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{{short description|Scottish footballer and manager}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2012}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2021}}
{{Infobox football biography
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Rowan Alexander
| name = Rowan Alexander
| image =
| image =
| fullname = Rowan Samuel Alexander<ref>{{Hugman|181|accessdate=11 March 2017}}</ref>
| fullname = Rowan Samuel Alexander<ref>{{Hugman|181|access-date=11 March 2017}}</ref>
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1961|01|28|df=y}}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1961|01|28|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Ayr]], Scotland
| birth_place = [[Ayr]], Scotland
| death_date =
| height =
| height =
| position = [[Striker (association football)|Striker]]
| position = [[Striker (association football)|Striker]]
| currentclub =
| currentclub =
| youthyears1= 1976-1978
| youthyears1 = 1976–1978
| youthclubs1= [[Annan Athletic F.C.|Annan Athletic]]
| youthclubs1 = [[Annan Athletic F.C.|Annan Athletic]]
| years1 = 1978–1983 | years2 = 1983–1984 | years3 = 1984–1986 | years4 = 1986–1995 | years5 = 1995–1998 | years6 = 2002–2003
| years1 = 1978–1983
| years2 = 1983–1984
| years3 = 1984–1986
| years4 = 1986–1995
| years5 = 1995–1998
| years6 = 2002–2003
| clubs1 = [[Queen of the South F.C.|Queen of the South]] | clubs2 = [[St Mirren F.C.|St Mirren]] | clubs3 = [[Brentford F.C.|Brentford]] | clubs4 = [[Greenock Morton F.C.|Greenock Morton]] | clubs5 = [[Queen of the South F.C.|Queen of the South]] | clubs6 = [[Gretna F.C.|Gretna]]
| clubs1 = [[Queen of the South F.C.|Queen of the South]]
| clubs2 = [[St Mirren F.C.|St Mirren]]
| clubs3 = [[Brentford F.C.|Brentford]]
| clubs4 = [[Greenock Morton F.C.|Greenock Morton]]
| clubs5 = [[Queen of the South F.C.|Queen of the South]]
| clubs6 = [[Gretna F.C.|Gretna]]
| caps1 = 136
| caps1 = 136 | goals1 = 69 | caps2 = 18 | goals2 = 3 | caps3 = 47 | goals3 = 6 | caps4 = 310 | goals4 = 98 | caps5 = 18 | goals5 = 2 | caps6 = 2 | goals6 = 1
| goals1 = 69
⚫
| totalcaps = 531 | totalgoals = 179
| caps2 = 18
⚫
| manageryears1 = 1996–1999 | manageryears2 = 2000–2007
| goals2 = 3
⚫
| managerclubs1 = [[Queen of the South F.C.|Queen of the South]] | managerclubs2 =[[Gretna F.C.|Gretna]]
| caps3 = 47
⚫
|nationalteam1 = [[Scotland national semi-professional football team|Scotland Semi-Pro]]|nationalyears1 =
| goals3 = 6
| caps4 = 310
| goals4 = 98
| caps5 = 18
| goals5 = 2
| caps6 = 2
| goals6 = 1
| totalcaps = 531
⚫
| totalgoals = 179
⚫
| manageryears1 = 1996–1999
| manageryears2 = 2000–2007
| manageryears3 = 2019–2021
⚫
| managerclubs1 = [[Queen of the South F.C.|Queen of the South]]
| managerclubs2 = [[Gretna F.C.|Gretna]]
| managerclubs3 = [[Gretna F.C. 2008|Gretna 2008]]
⚫
| nationalteam1 = [[Scotland national semi-professional football team|Scotland Semi-Pro]]
| nationalyears1 =
}}
}}
'''Rowan Samuel Alexander''' (born 28 January 1961) is a former [[Scottish people|Scottish]] [[football (soccer)|football]] player and [[manager (football)|manager]]. Alexander was a prolific goal-scoring striker for [[Queen of the South F.C.|Queen of the South]] and [[Greenock Morton F.C.|Greenock Morton]]. Alexander also played for [[St Mirren F.C.|St Mirren]], [[Brentford F.C.|Brentford]] and [[Gretna F.C.|Gretna]]. Alexander later went into management with both the ''Doonhamers'' and the ''Anvils''.
'''Rowan Samuel Alexander''' (born 28 January 1961) is a Scottish former [[association football|football]] player and [[manager (football)|manager]].
Alexander was a prolific goal-scoring striker for [[Queen of the South F.C.|Queen of the South]] and [[Greenock Morton F.C.|Greenock Morton]]. Alexander also played for [[St Mirren F.C.|St Mirren]], [[Brentford F.C.|Brentford]] and [[Gretna F.C.|Gretna]]. Alexander later went into management with both the Queen of the South and Gretna.


