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Albert Alexander Sr. | |
|---|---|
| Member ofManchester City Council forArdwick ward | |
| In office 4 September 1918 – 1 November 1926 | |
| Preceded by | Dr. Kingsmill Jones |
| Succeeded by | J. M. Wharton |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Albert Edward Burns Alexander (1867-09-21)21 September 1867 Hulme,Manchester, England, UK |
| Died | 14 October 1953(1953-10-14) (aged 86) |
| Party | Conservative |
Albert Edward Burns Alexander Sr. (21 September 1867 – 14 October 1953) was an English businessman, football administrator, and local politician who held several roles atManchester City F.C..
Born inHulme, Alexander was one of four sons involved in the coach proprietorship business. He lived inArdwick from 1871 to at least the 1920s, having married a storekeeper's daughter, Evelyn Bridge, inSt Matthew's there in June 1891.[citation needed]
Alexander's connections with Manchester City go back to at least 1904. That year Manchester City reached theFA Cup final for the first time. The club directors hired a horse-drawn carriage to make the journey to London, with Alexander as the driver.[1] By the 1920s, Alexander was the club's vice-chairman, and had also formed and coached the "A" team, the club's first youth development side.[2]
In 1925 managerDavid Ashworth resigned. Unable to find a suitable replacement, the directors selected the team by committee. Alexander led the panel with assistance from figures includingLawrence Furniss andWilf Wild. Under the Alexander-led committee the club achieved a record 6–1Manchester derby win, and reached the1926 FA Cup Final, though City were defeated 1–0 byBolton Wanderers. On 26 April 1926,Peter Hodge was appointed manager, and Alexander's period in charge came to an end.[citation needed]
Alexander's first venture into politics took place in November 1913 when he unsuccessfully stood in St. Luke's ward for theConservative Party at theManchester City Councilelections.[3] In September 1918, he was appointed to fill a vacancy inArdwick ward caused by the death of Councillor Dr. Kingsmill Jones.[4][5] Alexander was re-elected in1920,[6] and again in1923,[7] but lost his seat to J. M. Wharton of theLabour Party in1926.[8] A further defeat at aby-election in Moss Side East ward marked the end of Alexander's municipal career.[9]
Albert Alexander was not the only figure associated with Manchester City F.C. to become involved with local politics in Manchester.Stephen Chesters Thompson, who was honorary president ofArdwick A.F.C. in the 1890s, was also aConservative councillor in Ardwick; John Allison, who was briefly chairman of Manchester City F.C. in 1905,[10] was aLiberal councillor in St. Mark's ward between 1902 and 1916;Johnny McMahon, who won theF.A. Cup with Manchester City F.C. in1904, was aConservative councillor inAll Saints' ward ftom 1931 until his death in 1933;[11] Chris Muir, who was a director of the club, was aLabour councillor inBaguley ward from 1971 until 1975 and later contested elections for theLiberal Democrats.
Alexander's son, Albert Victor, was Manchester City chairman in the 1960s, and through Albert Jr. and his son Eric the Alexander family had a presence on the club board until 1972.[12]