Dixie McNeil
Encyclopedia
Dixie McNeil is a former English
footballer
and manager, who played as a striker.
As a schoolboy, McNeil signed for his local club Leicester City F.C.
after playing for local club Holwell Works
. However he did not fit into the First Division side's plans and was released. He made his football league
debut for Exeter City F.C.
in the 1966-67 season
against Wrexham
, a club he would later play for and manage. 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, a club closer to home. However the club was relegated in Dixie's first season despite his goals, and the following season he caught the attention of Northampton Town
who paid £5,000 for him in May 1969.
He spent two and a half seasons at the County Ground, scoring a goal in the famous FA Cup
match against Manchester United
, where George Best
scored six times. He then joined fellow Fourth Division side Lincoln City F.C.
where he really began to demonstrate his goalscoring abilities. Indeed he would be top scorer at a club for the next five seasons; twice at Lincoln and three times at Hereford United
the club for whom he became something of a legend after signing for a £15,000 fee. He helped them achieve promotion to the Second Division, then the second tier
of English football, in 1975-76
. He was also the top goalscorer of the top four divisions of English football for that season. Hereford were to finish bottom of the Second Division despite Dixie scoring nearly a goal every other game.
In 1977, McNeil moved to Wrexham for £60,000 and again featured in major cup ties scoring the equaliser at The Racecourse Ground
to take Blyth Spartans
to a replay at St James' Park
where he scored the winning goal. He retired from professional football in 1983 but played on in the Welsh National League with Chirk AAA, and also made an appearance in the FA Cup in 1985, at the age of 38. He became Wrexham manager in 1985 and in his first season he managed the club to the Welsh Cup
and progression into the European Cup Winners' Cup
.
After a spell as assistant manager at Coventry City F.C.
, McNeil became a Sales Rep with Marston's Brewery, as well as reporting on Wrexham's games for local radio. In November 1993 he returned to football management as manager of then League of Wales side Flint Town United, and he immediately turned around the fortunes of the Cae-Y-Castell side, leading them from near relegation certainties to finish the season in a very respectable fourth position. He was awarded a testimonial by Wrexham, against Kevin Keegan's Premier League side, Newcastle United in 1995.
Having settled in the Wrexham area, he returned to management on 9 January 2000 as manager of struggling League of Wales side Caernarfon Town. His first win with Caernarvon was to beat Swansea City in the Welsh Premier Cup quarter-finals!! He later became manager of fellow League of Wales side, Cefn Druids.
Dixie's two sons, Richard and Jamie, have both been on the Racecourse club's books as apprentices, and still play in local football, whilst Dixie today is now a regular pundit with BBC Radio Wales, whilst also working for Air Ambulance Wales in fund-raising.
His autobiography "Dixie: The Autobiography of Dixie McNeil" will be released on November 4th 2011.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
footballer
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
and manager, who played as a striker.
As a schoolboy, McNeil signed for his local club Leicester City F.C.
Leicester City F.C.
Leicester City Football Club , also known as The Foxes, is an English professional football club based at the King Power Stadium in Leicester...
after playing for local club Holwell Works
Holwell Sports F.C.
Holwell Sports Football Club is a football club based in Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, England.-History:Established in 1904. In 1988, Holwell Works F.C. changed their name to their present name of Holwell Sports...
. However he did not fit into the First Division side's plans and was released. He made his football league
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
debut for Exeter City F.C.
Exeter City F.C.
Exeter City Football Club is an English football club, based in Exeter, which is owned by its fans through the Exeter City Supporters Trust.The club was a member of the Football League from 1920 to 2003...
in the 1966-67 season
1966-67 in English football
The 1966–67 season was the 87th season of competitive football in England.-Events:Queens Park Rangers won the Football League Cup on the first occasion it was played at Wembley, coming from 2-0 down at half-time to beat West Bromwich Albion 3-2....
against Wrexham
Wrexham A.F.C.
Wrexham Football Club are a professional football team based in Wrexham, north-east Wales, who play in the English football pyramid.Founded in 1872, they are one of the oldest surviving football clubs in Britain and the oldest professional club in Wales...
, a club he would later play for and manage. 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, a club closer to home. However the club was relegated in Dixie's first season despite his goals, and the following season he caught the attention of Northampton Town
Northampton Town F.C.
Northampton Town Football Club are an English professional football club based in Northampton, Northamptonshire. They currently play in Football League Two, the lowest league division, after being relegated from League One on the last day of the 2008–09 season...
who paid £5,000 for him in May 1969.
