Keith Alexander never sought the spotlight, yet when he died in March 2010, England players wore black armbands at Wembley in his honour. That image alone tells you something about the scale of the man's impact on English football, including his time at Peterborough United.

A manager ahead of his time

Born in Nottingham in 1956 to St Lucian parents, Alexander built a managerial career at a time when black coaches in the Football League were a rarity. His spells in charge of Lincoln City, Peterborough United and Macclesfield helped open doors that had long been shut. Leon Mann, co-founder of the Football Black List, which presents an annual award in Alexander's name, puts it simply: "Keith remains a beacon of hope for us all, and I know his story continues to inspire us."

Mann goes further. "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."

What he faced as a player

Alexander was candid about the racism he encountered during his playing days. Monkey chants and bananas thrown from the terraces were part of the landscape for black footballers of his generation. His son Matt recalls: "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."

Yet at home, the tone was different. His son Paul says race was rarely discussed as a barrier. "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." Paul adds, though, that his father "was conscious he did have to work twice as hard."

The manager who gave people a chance

After a long playing career, Alexander first took charge of Lincoln City in 1993. He later managed non-league Ilkeston Town and Northwich Victoria before returning to Lincoln in 2002, guiding the club out of administration and into the League Two play-off places in four successive seasons. His time at Peterborough United also formed a key chapter in that managerial journey.

Former Lincoln striker Franny Green credits Alexander with changing his life. "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 first met Alexander as a 16-year-old on trial at Ilkeston. "He was just really charming towards me. He said just go and play football, there's no pressure." That approach, of stripping away anxiety and letting players express themselves, defined Alexander's man-management throughout his career.

Simon Weaver, who played under Alexander at both Ilkeston and Lincoln, remembers a manager who could unite a dressing room with ease. Arriving for a first training session, Weaver played well and knocked on his manager's door afterwards. He found Alexander "sat there with his feet up and a bunch of grapes," who simply told him to come and play on Saturday. "He just made me feel at ease," Weaver recalls.

A legacy that endures

Alexander was managing Macclesfield when he collapsed and died at a match in 2010, aged just 53. The tributes that followed, from clubs across the country observing minutes of silence to the Wembley armband tribute, reflected how broadly he was admired.

The Football Black List's Keith Alexander Award has since been presented to figures including Yaya Toure, Shaka Hislop and Kerry Davis, the first black woman to represent the England women's national team. The award keeps his name and his mission alive.

For supporters of Peterborough United, a club now navigating its own story in League One under a new manager, Alexander's chapter at London Road is a reminder that the club has been part of some of football's more significant stories. His son Paul perhaps captured him best in 2010: "He didn't realise the impact he had on others just by walking into a room."

Frequently asked

When did Keith Alexander manage Peterborough United?
Keith Alexander had a managerial spell at Peterborough United as part of a career that also included stints at Lincoln City and Macclesfield. He is remembered as one of the pioneering black managers in the Football League.
Why is Keith Alexander significant in football history?
Although not the first permanent black manager in the Football League, Alexander was a trailblazer who inspired a generation of black coaches. He managed in the Football League at a time when such representation was extremely rare, and his legacy is honoured annually through the Football Black List's Keith Alexander Award.
What is the Football Black List Keith Alexander Award?
The Football Black List is an organisation that celebrates the contribution of black people in football. It presents an annual award in Keith Alexander's name to recognise outstanding figures; past recipients include Yaya Toure, Shaka Hislop and Kerry Davis.