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Wrexham legend Dixie McNeil can't wait for Leicester away!

Wrexham legend Dixie McNeil can't wait for Leicester away!

Leader Live24-05-2025

And Wrexham's legendary goal-getter, manager and now club president, has one fixture more than most that he's looking forward to in the Championship next season - and that's Leicester City away!
McNeil banged in goals wherever he played but never got the chance to feature in the Foxes first team after Leicester - the team he supported as a boy - released him back in 1966.
He did return to Filbert Street when Wrexham were last in the old Second Division. A 1-1 draw in November 1978 when Mickey Thomas scored days before moving to Manchester United in a club record £350,000 deal.
Twelve months on, it ended 2-0 to Leicester who had 18-year-old Gary Lineker in the line-up.
'Leicester home and away; those are the games I'm looking forward to,' said McNeil. 'They never gave me a chance. I was just from down the road in Melton Mowbray but they let me go and I'll never forget that.
'But there are so many good grounds to go to next season and Wrexham fans will be looking forward to those trips.
'They deserve this. Those who went through all those bad years, relegations and then all those seasons in non-league football.
'The last few seasons have been a reward for them sticking by the club.'
McNeil didn't do too bad for himself after the dejection of his Foxes' rejection, scoring goals for Exeter, Northampton and Lincoln before becoming the star turn at Hereford.
McNeil netted 85 goals in 129 games at Edgar Street and that prompted Wrexham boss Arfon Griffiths to splash out £60,000 on a 30-year-old striker back in September 1977.
It was money well spent and money is what McNeil, who has made Wrexham his home ever since that 70s move, believes will be key next season.
'We've spent money when we've had to since the new owners came in but we'll have to spend even more in the summer,' said McNeil.
'There's a lot more bigger clubs in the Championship and if you want to compete, you have to spend money.'
Wrexham had the money to spend in their last spell in the second tier but it didn't add up to much as their stay lasted only four years after the Division Three title was won in 1978..
'Mickey Thomas and Bobby Shinton went and we struggled,' added McNeil.
'You're always going to hit a bump in the road but we never really saw relegation coming after only four years.
'Times have been bad but now certainly makes up for all that.
'Three promotions have given the town and the fans a massive lift. I've lived in the town ever since I moved here and the team being successful is brilliant for everyone.
'Everyone knows how much Rob and Ryan have done for the club since buying it but the Supporters Trust did a brilliant job in keeping the club going through the tough times.
'Phil Parkinson also deserves credit for the job he's done. Three promotions on the trot is a fantastic achievement.'

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