Big Keith

I was at St Chad's Churchyard Extension in Dunholme today for a family funeral.

I saw 'Big Keith's headstone on the way out. The headstone is looking OK, but the grave is looking a bit forlorn and unloved and most certainly untended.

Sad to see, as it is with any grave within the last generation, that the grave isn't kept in a decent condition.

I know one of the main reasons that graves are no longer tended is because the family no longer live in the same area, and this may be the case with his family.

Pioneer..........Legend...............Big Keith.............whatever you want to call him........................he was one of us!

Ah that’s really pulled on my heart strings. Can any fans who are local to his grave take some flowers/plants and something GTFC linked - a scarf or some such. A few messages of love, remembrance or appreciation would make that seem more bearable and appropriate for a great man who served us admirably.

RIP Big Keith. Not forgotten.

With all the beurocracy around cemetery plots it could quite easily be red tape and fee's that hinder any maintenance.  
Even when you have gone the b@st@rds still want to fleece you.

Quoted from chaos33

Ah that’s really pulled on my heart strings. Can any fans who are local to his grave take some flowers/plants and something GTFC linked - a scarf or some such. A few messages of love, remembrance or appreciation would make that seem more bearable and appropriate for a great man who served us admirably.

RIP Big Keith. Not forgotten.

Seconded! One of my first heroes

Gentle giant was big Keith, had the pleasure in meeting him a few times and he was always willing to chat

The headstone isn't in too bad condition, could do with a clean, but that's pretty easy to do.
It's the interior that needs some major attention
You won't be able to do any work on it unless you had the permission of the deedholder/family

I'm actually a gravetender (look it up!) and would be willing to do it at cost/petrol - could tie it in with a visit to my mum. Would be a pleasure to do

Quoted from forza ivano

The headstone isn't in too bad condition, could do with a clean, but that's pretty easy to do.
It's the interior that needs some major attention
You won't be able to do any work on it unless you had the permission of the deedholder/family

I'm actually a gravetender (look it up!) and would be willing to do it at cost/petrol - could tie it in with a visit to my mum. Would be a pleasure to do

I did look it up and it's an interesting job you have. Also found your business on the association site.

I'm sure we could have a whip round on here for you to do it, with permission of course.

I met Keith at a mates wedding reception a few years ago and he was a lovely, friendly chap.

Out boozing later with a few Chimp fans so will try and check if his family are still living round here. I know he used to live at Dunholme, where he’s buried, so would think his widow is probably still there. Got plenty of mates who live in Welton, which is the adjoining village, so will also see what they know.

Played against him in local Sunday League Cup Final on Sinny Bank back in 1984 when he was at Boston Utd, but still picking up £40 and free lunch, playing for Ferryboat in Sunday Prem (we still beat them). After he retired he played in our over 35’s midweek 6 a side team and we won the league a couple of times. Lovely bloke he loved moaning how he got banned from driving without ever exceeding 35 mph!!

Quoted from forza ivano

The headstone isn't in too bad condition, could do with a clean, but that's pretty easy to do.
It's the interior that needs some major attention
You won't be able to do any work on it unless you had the permission of the deedholder/family

I'm actually a gravetender (look it up!) and would be willing to do it at cost/petrol - could tie it in with a visit to my mum. Would be a pleasure to do

I would contribute towards your cost of petrol.

I would contribute to this . He was a genuine Town Legend and played a huge part in getting Buckleys side on the move . The perfect partner  for Rees

Quoted from Simon

Gentle giant was big Keith, had the pleasure in meeting him a few times and he was always willing to chat

Defo touched his right leg , when he was basically stripped  to his pants and hoisted on peoples shoulders when we went up. Nearly got one of his shin pads …. Beaten to it !

Quoted from forza ivano

The headstone isn't in too bad condition, could do with a clean, but that's pretty easy to do.
It's the interior that needs some major attention
You won't be able to do any work on it unless you had the permission of the deedholder/family

I'm actually a gravetender (look it up!) and would be willing to do it at cost/petrol - could tie it in with a visit to my mum. Would be a pleasure to do

Probably being ignorant here, but what's to stop a couple of people with some Cotswold chippings nipping in and giving it a bit of tidy up?

