Although he was not the first permanent black manager in the Football League – Tony Collins took the reins at Rochdale in 1960 – Alexander helped inspire a new generation to follow in his footsteps after spells in charge of Lincoln City, Peterborough United and Macclesfield, among others.
Born in Nottingham in 1956 to St Lucian parents, Alexander was proud of his English upbringing and Caribbean heritage, his sons Matt and Paul say.
Alexander spoke openly about the racism he encountered as a player, which included monkey chants and bananas being thrown at him.
“He experienced loads of it, especially in his early days,” Matt says. “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.”
Despite this, Paul says race was rarely discussed at home.
“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.”
However, he adds: “I think he was conscious he did have to work twice as hard.”