Source: FOOTYMAD
Civic reception for Alexander
Coventry born player to be honoured by home town Coventry born footballer Graham Alexander, who currently plays for Burnley, is to be honoured by the city council with a civic reception to mark his achievement of playing over 1000 professional games. The 39 year old Alexander became only the second outfield player in English football history to pass the 1000 game mark earlier this year. He started playing football at the Sunday League side Coventry Sporting when he was just 8 years old and played for them until he was 16. He also played for Coventry Schools under 13's to the under 16's, but despite a recommendation to Coventry City, he was rejected by the club's then recruitment officer Bert Edwards. His talent was spotted by Richard Money, who was at the time youth team manager for Scunthorpe United who signed him up in 1988. He played for the youth side until 1991 when he was selected for the first team. It wasn't long before Alexander had claimed the right back position for himself at Scunthorpe and his professional career took off. After over 200 league and cup games for Scunthorpe he joined Luton Town in 1995 for £100,000. He stayed at Luton until 1999 and played around 200 games for the Hatters before moving to Preston North End for whom he made exactly 400 appearances in his eight year Lillywhites career. When he joined Preston, Burnley were also trying to win his signature, but they lost out to their near neighbours, but in 2007 Alexander signed for Burnley where he still plays and where he passed the 1000 professional game milestone. Next week Graham Alexander will return to his home two to attend, as guest of honour, a civic reception being hosted by Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress Councillors Brian Kelsey and Mrs Brenda Kelsey. One of Alexander's mentors in his early days playing football in Coventry was Keith Newbold, who was the chairman of Coventry Schools. He said, “We always thought he would go places. He had a right foot to dream of and the one thing that he has had all through his career is that he never gave the ball away." “He was always a dead ball specialist and has scored more than 100 career goals. He is an absolute credit to football and we are all very proud of him and his achievement.” His manager while he was at Coventry Sporting, John Bloxham said, “Keith and I recommended him to Coventry when he was 15 and he played a couple of trial games but Bert Edwards wasn’t sure what his best position was. That’s when Richard Money came in and took him to Scunthorpe." "It was really sad that he never got to play for his home town club, criminal really.” Richard Money, whose career included a stint as Sky Blues Academy director, said, “Everyone has an opinion in football and most players have a bit of luck here and bit of bad luck there, and people’s careers can change dramatically and Graham’s has, that’s for sure, but that’s all credit to him." “We brought him to end of season trials at Scunthorpe. He has always had a terrific hunger for the game but he had great enthusiasm, energy and endeavour, and we signed him as a YTS and he very quickly broke into the first team." “I went to Villa for four years and came back as manager, by which time Graham was firmly entrenched in the first team and we ended up selling him to Luton. Every year people get released from football clubs at 16 and they either go under or get stronger, and Graham was one of those.” Money was asked if he though Alexander would go on to emulate, or even pass Peter Shilton's record of professional games, he said “It’s difficult to say whether anyone could see him going on to make 1,000 appearances and become a Scottish international because that is very unusual for someone going through the normal process, but it doesn’t surprise me that he has done because he has always had a real drive and personality, and I, like a lot of people am very proud of what he has done and achieved, and if I have played a small part in that then it makes me even prouder.” Alexander needs to play just five more games to break Shilton's world record of playing in 1005 professional games.