==Playing career==
==Playing career==
===Queen of the South (1st spell)===
===Queen of the South (1st spell)===
After spending his youth career at [[Annan Athletic F.C.|Annan Athletic]], Alexander signed for [[Dumfries]] club [[Queen of the South F.C.|Queen of the South]] at the start of the [[1978-79 in Scottish football|1978-79]] season, where he remained for five years. Whilst at [[Palmerston Park]], Alexander won promotion from the third to second tier of Scottish football at the end of the [[1980-81 in Scottish football|1980-81]] season, as the ''Doonhamers'' finished runners-up to the ''Spiders'' in the [[Scottish Football League Second Division|SFL Second Division]]. Queens had players such as [[Allan Ball]], [[Iain McChesney]], [[Crawford Boyd]] and [[Jimmy Robertson (footballer born 1955)|Jimmy Robertson]] playing for the club at this time. <ref name=autogeneratedqos>[http://www.qosfc.com/history "Club History" on the official Queen of the South website]</ref><ref name=autogeneratedball>[http://www.qosfc.com/legend-1053 Allan Ball profile on "Queens Legends" on the official Queen of the South FC website]</ref> [[Ted McMinn]], who later joined Alexander at Queens described him as being one of the best players he had the pleasure to play with at the Dumfries club. <ref name=autogeneratedmcminn>[http://www.qosfc.com/legend-1053 Ted McMinn profile on "Queens Legends" on the official Queen of the South FC website]</ref><ref name=autogeneratedjr>[http://www.qosfc.com/legend-1053 Jimmy Robertson profile on "Queens Legends" on the official Queen of the South FC website]</ref>
After spending his youth career at [[Annan Athletic F.C.|Annan Athletic]], Alexander signed for [[Dumfries]] club [[Queen of the South F.C.|Queen of the South]] at the start of the [[1978–79 in Scottish football|1978–79]] season, where he remained for five years. Whilst at [[Palmerston Park]], Alexander won promotion from the third to second tier of Scottish football at the end of the [[1980–81 in Scottish football|1980–81]] season, as the ''Doonhamers'' finished runners-up to the ''Spiders'' in the [[Scottish Football League Second Division|SFL Second Division]]. Queens had players such as [[Allan Ball]], [[Iain McChesney]], [[Crawford Boyd]] and [[Jimmy Robertson (footballer born 1955)|Jimmy Robertson]] playing for the club at this time.<ref name=autogeneratedqos>[http://www.qosfc.com/history "Club History" on the official Queen of the South website]</ref><ref name=autogeneratedball>[http://www.qosfc.com/legend-1053 Allan Ball profile on "Queens Legends" on the official Queen of the South FC website]</ref> [[Ted McMinn]], who later joined Alexander at Queens described him as being one of the best players he had the pleasure to play with at the Dumfries club.<ref name=autogeneratedmcminn>[http://www.qosfc.com/legend-1053 Ted McMinn profile on "Queens Legends" on the official Queen of the South FC website]</ref><ref name=autogeneratedjr>[http://www.qosfc.com/legend-1053 Jimmy Robertson profile on "Queens Legends" on the official Queen of the South FC website]</ref>


After Alexander departed from the Doonhamers he returned to make guest appearances in:-
After Alexander departed from the Doonhamers he returned to make guest appearances in:-


