Alexander the great joins the 1,000 club

Well done to him. A great achievement.

Hats off to Graham, what an absolute gentleman. I'm a Brit in Portland, USA and Graham came out with Preston and then Burnley. My son and I helped manage their tour in Portland, pro bono.We have stayed in touch ever since, I doubt if there are too many players at his level that always get you back with an email, update you on some of his ex team mates and have time for the little people ! I could see that when he was at Preston he was the go to guy on and off the pitch. All the players looked up to him, a HUGE mistake when manager Paul Simpson let him go, I could have told him that from the outside just being around the team.
Congratulations Grezza, think you can hit 2000 games ?!!!

Congratulations Graham. Having spoken to him on a number of occasions I found his humility and pleasant nature a rare thing in a modern foootballer. No mistaken belief that he is in some way better than others just because he plays football. When we at Burnley signed him from Preston, it proved the catalyst for our promotion to the Premier League, and ultimately, Preston's likely relegation back to League 1 (though I hope they stay up). His leadership skills are now sorely lacking on the pitch at the Turf but his legs are finally starting to go. Finally, the best compliment for Graham is that after he signed for us it took over a season for him to clap and acknowledge the fans in the way he does now - he was so attached to PNE that it must have felt like betrayal even though he was told he was leaving. A true sign of loyalty, one which I wish our former manager at Wembley today had learnt from. Well done Graham on all counts.

What a player and long may he continue

It would be disappointing to think that Graham could not see out his career with us. Eddie Howe could do worse than look at the last few results and think about bringing him back.

Graham is a fantastic footballer and a great role model. He has had a phenomenal 23 years in the game, and I really really hope that he plays for us for one more season after this. In my opinion his career is definetely not over yet, he still has great ability and leadership qualities aswell so it is more than worth it to keep him in the team. And after all, he is a magician from the dead ball and is very clinical from penalties and free kicks. He should always have a role at the club.

The way the man takes a pen is devastating. What a model pro. Take a bow son.

He will now be remembered for two things he, individually added to the game.
1000 appearances and that unique penalty kick of his!

Amazing achievement in the modern game. Often wonder how much his wembley penalty miss in '92, as a teenager, drove him on to have such an exemplary penalty taking record over the years. If you fancy another challenge Graham, you'd be more than welcome back at the Iron...

A true professional, dedicated, a good man, unlike many in football these days he doesn't put his ego before the team.

The last 4 seasons, every time I met a Burnley fan I asked them, "Can we have Graham Alexander back?"
They always said, "No".

Easily North End's best and most effective player all the time he was there. Certainly the only one we were worried about going to Everton with David Moyes.

Mind you, he could have played in the Premier League with Preston as early as the 2001-2002 season, if he hadn't been so rubbish in the 2001 Championship playoff final!

The way I remember the 2000-2001 Championship season is like this. It was won by Fulham, who had bought many Premier League quality players. Second automatic promotion spot went to Blackburn Rovers who, under Graeme Souness were (IMHO) the best footballing side the Championship has ever seen. Third place went to Bolton Wanderers who, for all Sam Allardyce's bleating about having no money to spend, had actually spent over 15million on players in preceding seasons. (And that was when 15million was still worth something in football). North End finished 4th.

Fulham, Blackburn Rovers, Bolton Wanderers. That is the only season that all three teams promoted from the Championship managed to survive in the Premier League. Usually, one or two promoted teams last only one season. And Fulham, Blackburn and Bolton are still in the Premier League. That is a measure of the quality they had in 2001.

What it adds up to is that, in any other season, the 2000-2001 Preston North End team would probably have been good enough to reach the Premier League. That was primarily due to David Moyes, but then comes Graham Alexander.

Top footballer. Probably always the most valuable man in whatever team he was playing for, including Scotland. Either scored or assisted the majority of his team's goals. Bit like David Backham in that regard.


Mind you, he was better looking when he looked like he cut his hair himself. But back them he had youth on his side.

Take note Craig Levein, if you want a dependable rock of a player then look no further.

10 more caps for a Hall of Fame entry Graham, you deserve it.

