island on behalf of the tourist board. She is as nice as he was. Lovely family.