By Nathan Jackson
May 26 2010

Gary Taylor-Fletcher has paid tribute to Keith Alexander just days after winning promotion with Blackpool. The attacker scored the Tangerines' second equaliser in a game they would go on to win 3-2, and was quick to praise that man who gave him a second chance in the Football League.

Taylor-Fletcher (then just known simply as Gary Fletcher) was rotting in the reserves at Leyton Orient when Keith Alexander brought him in two games into the 2003/4 season. He went on to score in exactly 1/3 of his games for City before leaving for Huddersfield. He spent two years there before transfering to Blackpool three years ago.

Such was the impact Keith Alexander has on his career, Taylor-Fletcher has dedicated his transformation into a Premier League player to Keith Alexander.

Speaking to www.teamtalk.com he said ; "The transformation to reach the Premier League is unbelievable and the one person I can thank for that is Keith Alexander. He was a massive influence on me, he saw me in the youth team at Northwich Victoria and gave me my chance. He took over at Lincoln and rescued me when I was having a bad time at Leyton Orient."

Taylor-Fletcher did leave Sincil Bank in controversial manner. He was officially released, although many speculated that he had agreed to join Huddersfield long before the end of the 2004/5 season. Peter Jackson even admitted to this by saying "I made an approach to Gary when he was at Lincoln" on Huddersfield Town's 2005/6 season review.

However, Taylor-Fletcher revealed that Alexander let him go to progress his career; "He even let me go on a free transfer from Lincoln to help me find a better club because he thought I deserved the chance of playing at a higher level. I have got such great respect for him and what he has done for my career. I hope he can rest in peace with a smile on his face because of what has happened to me."

Taylor-Fletcher dedicates promotion to Keith Alexander

Discussion started by theimps.ka (IP Logged), 26/05/2010 13:14

theimps.ka
26/05/2010 13:14

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davidimp
26/05/2010 17:39

Nice one GTF
I'm sure Keith would of been looking down on Saturday when he scored at Wembley with great pride.

Here we go again!
Will we ever get the right man?

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sammyimp
26/05/2010 18:26

Im sure if Keith was still here, he would have been very proud of Gary... well done GTF

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79imp
26/05/2010 20:39

Yet another wonderful tribute to the Great Man - GTF was a brilliant player for us, and it may well have been that he wouldn't have got anywhere without the eye of Keith Alexander. Will be great to see an ex-Imp in the Premier League next season.

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