Dixie - The Autobiography of Dixie McNeil: The Story of a Wrexham Legend

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They played brilliantly when they came to us, but it’s ironic that a corner flag falling down twice helped us score a goal. Blyth have no pressure on them, they’ll give 100% as they do, but I know the Wrexham players will be composed, be professional as they are, and hopefully come away with the result. There were only few fans outside and as we got off the bus we said that there won’t be many here tonight.

Delighted Wrexham AFC manager Phil Parkinson said Sunday’s FA Cup Third Round derby win away to Shrewsbury Town was one for the supporters. There were also a couple of brief, though praiseworthy, excursions into Europe and McNeil managed to score in the narrow defeats against NK Rijeka and FC Magdeburg. Dixie McNeil missed the remainder of the season through injury as Wrexham cruised to promotion but with 13 league goals in 23 appearances he had done more than his share in securing the title. My goal was from 12 yards out and with my right foot, which was unusual for me as I was totally left-footed!By the time the season finished with Hereford relegated the clubs leading scorer would have managed only 5. Dixie McNeil was an honest, strong, brave forward of the 1970’s who made such a habit of putting the ball in the back of the net that he became an idol at a string of lower league clubs. The Foxes were a capable first division side at the time and the strength and raw boned talents of McNeil were deemed unworthy of the top flight. Hereford finished bottom of the Second Division the following season despite McNeil scoring nearly a goal every other game.

They had Bobby Charlton, David Herd, Besty and a lot more and they had won the European Cup (what is now the Champions League) two seasons before. Dixie was more interested in quantity than quality throughout his career and he plied his trade with the single minded focus that all great goalscorers possess. He was instrumental in helping Hereford Utd and Wrexham FC to reach the second tier of the English league for the first time in their histories. It was Wrexham’s second trip to St James’ Park in the FA Cup that season, having faced Newcastle in the previous round - after drawing 2-2 in the previous leg, Wrexham won the replay 2-1. Bizarrely the club decided not to renew his contract at the end of this first season and once again Dixie found himself on the end of a free.Having spent the season giant killing it looked as though they were about to become the victim themselves as non league Blyth Spartans led 1-0 at the Racecourse Ground with the game entering injury time. Honorary Club President Dixie McNeil looks ahead to this weekend's FA Cup clash against Blyth Spartans with fond memories, from when the two sides met in the fifth round back in 1978. Something had to be done because the club was going down the same old road, I tried to get money for new players but was told none was available. After a spell as assistant manager at Coventry City, he worked in sales for a brewery and reported on Wrexham's games for local radio before becoming manager of Flint Town United and later Caernarfon Town and Cefn Druids. I read in an article recently that you spent over 20 years trying to get hold of your shirt from that season before a fan handed it in to you.