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

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Emery would only play 19 games and after a bright start Hereford finished bottom, a late revival of wins towards the end of the season came too late and Hereford went down. It was at the start of the 1971-72 season that McNeil really began to hit the goal trail with a vengeance. He managed 14 league goals in a struggling Northampton side before moving towards the upper reaches of the fourth division with a January move to Lincoln City. By the end of the season he had banged in another 13 for the Imps. In each of the next five seasons he would be the leading scorer for his club. Entering administration would have dire consequences on the pitch too as the Football League imposed a 10-point penalty and the club were relegated in 2005. Wrexham fans protest against club owner Alex Hamilton in October 2004 Relegation coincided with changes off the pitch too and new ownership with the long serving Pryce Griffiths stepping down and Mark Guterman, a former chairman at bitter rivals Chester City at the helm. Dean Saunders left to join Doncaster Rovers in September 2011 to be replaced by striker Andy Morrell as manager.

I asked him about heading the football and he said, ‘Well just make sure you head it on the left side and not the right where you’ve had the fracture’!” Life was tough in the Fourth Division and although McNeil guided the club to play-offs in 1989, there was to be disappointment against Orient.

Brett Ormerod missed one of several chances for Wrexham and late goals from Christian Jolley and Aaron O'Connor saw The Exiles secure promotion and prolong Wrexham's play-off woes. An incredibly prolific writer, Peter has completed 23 plays and ghost written the autobiographies for football managers Roberto Martinez and Garry Monk. Prolific centre-forward, astute manager and club president, Dixie McNeil’s name will forever be synonymous with Wrexham Football Club. Kidderminster would be their semi-final opponents, the side which had finished second two points behind champions Mansfield and 13 points ahead of Wrexham.

From there, you will get to enjoy a two-course meal, with a room host providing pre-game entertainment. There were further FA Cup scalps under Flynn. Ipswich in 1994 and then West Ham and Birmingham were beaten during a famous run to the quarter-finals in 1997.We beat Cardiff at home 4-1 that season. I scored in that game, but it was exciting times and being a part of it and as a local lad it was brilliant” Holwell’s most famous son was Dixie McNeil(born 16 January 1947 in Melton Mowbray) who famously played as a striker. As a schoolboy, McNeil signed for his local club Leicester City F.C.after playing for Holwell Works. However he did not fit into the First Division side’s plans and was released. He eventually made his football leaguedebut for Exeter City F.C.in the 1966-67 seasonagainst Wrexham, a club he would later play for and manage. His goals were to prove crucial for the Dragons as they stormed to the Third Division championship, and also enjoyed runs to the quarter-finals of the FA Cup and League Cup, McNeil scoring a last minute equaliser in the fifth round of the FA Cup at home against Blyth Spartans to ensure a replay at St James’ Park. Refreshment kiosks will be open for this game in the University End, Macron Stand and Wrexham Lager Stand, serving a range of hot and cold drinks, alcoholic drinks, hot food and confectionary. But unfortunately that didn't happen and there's a lot of things that have gone on in that time - the club nearly went out of existence."

He was to later return to Wrexham for a second stint, as a manager this time in 1985 as successor to Bobby Roberts and was to serve as boss until 1989, narrowly missing out on promotion to the Third Division that season as they lost to Leyton Orient in the play-off final over two legs.Wrexham won the inaugural Welsh Cup in 1877 and to this day are the most successful team in the competition's history - winning it on 23 occasions. He said: “We’re on the up, and we’ve got to look forward and get to the positions we want to be in. If any programmes remain after the match, they will be available online from the Club Shop at shop.wrexhamafc.co.uk for delivery only, from Wednesday August 31. Disabled supporters I asked why he left the Baseball Ground “Injuries were affecting me. During my career I broke my kneecap at Hereford United, I then ended up breaking my leg twice. I broke an ankle and also fractured my cheekbone, plus I snapped my Achilles tendon. I never had any muscle injuries, but I seemed to break a lot of bones”