Rowan Alexander
Encyclopedia
Rowan Samuel Alexander (born 28 January 1961 in Ayr
, Scotland
) is a former footballer
and ex-manager of one-time Scottish Football League
club Gretna
.
He is currently assistant manager at Ayrshire
junior
side .
side Queen of the South
, Rowan Alexander won promotion from the third to middle tier of Scottish football. This was in 1980-81 in the same side as Allan Ball
, Iain McChesney, Crawford Boyd
and Jimmy Robertson. Alexander was then joined at QoS by Ted McMinn
. When later interviewed for the club website, McMinn and Robertson both described Alexander as being among the best players they played beside at the Dumfries club.
After his departure from Queens he returned to make guest appearances in:-
Alexander returned to manage Queens from 1996 to 2000
, Brentford
, Greenock Morton
.
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.
.
He was then appointed 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 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
, 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
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. On 6 November 2007, it was officially announced that Alexander was sacked by Gretna.
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
In January 2010, Alexander was appointed assistant manager at Scottish Junior side Glenafton Athletic FC and was at the club until August of the same year.
Scottish Football League Division Three - Champions; 2004-05
Scottish Football League Division Two - Champions; 2005-06
Scottish Cup
- Runners Up; 2005-06
Scottish Football League Division One - Champions; 2006–07
Ayr
Ayr is a town and port situated on the Firth of Clyde in south-west Scotland. With a population of around 46,000, Ayr is the largest settlement in Ayrshire, of which it is the county town, and has held royal burgh status since 1205...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
) is a former footballer
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
and ex-manager of one-time Scottish Football League
Scottish Football League
The Scottish Football League is a league of football teams in Scotland, comprising theScottish First Division, Scottish Second Division and Scottish Third Division. From the league's foundation in 1890 until the breakaway Scottish Premier League was formed in 1998, the Scottish Football League...
club Gretna
Gretna F.C.
Gretna Football Club was a Scottish football club that represented the town of Gretna, Dumfries and Galloway, close to the border between England and Scotland...
.
He is currently assistant manager at Ayrshire
Ayrshire
Ayrshire is a registration county, and former administrative county in south-west Scotland, United Kingdom, located on the shores of the Firth of Clyde. Its principal towns include Ayr, Kilmarnock and Irvine. The town of Troon on the coast has hosted the British Open Golf Championship twice in the...
junior
Scottish Junior Football Association
The Scottish Junior Football Association is an affiliated national association of the Scottish Football Association and is the governing body for the Junior grade of football in Scotland. The term "Junior" refers to the level of football played...
side .
Queen of the South
At DumfriesDumfries
Dumfries is a market town and former royal burgh within the Dumfries and Galloway council area of Scotland. It is near the mouth of the River Nith into the Solway Firth. Dumfries was the county town of the former county of Dumfriesshire. Dumfries is nicknamed Queen of the South...
side Queen of the South
Queen of the South F.C.
Queen of the South Football Club is a Scottish professional football club founded in 1919 and located in Dumfries. The club currently plays in the Scottish First Division, the second tier of Scottish football. They are officially nicknamed The Doonhamers, but usually referred to as Queens or QoS...
, Rowan Alexander won promotion from the third to middle tier of Scottish football. This was in 1980-81 in the same side as Allan Ball
Allan Ball
Allan Ball is an English former footballer. Born in Hetton-le-Hole, County Durham, Ball played as a goalkeeper, spending most of his professional career with Scottish club Queen of the South. Ball made 731 first team appearances for Queens, a club record, between 1963 and 1982...
, Iain McChesney, Crawford Boyd
Crawford Boyd
Crawford Boyd from Kilwinning is a Scottish former professional footballer.Crawford Boyd is best known for his time at Dumfries club, Queen of the South The defensive cornerstone of the 1970s returned to Queens during the promotion campaign of 1980-81 to make a total of 321 first team appearances...
and Jimmy Robertson. Alexander was then joined at QoS by Ted McMinn
Ted McMinn
Kevin Clifton "Ted" McMinn is a Scottish former association footballer who played as a winger. His nickname is The Tin Man.-Early years:...
. When later interviewed for the club website, McMinn and Robertson both described Alexander as being among the best players they played beside at the Dumfries club.
After his departure from Queens he returned to make guest appearances in:-
- The Allan Ball testimonial against Manchester City, (other guests for Queens included Davie CooperDavie CooperDavid "Davie" Cooper was a professional football player. He was a Scotland international and played as a left winger....
, Danny McGrainDanny McGrainFor the former Clyde F.C. footballer, see Danny McGrain Daniel Fergus "Danny" McGrain is a Scottish former professional footballer who played for Celtic F.C. in defence. He made 657 appearances scoring 8 goals...
and Gary MackayGary MackayGary Mackay is a former Scottish international association football player, who is now a SFA–registered agent. He also managed for a year.-Club career:...
) - The game on 23 April 1995 to mark Queens' 75th anniversary and the opening of the new stand (other guests included Ted McMinnTed McMinnKevin Clifton "Ted" McMinn is a Scottish former association footballer who played as a winger. His nickname is The Tin Man.-Early years:...