I always try and keep tabs on ex-Luton players (more so now that the FA & FL mafia saw fit to throw us out of the League) and I did, for a while, start to wonder if G. Alexander was one and the same with our own Graham. I has been a long time and this man keeps his head down and keeps on doing the job. I hope that when he does come to retire that he gets due credit.

Alexander Please wait because (to-be Sir) Rayan Giggs will join the party, hopefully.

@11

Great points made there. I remember the 00/01 season well and quite rightly you highlight how good the league was that year. Considering that the likes of Birmingham and WBA would also be promoted and establish themseleves within the PL supports this.

PNE were unlucky, and as an Evertonian I was hoping that Alexander would follow Moyes to our club and the rumours at the time suggested he would, but it never panned out. The only other player I would have thought he'd go after was John Macken and I think that was the problem for PNE. Although they had a magnificent 00/01 season, the inability to re-create that in subsequent years was probably due to a lack of real quality.


all credit to GA though. By all accounts, a model pro and not a bad player either. Successful from the spot despite seemingly approaching the ball from the wrong side for his right footed strike.

Full credit to a true pro. Saw him at Luton a few times and recognisable as someone who enjoyed his trade.

@ Paul Fletcher

Graham is very much like that himself. I interviewed him last year for a feature in a Luton Town matchday programme and he was very approachable, texting me to let me know when he was free - even though we've never even met - and it was fascinating to talk to him.

Then about an hour after we'd finished he rang me back because he'd remembered something else that he thought would be interesting for the piece and it was. In fact, it was a whole new cracking angle to it.

I actually had a look back through my notes of the conversation earlier and I've a feeling I may have joked about reaching 1,000 games to him looking at some of the left-over quotes I've got!

An absolute top man in my own experience, and everyone I know speaks so highly of him too, so this is a great accolade and a fantastic achievement.

I do really like his straight run up to take penalties. I actually do the same thing now and I seem to be hitting them even better. And his two pens against Hull last season in the Prem were remarkable. Outside of the foot, perfect top corner, what more can you say.

Great Player and a model pro, my only wish was that Scotland could have used him earlier in his career, 40 caps from a man who started when he was 30+ is remarkable and a true measure of the quality and ability he had. Thanks for the memories and hopefully ul find the 10 caps u deserve to get in to the Hall of fame!

Cheers and all the best

Very nice piece.

It's reading something like this that helps to re-establish my faith and hope for the game. Longevity and loyalty, doggedness and just a love of the game. There are precious few of his sort around, and even fewer that have sustained it at the very top.

Shame he didn't get a longer chance in the prem and Moyes didn't take him with him at the time. But who knows? the story might have panned out differently. 1000 games is a fine achievement.

He's clearly had a lot out of the game, but my, has he given a lot back. Fine example to any young player starting out.

he is one of the few players who returns to a club and is equally admired and feared, all fans appreciate his work rate, loyalty and will to win, when he left us (PNE) for burnley most people didnt think it was that much of a loss but he is one of those players you dont realise how good they are until they have gone , and how we have fallen with out him proves how good he was

well done Graham see you at deepdale soon especially if we go down

Graham Alexander is a role model that many will try to meet his standards but the majority will fail. Having met him on several occassions he is a leader on the pitch but off it you will never meet a more humble and approachable person. He is someone who has taken a lot out from football but will put this back in to the game when he finally hangs his boots up. A credit to the game and should be honoured in some way for a fantastic achievement. Well done and hopefully he'll beat Tony Fords record of 1073 games. I have been informed that he also puts a lot back into grass roots football by helping out some junior football team with coaching in the Preston area where he still lives, how many Pro's do this off their own back

I was an avid Luton fan in the mid 90s and for a couple of seasons Graham was one of our best players along with Steve Davis, Tony Thorpe and Ian Feuer. He played right-back mostly but occassionally on the wing where I thought he was much more effective for us. He sure had a sweet right foot!