*The Allan Ball testimonial versus [[Manchester City F.C.|Manchester City]]. Other guest players for Queens included [[Davie Cooper]], [[Danny McGrain]] and [[Gary Mackay]] <ref name=autogeneratedqos />
*The Allan Ball testimonial versus [[Manchester City F.C.|Manchester City]]. Other guest players for Queens included [[Davie Cooper]], [[Danny McGrain]] and [[Gary Mackay]]<ref name=autogeneratedqos />
*The game on 23 April 1995 to mark Queens' 75th anniversary and the opening of the new stand (other guests included [[Ted McMinn]], [[Davie Irons]] and [[Andy Thomson (Scottish footballer)|Andy Thomson]]. The game was a 2-2 draw versus [[Rangers F.C.|Rangers]]. <ref name=autogeneratedqos /><ref name=autogeneratedmcminn />
*The game on 23 April 1995 to mark Queens' 75th anniversary and the opening of the new stand (other guests included [[Ted McMinn]], [[Davie Irons]] and [[Andy Thomson (Scottish footballer)|Andy Thomson]]. The game was a 2–2 draw versus [[Rangers F.C.|Rangers]].<ref name=autogeneratedqos /><ref name=autogeneratedmcminn />


In his first spell at the ''Doonhamers'', Alexander played in 136 league matches and scored 69 goals.
In his first spell at the ''Doonhamers'', Alexander played in 136 league matches and scored 69 goals.


===St Mirren===
===St Mirren===
Alexander then played for [[Paisley]] club [[St Mirren F.C.|St Mirren]] at [[Love Street (stadium)|Love Street]] for the [[1983-84 in Scottish football|1983-84]] season and played in 18 league matches and scored three goals.
Alexander then played for [[Paisley, Renfrewshire|Paisley]] club [[St Mirren F.C.|St Mirren]] at [[Love Street (stadium)|Love Street]] for the [[1983–84 in Scottish football|1983–84]] season and played in 18 league matches and scored three goals.


===Brentford===
===Brentford===
Alexander then moved to [[England]] at the start of the [[1984-85 in English football|1984-85]] season to play for [[Greater London]] club [[Brentford F.C.|Brenford]] where he remained for two years. Alexander played in 47 league matches and scored 6 goals.
Alexander then moved to England at the start of the [[1984–85 in English football|1984–85]] season to play for [[Greater London]] club [[Brentford F.C.|Brentford]] where he remained for two years. Alexander played in 47 league matches and scored 6 goals.


===Greenock Morton===
===Greenock Morton===
Alexander then returned to [[Scotland]] to play for the ''Buddies'' [[Renfrewshire]] rivals [[Greenock Morton F.C.|Greenock Morton]] at the start of the [[1986-87 in Scottish football|1986-87]] season. Alexander played at [[Cappielow Park|Cappielow]] for nine years, where he played in 310 league matches and scored 98 goals.
Alexander then returned to Scotland to play for the ''Buddies'' [[Renfrewshire]] rivals [[Greenock Morton F.C.|Greenock Morton]] at the start of the [[1986–87 in Scottish football|1986–87]] season. Alexander played at [[Cappielow Park|Cappielow]] for nine years, where he played in 310 league matches and scored 98 goals. Alexander is currently 7th in the club's post-[[World War II]] league appearances list and is also the third highest post-WW2 league goalscorer. Alexander is five goals and one place ahead of former ''Doonhamer'', [[Peter Weatherson]], although he trails Weatherson by 13 appearances and one place.


Alexander also won caps for the [[Scotland national semi-professional football team|Scotland Semi-Pro]] team when playing for the [[Greenock]] club.<ref>{{cite book |year=2002 |title=TW8: The Home of Football - Brentford FC versus Bristol City 13 August 2002 |location= Charlton, London|publisher=The Yellow Printing Company |page=21}}</ref> Throughout his nine years with Morton, Alexander commuted from his home in Dumfries, combining his part-time football career with primary [[employment]], including as a [[Swineherd|pig farmer]] and insurance salesman.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Woods |first1=Natasha |title=Alexander begins to heal his scars; Football |access-date= |publisher=The Sunday Times |date=11 April 1999 |quote=During nine years at Morton, he never moved north, preferring to commute to Greenock, despite the fact he continued to mix football with full-time jobs ranging from pig-farmer to insurance salesman.}}</ref>
Alexander is currently 7th in the [[Greenock]] club's post-[[World War II]] league appearances list and the third highest post-WW2 league goalscorer.


