Dixie says 'it's brilliant' what's happening at Wrexham AFC
Wrexham host Charlton on Saturday where a win could secure a record-breaking third promotion on the trot for Phil Parkinson's side.
McNeil, now club president after making his name as a player and then manager at The Racecourse, was the Reds' go-to-man when Wrexham went up against Charlton at home during their four-year stay in the old Division Two.
Last October's 2-2 draw at The Valley was only the 19th game between the two clubs but they did clash regularly in the Seventies and early Eighties when goal-getter McNeil was in his pomp.
McNeil scored the winner from the penalty spot in the last Racecourse meeting between the two clubs in September 1981 - Wrexham's last season in the second division where only 3,076 bothered to show up.
He also scored in the 3-2 home win the season before and grabbed a double as the Reds stuffed Charlton 6-0 in the FA Cup third round.
'I remember that one,' said McNeil. 'Mick Vinter scored a hat-trick and I think we got knocked out at Everton in the fifth round that season.'
Fast-forward 45 years and McNeil, now 78, will continue his ever-present home record for Saturday's big match.
'I get just as excited going to games now as I did in those days,' added McNeil.
'It's brilliant what's happened at the club after all those years in the doldrums. We're so close to another promotion and it would be great to clinch it at home on Saturday.'
Wrexham's only home defeat in their six league games against Charlton was a 3-0 loss in 1974 - just nine months after Billy Ashcroft (2), Dave Smallman and Graham Whittle had scored in a 4-0 victory.
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