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'He was loyal, honest and my best pal'

Wilf Dixon
Former Arsenal coach Wilf Dixon

Former Arsenal manager Terry Neill has paid tribute to Wilf Dixon, who has passed away at the age of 94.

A highly-respected coach, Dixon worked with Neill at Hull City and Tottenham and the duo moved to Highbury together in 1976. They led Arsenal to three consecutive FA Cup finals from 1978 to 1980, and the 1980 European Cup Winners' Cup final.

Dixon left Arsenal in 1983 but he and Neill remained firm friends.

"Wilf was the most loyal, honest, knowledgable guy I ever worked with"

Terry Neill

"Wilf was the most loyal, honest, knowledgable guy I ever worked with," Neill told Arsenal.com. "There was no side to him in terms of personal glory, he was a team man and I couldn't have done anything without him.

"I worked with him forever. When I first went into player-management at Hull, I realised I needed a more experienced, older head so I asked Wilf, who was at Everton at the time. He had a wealth of experience - he had worked with Bobby Robson at West Brom as well.

"Wilf did everything to help me, he was my right-hand man on the training pitch, and he was the sort of guy, along with my dad, who was my best pal. He was invaluable to me and to Arsenal.

"He had a good innings - he was 94 - and we always kept in touch," added Neill. "It is similar with Don Howe - when I rang Wilf I couldn't get him off the phone!

"I'd call to see how he was and we'd be talking for two hours, talking football, remembering old times. We shared so many memories and I'll miss him."