===Queen of the South (2nd spell)===
===Scotland Semi-Professional===
After leaving Morton in the summer of 1995, Alexander returned to the ''Doonhamers'' and soon after was appointed joint [[Player-coach|player-manager]] alongside [[Mark Shanks]]. With ''Queens'' newly appointed chairman [[Norman Blount]] getting the wheels moving on the club's revival, Alexander and Shanks reached the [[1997–98 Scottish Challenge Cup]] Final with the ''Doonhamers'', where they lost 1–0 to [[Falkirk F.C.|Falkirk]] who were playing in the tier above ''Queens''. Alexander remained at the club until his sacking in January 1999, having played in 18 league matches and scored two goals during his second spell in Dumfries. Alexander is 14th highest in Queens all-time goalscoring charts with 78 goals, one behind [[Iain McChesney]]. He finished the 1998–99 season playing for [[Cumnock Juniors F.C.|Cumnock Juniors]].
While with Greenock Morton, Alexander won caps for the [[Scotland national semi-professional football team|Scotland Semi-Pro]] team.<ref>{{cite book |last= |first= |year=2002 |title=TW8: The Home Of Football - Brentford FC versus Bristol City 13/08/02 |url= |location= Charlton, London|publisher=The Yellow Printing Company |isbn= |page=21|accessdate= }}</ref>


==Coaching career==
===Gretna===
⚫
Alexander was then appointed as [[Mike McCartney (footballer)|Mike McCartney]]'s replacement as player-manager of [[Gretna F.C.|Gretna]] in November 2000, with the ''Anvils'' playing in non-league football in England. Alexander remained in-charge following the club's election into the [[Scottish Football League]]. Alexander played in two league matches and scored one goal during the [[2002–03 in Scottish football|2002–03]] season.
Rowan Alexander's first appointment as manager of a senior side saw him return to Queen of the South. With new chairman [[Norman Blount]] getting the wheels moving on the club's revival, together they took QoS to the [[1997–98 Scottish Challenge Cup]] Final where they went down by the only goal of the game to opposition from a division above, [[Falkirk F.C.]].


⚫
Following Gretna's take over by multi-millionaire [[Brooks Mileson]], Alexander steered the club to the [[Scottish Third Division]] title in the [[2004–05 in Scottish football|2004–05]] season with a record-breaking total of 98 points. Success continued the following season as the club clinched promotion to the [[Scottish First Division]] and earned a place in the [[UEFA Cup]] after reaching the [[2006 Scottish Cup Final]], where they were eventually beaten 4–2 on penalties by [[Heart of Midlothian F.C.|Heart of Midlothian]] after the match ended 1-1 after [[extra-time]]. Rowan famously wore a traditional kilt in the colours of Gretna for the final.
⚫
He was then appointed as [[Mike McCartney (footballer)|Mike McCartney]]'s replacement as player-manager of Gretna with the club playing in the lower English leagues. He remained in charge following their induction to the [[Scottish Football League]].


⚫
Following Gretna's success in the [[2005–06 in Scottish football|2005–06]] season, Alexander signed a new five-year contract with the club and stated his intention to remain with the ''Anvils'' for the remainder of his career. Alexander was then replaced towards the end of the [[2006–07 in Scottish football|2006–07]] season by his assistant, [[Davie Irons]]. Alexander turned up for Gretna's first league match in the top tier of Scottish football [[Fir Park]], the home of [[Motherwell F.C.|Motherwell]] on 4 August 2007 and was then refused entry to the main stand.<ref name="Alexander refused Fir Park access">{{cite news
⚫
Following Gretna's take over by multi-millionaire [[Brooks Mileson]], Alexander steered the club to the [[Scottish Third Division]] title in 2005 with a record-breaking 98 points. Success continued in the following season as the club clinched promotion to the [[Scottish First Division]] and earned a place in the [[UEFA Cup]] after reaching the [[Scottish Cup]] final, where they were eventually beaten 4-2 on penalties after the match had ended 1-1.