What about getting some black and white stones to fill the middle?

I'm too young to remember him as a player, but we played Macclesfield at home a couple of weeks before he died. He spent the first half sat in the executive seats in the Main Stand, and I was sat a few seats to the right behind him in the normal seats. He was interacting with the fans, having a bit of a laugh and I remember one of their players was flagged offside and got a booking for lobbing Colgan after the ref had blown his whistle. Big Keith was fuming with the unnecessary card and told the fans around me that the player would be punished for that.

There aren't many like Big Keith.

I’m more than happy to chip in with a couple of quid too.

Quoted from Balthazar Bullitt

Probably being ignorant here, but what's to stop a couple of people with some Cotswold chippings nipping in and giving it a bit of tidy up?

Because it's not your property!
Family members ,who are responsible, for the plot, may have very different views as to what they want for their loved ones grave

Like many in Grimsby I suspect, I grew up hearing some terrible racist slurs in everyday conversation.

But going down to BP as a teenager and seeing players like Big Keith really helped counter exposure to that braindead mindset.

Don't think the impact of that can be underestimated.

I/m in. Please make some arrangements ( legal ) and where we can send some money.

Quoted from forza ivano

Because it's not your property!
Family members ,who are responsible, for the plot, may have very different views as to what they want for their loved ones grave

I know nothing about this, but…..

It doesn’t look like surviving relatives are maintaining the grave. Equally, I’m not sure that those surviving family have any say over the ‘ownership’ of the ‘property’. I shouldn’t have thought that there’s anything to stop anyone from placing anything on, or taking anything off a grave, other than individual will.

I hope someone adds at least some flowers and a black and white scarf, and takes/posts a picture on here

I’m going to waddington on Sunday I’ll call in and place a scarf on his grave . Is the grave in the church yard or a separate cemetery

From discussing this last night the opinion is that his widow still lives locally so obviously any offer to help needs to be managed sensitively as suggestions that his grave isn’t being cared for might not be welcomed even though it’s coming from a group of fans genuinely wanting to help.

His son Mathew (Matt) seems to be doing OK

https://en.everybodywiki.com/Matthew_Alexander_(football_executive)

Meet Keith a few times in the lounge at the Wellow Hotel, always willing to chat.

Reffed a few games years ago when his youngest son was a teenager and was playing and Keith was always watching. He was a lovely chap and always happy to chat. Sorely missed by the footballing world.

Big Keith was just before my time watching Town, but it always struck me how popular he must have been to get such a great reception when stood in the Lincoln dugout of all places.

Hadn’t appreciated just how young he was when he tragically passed. 53. Life can be brutally unfair sometimes.

At school in the 6th form around 88/89 me n a mate where taking photos from the top of the multi storey carpark when we spotted Keith and John Cockerill . Both shouting the Alexander chant he heard us and went mad waving back .If every player tried as hard as he did in a side you'd have some team .He scored some great goals to one I think was v Halifax at home and he ran from his own half beating half there team and then mishit his shot beating the despairing keeper it was pure Keith and sent the Pontoon wild.

Quoted from 1mickylyons

At school in the 6th form around 88/89 me n a mate where taking photos from the top of the multi storey carpark when we spotted Keith and John Cockerill . Both shouting the Alexander chant he heard us and went mad waving back .If every player tried as hard as he did in a side you'd have some team .He scored some great goals to one I think was v Halifax at home and he ran from his own half beating half there team and then mishit his shot beating the despairing keeper it was pure Keith and sent the Pontoon wild.

I remember the equaliser he scored in a 2 all draw at The Scunts. When he first hit it, it looked like it was going well wide and the whole away end groaned until all of a sudden it seemed to curl back on target and went in off the post.

Quoted from Les Brechin

I remember the equaliser he scored in a 2 all draw at The Scunts. When he first hit it, it looked like it was going well wide and the whole away end groaned until all of a sudden it seemed to curl back on target and went in off the post.

I remember that well - packed tight in the away end. I also remember going all the way to Southend on a wet Friday night and seeing his goals win us the game. It’s a fantastic memory.