, Davie IronsDavie IronsDavid John "Davie" Irons is a Scottish former professional footballer who has transitioned to football management.His playing career spanned 26 years as a central defender or midfielder...
and Andy ThomsonAndy Thomson (Scottish footballer)Andrew "Andy" Thomson is a former Scottish professional football player. He played in 549 league matches, scoring 195 league goals in a career that saw him play for Queen of the South, Partick Thistle, Falkirk and Stenhousemuir in Scotland and Southend United, Oxford United, Gillingham and...
. The game was a 2-2 draw against Rangers
Alexander returned to manage Queens from 1996 to 2000
Other clubs as a player
Alexander's playing career also included spells at St. MirrenSt. Mirren F.C.
St Mirren Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Paisley, Renfrewshire who play in the Scottish Premier League, having been promoted from the First Division in 2005–06.St...
, Brentford
Brentford F.C.
Brentford Football Club are a professional English football club based in Brentford in the London Borough of Hounslow. They are currently playing in Football League One....
, Greenock Morton
Greenock Morton F.C.
Greenock Morton Football Club are a Scottish professional football club, who currently play in the Scottish Football League First Division. The club was founded as Morton Football Club in 1874, making it one of the oldest senior Scottish clubs....
.
Management
Rowan Alexander's first appointment as manager of a senior side saw him return to Queen of the South. With new chairman Norman BlountNorman Blount
Norman Blount is the Scottish former chairman of Queen of the South football club. Blount was instrumental as the new broom that swept through the Dumfries club in the mid and late 90s replacing the previous regime under which the club had gone into stagnation and decline from the late 1960s...
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.
Falkirk F.C.
Falkirk Football Club is a Scottish professional football club based in Falkirk. It is one of two professional football teams from the town, the other being East Stirlingshire...
.
He was then appointed 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
Scottish Football League
The Scottish Football League is a league of football teams in Scotland, comprising theScottish First Division, Scottish Second Division and Scottish Third Division. From the league's foundation in 1890 until the breakaway Scottish Premier League was formed in 1998, the Scottish Football League...
.
Following Gretna's take over by multi-millionaire Brooks Mileson
Brooks Mileson
Brooks John Joseph Mileson was an English businessman and the former owner of Scottish football club Gretna as well as being a philanthropist to 70 non-league clubs.-Early life:...
, 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
UEFA Cup
The UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
after reaching the Scottish Cup
Scottish Cup
The Scottish Football Association Challenge Cup,, commonly known as the Scottish Cup or the William Hill Scottish Cup for sponsorship purposes, is the main national cup competition in Scottish football. It is a knockout cup competition run by and named after the Scottish Football Association.The...
final, where they were eventually beaten 4-2 on penalties after the match had ended 1-1.
Following Gretna's success in 2005-06
2005-06 in Scottish football
The 2005–06 season was the 109th season of competitive football in Scotland.-2005:*1 June: Gordon Strachan officially takes charge of Celtic after the resignation of Martin O'Neill...
, 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
2006-07 in Scottish football
The 2006–07 season was the 110th season of competitive football in Scotland.-2006:*9 July: Rangers defender Fernando Ricksen is banned for the club's pre-season trip to South Africa, following an incident on the outbound flight. Manager Paul Le Guen cited "wholly inappropriate and...
season by his assistant, Davie Irons
Davie Irons
David John "Davie" Irons is a Scottish former professional footballer who has transitioned to football management.His playing career spanned 26 years as a central defender or midfielder...
. He turned up for Gretna's first game in the top division of Scottish football - at Motherwell's Fir Park
Fir Park
Fir Park Stadium is a football stadium situated in Motherwell, North Lanarkshire, Scotland. The stadium plays host to the home matches of Scottish Premier League club Motherwell.- History :...
on 4 August 2007, only to be refused entry. On 6 November 2007, it was officially announced that Alexander was sacked by Gretna.
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
In January 2010, Alexander was appointed assistant manager at Scottish Junior side Glenafton Athletic FC and was at the club until August of the same year.
Morton
- 1994-95 - Scottish Football League Second DivisionScottish Football League Second DivisionThe Scottish Football League Second Division is the second highest division of the Scottish Football League and the third highest overall in the Scottish football league system....
- 1986-87 - Scottish Football League First DivisionScottish Football League First DivisionThe Irn-Bru Scottish Football League First Division Championship is the highest division of the Scottish Football League and the second highest in the Scottish football league system....
Managerial Honours
Gretna 2000-2007Scottish Football League Division Three - Champions; 2004-05
Scottish Football League Division Two - Champions; 2005-06
Scottish Cup
Scottish Cup
The Scottish Football Association Challenge Cup,, commonly known as the Scottish Cup or the William Hill Scottish Cup for sponsorship purposes, is the main national cup competition in Scottish football. It is a knockout cup competition run by and named after the Scottish Football Association.The...
- Runners Up; 2005-06
Scottish Football League Division One - Champions; 2006–07