Phil Alexander
Encyclopedia
Phillip "Phil" Alexander (born September 4, 1962 in England
) is a retired association footballer and American football
er. He is now the Chief Executive
of Crystal Palace
.
, where he played for the Royals' academy. Meanwhile, he also gained U-18 and U-19 caps for the England Schoolboys teams, before the Royals released him due their quota of trainees being filled.
Alexander then joined amateur Wokingham Town, before signing for Norwich City
for £2,000 in 1981. He made just one substitute appearance for the Canaries before departing the club and indeed the country in 1983.
Alexander joined New Zealand National Soccer League
club Gisborne City
, where he made a name for himself as part of their title-winning side, before moving across to fellow NSL side Miramar Rangers
.
and the Chicago Bears
, before signing for the newly-formed London Monarchs
in 1991. The Monarchs' debut season was highly successful, with Alexander the World League of American Football
's leading points leader as they went on to win the World Bowl I
at Wembley Stadium, beating the Barcelona Dragons
21–0 in front of 61,108 fans.He was voted in the All World team and operation discvovery player of the year.
for a brief spell, before rounding off his career with Bracknell Town
, where he took over as manager in 1992. In his first season
he managed to secure survival for the Robins, while his second season saw Alexander lead Bracknell to the Isthmian League
Division Three title the following season
.
As well as the Robins' exploits on the field, Alexander's tenure was notable for a lucrative sponsorship deal he negotiated for the club with Panasonic, and this led to him returning to The Football League
, with Swindon Town
appointing him as Marketing Controller in 1994. He remained in this role for two years before moving to a similar role at Crystal Palace
. After Mark Goldberg
's takeover of the club in 1998, Alexander was appointed the club's Chief Executive
, a role he held through the administration period that followed. Under Simon Jordan
's tenure as Chairman, Alexander was in charge of the commercial side of the club, as well as negotiating all player sales and acquisitions for the Eagles, while under new co-chairmen Martin Long and Steve Parish he is set to take over the central running of the club.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
) is a retired association footballer and American football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
er. He is now the Chief Executive
Chief executive officer
A chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...
of Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace F.C.
Crystal Palace Football Club are an English Football league club based in South Norwood, London. The team plays its home matches at Selhurst Park, where they have been based since 1924. The club currently competes in the second tier of English Football, The Championship.Crystal Palace was formed in...
.
Association football
Alexander's English football career began at ReadingReading F.C.
Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship...
, where he played for the Royals' academy. Meanwhile, he also gained U-18 and U-19 caps for the England Schoolboys teams, before the Royals released him due their quota of trainees being filled.
Alexander then joined amateur Wokingham Town, before signing for Norwich City
Norwich City F.C.
Norwich City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Norwich, Norfolk. As of the 2011–12 season, Norwich City are again playing in the Premier League after a six-year absence, having finished as runner up in the Championship in 2010–11 and winning automatic promotion.The...
for £2,000 in 1981. He made just one substitute appearance for the Canaries before departing the club and indeed the country in 1983.
Alexander joined New Zealand National Soccer League
New Zealand National Soccer League
The National Soccer League is a name given to competitions in which New Zealand's top soccer clubs play each other, at least two times, on a home and away basis . At the completion of the competition, the best-performed team is declared as the New Zealand champion...
club Gisborne City
Gisborne City
Gisborne City FC is a soccer club in Gisborne, New Zealand who play in the eastern league 1st division. Their home ground is Childers Road. They have won the National League, Air New Zealand cup, and the Chatham Cup....
, where he made a name for himself as part of their title-winning side, before moving across to fellow NSL side Miramar Rangers
Miramar Rangers
Miramar Rangers AFC is a semi-professional New Zealand association football club in the Wellington suburb of Miramar. They are current holders of the Chatham Cup, the fourth time they have won the trophy...
.