⚫
Following Gretna's success in [[2005–06 in Scottish football|2005–06]], Alexander signed a five-year contract with the club and stated his intention to remain with Gretna for the rest of his career. He was replaced towards the end of the [[2006–07 in Scottish football|2006–07]] season by his assistant, [[Davie Irons]]. He turned up for Gretna's first game in the top division of Scottish football - at Motherwell's [[Fir Park]] on 4 August 2007, only to be refused entry.<ref name="Alexander refused Fir Park access">{{cite news
| title = Alexander refused Fir Park access
| title = Alexander refused Fir Park access
| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/g/gretna/6931195.stm
| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/g/gretna/6931195.stm
| publisher = BBC Sport
| publisher = BBC Sport
| date = 4 August 2007
| date = 4 August 2007
| accessdate =4 August 2007}}</ref> On 6 November 2007, it was officially announced that Alexander was sacked by Gretna.<ref name="sack">[http://www.eurosport.com/football/gretna-sack-alexander_sto1371634/story.shtml SPL - Gretna finally sack Alexander - Yahoo! Eurosport UK<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
| access-date =4 August 2007}}</ref> On 6 November 2007, Alexander was officially sacked by the ''Anvils'' and this was announced to the media.<ref name="sack">[http://www.eurosport.com/football/gretna-sack-alexander_sto1371634/story.shtml SPL - Gretna finally sack Alexander - Yahoo! Eurosport UK<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>

⚫
Alexander's sacking and the subsequent liquidation of the ''Anvils'' meant that Alexander was unable to receive compensation on his five-year contract. In February 2009, Alexander claimed that he was in financial difficulties as a result of this decision and was unable to obtain another job in Scottish football. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_prem/7904415.stm]

⚫
In January 2010, Alexander was appointed assistant manager of [[Scottish Junior Football Association|Scottish Junior]] club [[Glenafton Athletic F.C.|Glenafton Athletic]] in [[New Cumnock]] and stayed at the club until August 2010. He works as a visiting football coach to primary schools based in Cumbria and the Borders.


=== Gretna 2008 ===
⚫
Alexander's sacking and the subsequent liquidation of Gretna meant that he was unable to receive compensation for his five-year contract. In February 2009 he claimed that he was in financial difficulties as a result and was unable to get a job in Scottish football. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_prem/7904415.stm]
After a long absence from coaching, Alexander returned to the ''Anvils'', becoming manager of Gretna F.C.'s phoenix club, [[Gretna F.C. 2008]], in December 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/1615337162061672/posts/2398541820407865?sfns=mo|title=MANAGER APPOINTMENT|last=Rome|first=Stuart|date=2 December 2019|website=Gretna F.C. 2008 - Facebook|access-date=2 December 2019}}</ref>


Alexander was relieved of his duties on 2 September 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|title=With immediate effect Rowan Alexander has been relieved of his duty as manager of Gretna 2008 FC|url=https://twitter.com/gretnafc2008/status/1433405441782976523|access-date=2021-09-02|website=Twitter|language=en}}</ref>
⚫
In January 2010, Alexander was appointed assistant manager at Scottish Junior side [[Glenafton Athletic FC]] and was at the club until August.


