Everyone at the Club and Trust was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Steve Alexander, a lifelong Hornet who played a monumental role in our Community Sports & Education Trust.
Steve first joined the Trust in 2018 and rose to take on the senior position of Head of Business Services, looking after areas including governance, HR, communications, EDI and safeguarding.
A Season Ticket holder in the Rookery, he cared deeply for the organisation’s many projects and its lifechanging work in our local communities.
He was gentle, caring and committed, and tackled situations with a deep sense of calm and knowing.
These were attributes which were greatly valued by his colleagues and those who knew him, while his love for the club was there for all to see.
“Steve’s caring went beyond the usual commitment to his job,” said Trust employee Paul Palmer. “He cared deeply about the Trust, it’s work across so many brilliant projects, and, above all, its people.
“We miss him, the Trust misses him, we all miss him; but he has left us with a desire to be that gentle, caring, committed person who just wants to make things better.”
When Steve first joined the Trust in 2018, he took on the role of Data Protection Officer which meant a three-day working week.
The plan was to wind down towards retirement, but as Head of Business Services he was right in at the deep end and working tirelessly for a full five.
Steve was involved in the first discussions about The Taylor Trek, the annual fundraising walk held in honour of the club’s greatest ever manager, and he helped see it through to launch.
His work always went above and beyond, and he was rightly recognised with the Trustees’ Champion Award at the Trust’s Gala Dinner earlier this year.
“Steve epitomised what it is to be a team player at the Trust, with a natural ability to be able to bring out the best in others,” said the Trust’s Community Director Rob Smith.
“I know I speak for colleagues when I say it was a privilege to be able to work with Steve, we all benefited from his knowledge, experience and guidance.
“Steve was a wonderful colleague, friend and human being. He will be forever in our hearts.”
A family man who was married to Alison and had two daughters, Grace and Rose, Steve said himself that “working for a charity so closely aligned to the club I loved was a dream come true”.
Speaking in the Trust’s Impact Report for 2025, he said: “Health and happiness are often ignored or taken for granted, but they can have such a positive and lasting impact on individuals and groups.
“Seeing our participants smile and laugh is the greatest highlight.”
Steve’s work helped ensure that the Trust remained safe, compliant and sustainable, while supporting colleagues across the organisation to thrive.
His dedication, resilience and commitment to supporting others embodied the very values of the Trust, which was stronger because of his contributions and leadership.
He said his one regret was not starting work with the Trust 20 years earlier, and all who worked with him were extremely fortunate to have benefited from his knowledge, wit and wisdom.
Rest in peace Steve, you will be deeply missed.