American football
He then came back to England in 1985 and re signed for Wokingham Town featuring in the FA Trophy semi final.He also featured as a place kicker for the Farnham Knights. He was successful in this role and was offered trials with the Philadelphia EaglesPhiladelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
and the Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
, before signing for the newly-formed London Monarchs
London Monarchs
The London Monarchs were a professional American football team in NFL Europe and its predecessor league, the World League of American Football . The Monarchs played their final season in 1998 as the England Monarchs...
in 1991. The Monarchs' debut season was highly successful, with Alexander the World League of American Football
World League of American Football
The World League of American Football was founded in 1990 with support from the National Football League to play professional American football in North America, Europe and later possibly Asia...
's leading points leader as they went on to win the World Bowl I
World Bowl 91
World Bowl '91, also commonly referred to as World Bowl I, was the first annual championship game of the World League of American Football. It took place June 9, 1991 at London's Wembley Stadium. The game featured a matchup between the Barcelona Dragons and the London Monarchs...
at Wembley Stadium, beating the Barcelona Dragons
Barcelona Dragons
The Barcelona Dragons were a team originally in the World League of American Football and later in the resurrected NFL Europe. Their home field in Barcelona was the Estadi Olímpic de Montjuic, the 1992 Olympic Stadium, and later the Mini Estadi. The Dragons were successful on the field, making it...
21–0 in front of 61,108 fans.He was voted in the All World team and operation discvovery player of the year.
Back to association football
Alexander switched back codes to the association football game after his exploits with the Monarchs, joining KingstonianKingstonian F.C.
Kingstonian Football Club are an English, semi-professional football club that are playing in the Isthmian League Premier Division for the 2011–12 season. The club has played at Kingsmeadow in Kingston upon Thames since 1989, after leaving their traditional Richmond Road ground...
for a brief spell, before rounding off his career with Bracknell Town
Bracknell Town F.C.
Bracknell Town Football Club are a football club based in Bracknell, Berkshire, England. The club was formed in 1896. The team are currently in the Hellenic Football League Premier Division.-History:...
, where he took over as manager in 1992. In his first season
1992-93 in English football
The 1992–1993 season was the 113th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:This season saw the birth of the FA Premier League. This meant a break-up of the 104-year-old Football League that had operated until then with four divisions....
he managed to secure survival for the Robins, while his second season saw Alexander lead Bracknell to the Isthmian League
Isthmian League
The Isthmian League is a regional football league covering London and South East England featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs. It is sponsored by Ryman, and therefore officially known as the Ryman League. It was founded in 1905 by amateur clubs in the London area...
Division Three title the following season
1993-94 in English football
The 1993-1994 season was the 114th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:From the start of this season, the FA Premier League would be sponsored by Carling Breweries - an association which would last for eight years...
.
As well as the Robins' exploits on the field, Alexander's tenure was notable for a lucrative sponsorship deal he negotiated for the club with Panasonic, and this led to him returning to The Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
, with Swindon Town
Swindon Town F.C.
Swindon Town Football Club are a team based in Swindon, Wiltshire. Currently in League Two, Swindon have been managed by Paolo Di Canio since 23 May 2011...
appointing him as Marketing Controller in 1994. He remained in this role for two years before moving to a similar role at Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace F.C.
Crystal Palace Football Club are an English Football league club based in South Norwood, London. The team plays its home matches at Selhurst Park, where they have been based since 1924. The club currently competes in the second tier of English Football, The Championship.Crystal Palace was formed in...
. After Mark Goldberg
Mark Goldberg
Mark Goldberg is an English football club chairman and manager, who is currently in his third spell with Bromley F.C.-Business:Goldberg originally made his fortune in the IT recruitment industry, becoming a multi millionaire...
's takeover of the club in 1998, Alexander was appointed the club's Chief Executive
Chief executive officer
A chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...
, a role he held through the administration period that followed. Under Simon Jordan
Simon Jordan
Simon Jordan is an English businessman who made his fortune in the mobile phone industry. In 2000 he purchased Crystal Palace Football Club and remained chairman of the club until they entered administration in early 2010....
's tenure as Chairman, Alexander was in charge of the commercial side of the club, as well as negotiating all player sales and acquisitions for the Eagles, while under new co-chairmen Martin Long and Steve Parish he is set to take over the central running of the club.