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

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The FA Cup continued to offer highlights and Dixie scared several more first division defences before he was through. The supporters have come back in droves to watch the games; the players are doing a brilliant job on the pitch and the manager is thriving. After a spell as assistant manager at Coventry City, McNeil became a sales representative with Marston's Brewery, as well as reporting on Wrexham's games for local radio. Solidly built and almost impossible to stop once into his stride Dixie McNeil had the natural goalscorers instinct.

So did Wrexham for whom McNeil is one of a number of links with the Sky Blues, who lifted the FA Cup under Sillett in 1987. He himself later entered management, spending five seasons at the helm with Wrexham, before plying his trade in the League of Wales with Flint Town United, Caernarfon Town and NEWI Cefn Druids. Delighted Wrexham AFC manager Phil Parkinson said Sunday’s FA Cup Third Round derby win away to Shrewsbury Town was one for the supporters. McNeil admitted he didn’t expect the scale of the atmosphere, adding: " When we arrived at the ground about an hour before kick-off, nobody was outside the stadium, and we thought it was going to be a bit of a let-down. Having gone into the dressing room, the players decided to have a look at the pitch and what a shock, 40-odd thousand fans were already in the ground and it was full!He became the Manager of Wrexham in 1985 succeeded to progress the club to the Welsh Cup and into the European Cup Winners' Cup in his first season. During this period the club enjoyed many notable cup triumphs, both in domestic and European competitions, and Dixie McNeil was key to those achievements, making his 500th league appearance during his last season with the club. Other Cups: Play-Offs, League Cup, Associate Members' Cup, Football League Trophy, FA Trophy, European Cup Winners' Cup, Debenhams Cup and Football League Division 3 (North) Cup. Dumped out by the North Walians, Newcastle rallied around their fellow North East side for the replay instead to make for a momentous occasion for both Blyth and Wrexham.

Overseeing it all was John Sillett, a big, bubbly character who McNeil admitted to being scared of when the team lost. It’s been 44 years since Wrexham last played Spartans in the competition, with goals from Graham Whittle and McNeil proving to be the difference in the replay. had watched the Newcastle tie but there were more than 40,000 there for the Blyth game and thousands locked out,” added McNeil. We meet footballing celebrities too, such as Peter Shilton, Graham Taylor, George best, John Sillett and many more whom Dixie met.I’ve got to say everything at the moment is hunky-dory and everybody has the same ambition of getting promoted. Despite scoring in one third of the matches he played, he was released at the end of the season, dropping down into the Southern League with Corby Town, who were relegated in McNeil's first season. At the end of the season, John stepped down and i decided that i did not want to stay, leaving home at 6:30am on Monday morning and coming back late was not right for both my wife and two children. As a schoolboy, McNeil signed for Leicester City after playing for the local club Holwell Works, but he was released without playing for the first team. 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.

SEE the BACKSIDE OF the PHOTO - many times the image for sale will present stamps, dates, and other publication details - these marks attest to and increase the value of the press photos. McNeil made his name as a prolific goal scorer in the lower echelons of the Football League, and his record as top striker in all four divisions in the Football League in two consecutive seasons in the 1970s is proof of his effectiveness as a player. Dixie McNeil was approaching 30 now and his goalscoring exploits were not enough to provoke interest from the first division. This disclaimer informs readers that the views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in the text belong solely to the author.He was instrumental in helping Hereford Utd and Wrexham FC to the second tier of the English football league for the first time in their histories. I have to say that I got a great goal with a half-volley from 20 yards into the top corner of the goal.

John told Wrexham I was on 50 per cent more than I was actually getting at Hereford so money-wise, I did pretty well out of the move! You won the Welsh FA Cup and qualified for Europe in the process in your first managerial role when you took over at Wrexham. The club McNeil landed at was Corby Town and although he continued to find the net his new side were relegated from the Southern League Premier Division after his first season with them. The following season as Hereford made off with the third division championship he rattled in 35 goals in 41 appearances. You have to try and read where the other player is going to deliver the ball and you have to attack the space either in front or behind the defender.

Away from the Cup, the Club cu rrently sit second in the National League, one point behind Notts County, and McNeil is delighted with the current position. Years later when I was granted a testimonial at Wrexham, he came and was the guest speaker at the evening dinner. George Best was just coming back from a six week suspension and this was the longest that had ever been given to a player before. We assist them in setting their prints free for future generations to access and appreciate them and their historical value. 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.