He spent two and a half seasons at the County Ground, scoring a goal in the famous FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
match against Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
, where George Best
George Best
George Best was a professional footballer from Northern Ireland, who played for Manchester United and the Northern Ireland national team. He was a winger whose game combined pace, acceleration, balance, two-footedness, goalscoring and the ability to beat defenders...
scored six times. He then joined fellow Fourth Division side Lincoln City F.C.
Lincoln City F.C.
Lincoln City Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Lincoln, Lincolnshire. The club are currently members of the Conference National in 2011–12 following relegation from the Football League....
where he really began to demonstrate his goalscoring abilities. Indeed he would be top scorer at a club for the next five seasons; twice at Lincoln and three times at Hereford United
Hereford United F.C.
Hereford United Football Club is an English professional football club based in the city of Hereford. Founded in 1924, they are competing in Football League Two in the 2011–12 season. Hereford have played at Edgar Street for their entire history and are nicknamed 'The Whites' or 'The Lilywhites',...
the club for whom he became something of a legend after signing for a £15,000 fee. He helped them achieve promotion to the Second Division, then the second tier
Football League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
of English football, in 1975-76
1975-76 in English football
The 1975–76 season was the 96th season of competitive football in England.- First Division :Liverpool won their first major trophy under Bob Paisley by narrowly winning the league title after heated competition from Queens Park Rangers. They also lifted the UEFA Cup for the second time in their...
. He was also the top goalscorer of the top four divisions of English football for that season. Hereford were to finish bottom of the Second Division despite Dixie scoring nearly a goal every other game.
In 1977, McNeil moved to Wrexham for £60,000 and again featured in major cup ties scoring the equaliser at The Racecourse Ground
Racecourse Ground
The Glyndŵr University Racecourse Stadium AKA The Racecourse Ground is a stadium located in Wrexham, North Wales. It is the home of Wrexham F.C. and, since 2010, the Crusaders Rugby League team who play in the engage Super League...
to take Blyth Spartans
Blyth Spartans A.F.C.
Blyth Spartans A.F.C. are a professional football club who play in the Conference North, and are based in the town of Blyth, Northumberland, England. They are often the most Northerly team in whichever league or cup they are playing in. They are managed by former Spartans player Steve Cuggy.They...
to a replay at St James' Park
St James' Park
St James' Park, known for sponsorship reasons as the Sports Direct Arena, is an all-seater stadium in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. It is the home of Newcastle United Football Club and is the sixth largest football stadium in the United Kingdom with a capacity of between 52,387 and 52,409.St James'...
where he scored the winning goal. He retired from professional football in 1983 but played on in the Welsh National League with Chirk AAA, and also made an appearance in the FA Cup in 1985, at the age of 38. He became Wrexham manager in 1985 and in his first season he managed the club to the Welsh Cup
Welsh Cup
The Welsh Cup is a knock-out football competition contested annually by teams from Wales.The Football Association of Wales is the organising body of this competition, which has been run every year since its inception in 1877-78...
and progression into the European Cup Winners' Cup
UEFA Cup Winners' Cup
The UEFA Cup Winners' Cup was a football club competition contested annually by the most recent winners of all European domestic cup competitions. The cup is one of the many inter-European club competitions that have been organised by UEFA. The first competition was held in the 1960–61 season—but...
.
After a spell as assistant manager at Coventry City F.C.
Coventry City F.C.
Coventry City Football Club, otherwise known as the Sky Blues owing to the traditional colour of their strip, are a professional English Football league club based in Coventry...
, McNeil became a Sales Rep with Marston's Brewery, as well as reporting on Wrexham's games for local radio. In November 1993 he returned to football management as manager of then League of Wales side Flint Town United, and he immediately turned around the fortunes of the Cae-Y-Castell side, leading them from near relegation certainties to finish the season in a very respectable fourth position. He was awarded a testimonial by Wrexham, against Kevin Keegan's Premier League side, Newcastle United in 1995.
Having settled in the Wrexham area, he returned to management on 9 January 2000 as manager of struggling League of Wales side Caernarfon Town. His first win with Caernarvon was to beat Swansea City in the Welsh Premier Cup quarter-finals!! He later became manager of fellow League of Wales side, Cefn Druids.
Dixie's two sons, Richard and Jamie, have both been on the Racecourse club's books as apprentices, and still play in local football, whilst Dixie today is now a regular pundit with BBC Radio Wales, whilst also working for Air Ambulance Wales in fund-raising.
His autobiography "Dixie: The Autobiography of Dixie McNeil" will be released on November 4th 2011.