Quoted from It Bites

I’m going to waddington on Sunday I’ll call in and place a scarf on his grave . Is the grave in the church yard or a separate cemetery

It in a seperate area. Stand on the road with the church behind you and youll see a little dead end road going off at about 10 oclock. Its 75 yards down there on the right hand side

Quoted from chaos33

I remember that well - packed tight in the away end. I also remember going all the way to Southend on a wet Friday night and seeing his goals win us the game. It’s a fantastic memory.

Yeah, I was there that night too. IIRC one of the goals just hit his knee and went in. On the Saturday we went to White Hart Lane to watch Spurs v Man Utd. Was still standing terracing back then. Spurs won 3-1 I think.

Quoted from WayneBurnettsJockstrap

It in a seperate area. Stand on the road with the church behind you and youll see a little dead end road going off at about 10 oclock. Its 75 yards down there on the right hand side

Thank you 😊

Quoted from Les Brechin

Yeah, I was there that night too. IIRC one of the goals just hit his knee and went in. On the Saturday we went to White Hart Lane to watch Spurs v Man Utd. Was still standing terracing back then. Spurs won 3-1 I think.

Think it was more the side of his shin!

The goal at home v York in 89/90 was sublime

Quoted from It Bites

The goal at home v York in 89/90 was sublime

Do you remember during the same period we had a striker called Harry Willis, whose real name was Roger?! Always a sub, I never got to see much of him, but him and Keith did fascinate me - Keith because he was a lovable giant, and Harry because he was a complete enigma who nobody knew anything about!

That was my first season watching town.

Alexander wasn't like the tricky dribblers you tend to get now, he didn't have any turn of pace, but he was big and awkward and the ball just seemed to be glued to his feet at times as he bumbled past defenders. Half the time his teammates had no idea what he was doing but neither did defenders. I loved him when he came, it was my first proper season supporting town, and yeah one of my first heroes.

Quoted from 1mickylyons

At school in the 6th form around 88/89 me n a mate where taking photos from the top of the multi storey carpark when we spotted Keith and John Cockerill . Both shouting the Alexander chant he heard us and went mad waving back .If every player tried as hard as he did in a side you'd have some team .He scored some great goals to one I think was v Halifax at home and he ran from his own half beating half there team and then mishit his shot beating the despairing keeper it was pure Keith and sent the Pontoon wild.

I remember Big Keith almost always made a point of waving his hand in appreciation of the crowd when we chanted his name, even mid game. Not something you see nowadays.

If anyone wants to try to contact his family regarding Big Keith's grave, his wife is called Helen, and his 4 kids are called Matthew, Paul, Jack and Jenny.

These details are readily available online, so I am not divulging any private details.

Matthew also has a contact email online on the 'collectivesports.com' website

]My son and I called today and put our Scarves on Keith’s grave .

Quoted from It Bites

]My son and I called today and put our Scarves on Keith’s grave .

Well done you two. Hopefully the start of something good.

Has anyone done any chasing up on this one?

I’m really shocked at reading this thread because I didnt even know that Keith had passed away,absolutely no idea how it’s managed to go under my radar as my ears usually pricked up if I heard about him on the radio or whatever as not only did he have a Notts connection but he was also at the club that I supported as a young teenager Arnold Town,if there is a whip round to tidy up the grave I’m willing to put in a few quid if it helps,I had to Google that we was talking about the same player

dosiuk@aol.co.uk

Quoted from Chalky

I’m really shocked at reading this thread because I didnt even know that Keith had passed away,absolutely no idea how it’s managed to go under my radar as my ears usually pricked up if I heard about him on the radio or whatever as not only did he have a Notts connection but he was also at the club that I supported as a young teenager Arnold Town,if there is a whip round to tidy up the grave I’m willing to put in a few quid if it helps,I had to Google that we was talking about the same player

dosiuk@aol.co.uk

Not sure how you managed to miss that one, Chalks. He fell ill on the way back from Macclesfield’s 1-0 defeat at Meadow Lane, and tragically died in the early hours of the following morning.

It’s been really bugging how I completely missed this and after some research he passed away when I was in hospital