THERE aren’t many footballers who opposition players would happily stand in line and form a guard of honour for before a game.

There aren’t many footballers who would address the press after a poor performance or result, or be as gracious in victory as defeat.

There aren’t many footballers who could hold court with a gathering of local and national journalists for an hour, waxing lyrical about his 20-odd year career and not once lose the attention of the room – instead leave them wanting more.

Sadly, there aren’t many modern day footballers who you could class ‘a gent’.

But there is, of course, only one Graham Alexander – and he is all of the above.

For former captain Steven Caldwell, watching his good friend and team-mate lead the teams out as skipper for Burnley’s first ever Premier League game was perhaps the only thing that softened the blow of not being there himself, following injury on international duty. Such is the esteem Grezza is held in by his peers.

I knew the day would come that I’d have to write about his Turf Moor exit. I didn’t expect it to happen the way it did this week, involving lengthy negotiations about his settlement. Ironic, really, when he is among that increasingly rare breed of footballer who is purely in it for the love of the game.

Someone said this week that they were sure the pay packets of his career would soften the blow of his departure.

I couldn’t disagree more.

For starters he spent his first professional years at Scunthorpe United, merchants of the lower leagues at the time.

Getting paid to do the job he loves is just a bonus.

In my first interview with him when he reported back for the pre-season of his first ever top flight campaign, at the age of 37, I asked what he’d spent his promotion bonus on.

I half expected him to say lavish holidays, a new car and designer clothes for him and his family. But I should have known better.

“My wife wanted a new kitchen,” came the reply.

His beloved VW campervan benefited from some TLC too, and a camping trip with Karen and their three children.

He is a family man and a football man – his two great loves in life – and he will be hurting that one of those has been temporarily taken away.

Surely, not for long.

Burnley’s one-time player of the year, players’ player of the year and the Mail on Sunday Football Personality of the Year still has much to offer, both on and off the field.

You don’t get to 1,000-plus games without something extra special in your locker.

The saying goes, you don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone. I suspect Burnley are about to find that out.

Of course, if there are no guarantees of first team football, then the fairest thing to do is offer the opportunity for that to happen elsewhere. But his absence will be keenly felt in the dressing room.

Penalty king Alexander achieved a lot in his career. Scoring a hat-trick remains an unticked box. I hope has the chance to rectify that.

For when it comes to all-round great guys and terrific professionals, Grezza is spot on!