I also used to work for a well known video rental store in Milton Keynes (Blockbusters - can I say that?) and imagine my surprise when one afternoon in walked Graham Alexander to rent a vid ! I remember losing my composure and telling him that I thought he was our best player ! After he left I sneakily looked up his address on the computer too!

Congratulations Graham, a true pro.

Tomefccam, @n0.15

"PNE were unlucky, and as an Evertonian I was hoping that Alexander would follow Moyes to our club and the rumours at the time suggested he would, but it never panned out. The only other player I would have thought he'd go after was John Macken and I think that was the problem for PNE. Although they had a magnificent 00/01 season, the inability to re-create that in subsequent years was probably due to a lack of real quality."

More like a lack of David Moyes!

Under Moyes, North End were a remarkably 2nd half team. So often they were poor in the first half and brilliant in the 2nd. The 2001 playoff final was typical. In that match, Graham Alexander had a nightmare 1st half.

Also, a year ago PNE were having to borrow money to pay wages. What went wrong? Well, Deepdale was a 20,000 capacity stadium with 3 new stands and crowds under 15,000. When Moyes wanted money for better players to push for promotion, the club decided to spend their money on a 4th new stand. Not such a bad decision financially, for a club that were well in the black and anticipating at least 1 season in the Premier League. But as Moyes put it, "You've got to fill the stands you already have before building another one". Look at us now, hoping for a miracle to avoid League 2!

Anyway. Macken was sold to Man City for 5million. Felt like a joke at the time, but to be fair to him he was very unlucky with injuries. We also sold Brian McBride, Ricardo Fuller, David Nugent, David Healy, Dickson Etuhu, Kevin Kilbane and even Sean Gregan to better things. One season, we sold 3 of our best players (Healy, Eddy Lewis and Richard Cresswell) to promotion rivals Leeds Utd who beat us in the Playoff semis - not that it did them any good, hah!

And all the while this was going on, nobody came looking for Graham Alexander!

I recall an interview that suggested Moyes had info on every player in the UK (& beyond). That's how Alexander was identified as the best prospect for a new right back for North End.

Despite all the praise heaped on Graham Alexander, it's still hard to give justice to how valuable a player he's been. If 5million for Jon Macken was foolish, then 'No offers' for graham Alexander was plain stupid!

Everton fans would understand it, just by saying that David Moyes singled Alexander out. This is very much like explaining to Liverpool fans just how good Tom Finney was; look up what Bill Shankly used to say about him!

This is a guy who deserves to be in every Scotland squad and is as fit as a fiddle and can pass from the back to the front yet we have to put up with 'players' like Lee McCulloch in that position.

He should definitely play for a few years yet. I'd be happy to see him up here at Hibs. Come on Colin Calderwood, if he's a free agent still get him in. We need an experienced fit player, unfortunately somehow I can see him playing at a higher level for a while yet.

Nice work Paul, great football story.
Just wanted to add my congratulations to a top player and by all accounts, a top bloke... Well done Graham.
Lets hope he stays in the game, his attitude and experience can only be a positive.
https://scottssportsandsocial.blogspot.com/

You say Big G was gutted to leave North End, but us North Enders were also distraught when he left. Former manager Paul Simpson has much to answer for, not least GA's departure from the club. At times Graham would get caught out at the back but his grit was exemplary. He was his own critic. He has done well at Burnley, and that is typical of him as a player, but he will always be a North Ender. He would be a great asset to the coaching staff at Deepdale. I'd be very happy to see him back home at Preston North End, imparting his enthusiasm, vast experience and dedication to the game to the young team members. He is one of those players who just gets on with the job - nothing flash and that's what I admire about him. He is a worthy role model for young players.
He deserves to be lauded by the FA for his dedication to football, but he won't be because he does not have the glamour associated with what might be called the big names. But mention Ryan Giggs, then mention Graham Alexander because they are in the same league. Same degree of commitment on different levels - but same commitment.
A big man.

I like Giggsy, but I take my hat off to Graham Alexander.

Well done Graham probably 1 of thest Scotish players of my lifetime and a true gentlemen of the game. I'd happily see him at Morton but even at his age i stil dont think we're big enough for him