HUNDREDS of people turned out to a service of thanksgiving for the life of football manager Keith Alexander.

Friends, family and football fans gathered at Lincoln Cathedral this afternoon and gave a round of applause as his coffin entered and left the church.

Mr Alexander, who was born in Nottingham, was the Macclesfield manager. He died after being taken ill following their match with Notts County on Tuesday, March 2.

More than 1,000 people were estimated to be at the service this afternoon.

The centre forward's playing career included a spell at Lincoln City in the early nineties and he managed the club in 1993 to 1994 before returning from 2001 to 2006.

His son, Paul Alexander, paid tribute to the 53-year-old and said he was a "best friend" as well as a father.

He said his father was humble and did not realise the presence he had when he walked into a room.

The Bishop of Lincoln, the Right Reverend Dr John Saxbee, said Keith was a "trailblazer" and "pioneer" for black managers.

Speaking after the service, Paul Ince, Milton Keynes Dons manager, who is the only other black manager in league football, said: "He was an inspiring man to me. When things were going wrong he always had a smile on his face. He was a great man and he'll be sorely missed."