==Honours==
==Honours==
Line 77: Line 109:
*[[Scottish Football League Division Two]] - Champions; 2005–06
*[[Scottish Football League Division Two]] - Champions; 2005–06
*[[Scottish Cup]] - Runners Up; 2005–06
*[[Scottish Cup]] - Runners Up; 2005–06
*[[Scottish Football League Division One]] - Champions; 2006&ndash;07
*[[Scottish Football League Division One]] - Champions; 2006–07


==References==
==References==
Line 102: Line 134:
[[Category:Scottish Football League players]]
[[Category:Scottish Football League players]]
[[Category:Scottish football managers]]
[[Category:Scottish football managers]]
[[Category:Scottish footballers]]
[[Category:Scottish men's footballers]]
[[Category:St Mirren F.C. players]]
[[Category:St Mirren F.C. players]]
[[Category:English Football League players]]
[[Category:English Football League players]]
[[Category:People from Ayr]]
[[Category:Footballers from Ayr]]
[[Category:Scottish Football League managers]]
[[Category:Scottish Football League managers]]
[[Category:Scotland semi-pro international footballers]]
[[Category:Scotland men's semi-pro international footballers]]
[[Category:Association football forwards]]
[[Category:Men's association football forwards]]
[[Category:Gretna F.C. 2008 managers]]
[[Category:Lowland Football League managers]]

Latest revision as of 17:06, 8 July 2023

Rowan Alexander
Personal information
Full name Rowan Samuel Alexander[1]
Date of birth (1961-01-28) 28 January 1961 (age 63)
Place of birth Ayr, Scotland
Position(s) Striker
Youth career
1976–1978 Annan Athletic
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1978–1983 Queen of the South 136 (69)
1983–1984 St Mirren 18 (3)
1984–1986 Brentford 47 (6)
1986–1995 Greenock Morton 310 (98)
1995–1998 Queen of the South 18 (2)
2002–2003 Gretna 2 (1)
Total 531 (179)
International career
Scotland Semi-Pro
Managerial career
1996–1999 Queen of the South
2000–2007 Gretna
2019–2021 Gretna 2008
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Rowan Samuel Alexander (born 28 January 1961) is a Scottish former football player and manager.

Alexander was a prolific goal-scoring striker for Queen of the South and Greenock Morton. Alexander also played for St Mirren, Brentford and Gretna. Alexander later went into management with both the Queen of the South and Gretna.

Playing career

[edit]

Queen of the South (1st spell)

[edit]

After spending his youth career at Annan Athletic, Alexander signed for Dumfries club Queen of the South at the start of the 1978–79 season, where he remained for five years. Whilst at Palmerston Park, Alexander won promotion from the third to second tier of Scottish football at the end of the 1980–81 season, as the Doonhamers finished runners-up to the Spiders in the SFL Second Division. Queens had players such as Allan Ball, Iain McChesney, Crawford Boyd and Jimmy Robertson playing for the club at this time.[2][3] Ted McMinn, who later joined Alexander at Queens described him as being one of the best players he had the pleasure to play with at the Dumfries club.[4][5]

After Alexander departed from the Doonhamers he returned to make guest appearances in:-

In his first spell at the Doonhamers, Alexander played in 136 league matches and scored 69 goals.

St Mirren

[edit]

Alexander then played for Paisley club St Mirren at Love Street for the 1983–84 season and played in 18 league matches and scored three goals.

Brentford

[edit]

Alexander then moved to England at the start of the 1984–85 season to play for Greater London club Brentford where he remained for two years. Alexander played in 47 league matches and scored 6 goals.

Greenock Morton

[edit]

Alexander then returned to Scotland to play for the Buddies Renfrewshire rivals Greenock Morton at the start of the 1986–87 season. Alexander played at Cappielow for nine years, where he played in 310 league matches and scored 98 goals. Alexander is currently 7th in the club's post-World War II league appearances list and is also the third highest post-WW2 league goalscorer. Alexander is five goals and one place ahead of former Doonhamer, Peter Weatherson, although he trails Weatherson by 13 appearances and one place.

Alexander also won caps for the Scotland Semi-Pro team when playing for the Greenock club.[6] Throughout his nine years with Morton, Alexander commuted from his home in Dumfries, combining his part-time football career with primary employment, including as a pig farmer and insurance salesman.[7]

Queen of the South (2nd spell)

[edit]

After leaving Morton in the summer of 1995, Alexander returned to the Doonhamers and soon after was appointed joint player-manager alongside Mark Shanks. With Queens newly appointed chairman Norman Blount getting the wheels moving on the club's revival, Alexander and Shanks reached the 1997–98 Scottish Challenge Cup Final with the Doonhamers, where they lost 1–0 to Falkirk who were playing in the tier above Queens. Alexander remained at the club until his sacking in January 1999, having played in 18 league matches and scored two goals during his second spell in Dumfries. Alexander is 14th highest in Queens all-time goalscoring charts with 78 goals, one behind Iain McChesney. He finished the 1998–99 season playing for Cumnock Juniors.

Gretna

[edit]

Alexander was then appointed as Mike McCartney's replacement as player-manager of Gretna in November 2000, with the Anvils playing in non-league football in England. Alexander remained in-charge following the club's election into the Scottish Football League. Alexander played in two league matches and scored one goal during the 2002–03 season.

Following Gretna's take over by multi-millionaire Brooks Mileson, Alexander steered the club to the Scottish Third Division title in the 2004–05 season with a record-breaking total of 98 points. Success continued the following season as the club clinched promotion to the Scottish First Division and earned a place in the UEFA Cup after reaching the 2006 Scottish Cup Final, where they were eventually beaten 4–2 on penalties by Heart of Midlothian after the match ended 1-1 after extra-time. Rowan famously wore a traditional kilt in the colours of Gretna for the final.

Following Gretna's success in the 2005–06 season, Alexander signed a new five-year contract with the club and stated his intention to remain with the Anvils for the remainder of his career. Alexander was then replaced towards the end of the 2006–07 season by his assistant, Davie Irons. Alexander turned up for Gretna's first league match in the top tier of Scottish football Fir Park, the home of Motherwell on 4 August 2007 and was then refused entry to the main stand.[8] On 6 November 2007, Alexander was officially sacked by the Anvils and this was announced to the media.[9]

Alexander's sacking and the subsequent liquidation of the Anvils meant that Alexander was unable to receive compensation on his five-year contract. In February 2009, Alexander claimed that he was in financial difficulties as a result of this decision and was unable to obtain another job in Scottish football. [1]

In January 2010, Alexander was appointed assistant manager of Scottish Junior club Glenafton Athletic in New Cumnock and stayed at the club until August 2010. He works as a visiting football coach to primary schools based in Cumbria and the Borders.

Gretna 2008

[edit]

After a long absence from coaching, Alexander returned to the Anvils, becoming manager of Gretna F.C.'s phoenix club, Gretna F.C. 2008, in December 2019.[10]

Alexander was relieved of his duties on 2 September 2021.[11]

Honours

[edit]

Player

[edit]
Morton

Manager

[edit]
Gretna

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Rowan Alexander". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  2. ^ a b c "Club History" on the official Queen of the South website
  3. ^ Allan Ball profile on "Queens Legends" on the official Queen of the South FC website
  4. ^ a b Ted McMinn profile on "Queens Legends" on the official Queen of the South FC website
  5. ^ Jimmy Robertson profile on "Queens Legends" on the official Queen of the South FC website
  6. ^ TW8: The Home of Football - Brentford FC versus Bristol City 13 August 2002. Charlton, London: The Yellow Printing Company. 2002. p. 21.
  7. ^ Woods, Natasha (11 April 1999). "Alexander begins to heal his scars; Football". The Sunday Times. During nine years at Morton, he never moved north, preferring to commute to Greenock, despite the fact he continued to mix football with full-time jobs ranging from pig-farmer to insurance salesman.
  8. ^ "Alexander refused Fir Park access". BBC Sport. 4 August 2007. Retrieved 4 August 2007.
  9. ^ SPL - Gretna finally sack Alexander - Yahoo! Eurosport UK
  10. ^ Rome, Stuart (2 December 2019). "MANAGER APPOINTMENT". Gretna F.C. 2008 - Facebook. Retrieved 2 December 2019.
  11. ^ "With immediate effect Rowan Alexander has been relieved of his duty as manager of Gretna 2008 FC". Twitter. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
[edit]
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