See also

>> SLIDESHOW: Look back - Wrexham v Rotherham 1978 game
>> Wrexahm legend talks about his 1978 Reds team
>> Les Cartwright remembers Wrexham's 1978 victory


The free-scoring Wrexham legend who fired in goals left, right and centre as Wrexham fans feasted on fabulous football week in, week out, will be cheering the team on at The Racecourse on Saturday when the town could be saying a sad farewell to the Football League.

Whittle formed part of that wonderful Wrexham team but he may have to wait a few more years if the club are going to fight their way back to become a footballing force to be reckoned with once again.

"It was great to see all the lads again at the reunion last month," said Whittle, who smashed in 28 goals as Wrexham celebrated promotion to the old second divsion in style with a 7-1 win over Rotherham on April 22 1978.

Whittle, who hit a hat-trick that day, said: "We were talking about that season, saying what great memories we had but wouldn't it be great if we could be talking about a side that had emulated our achievements.

"Unfortunately we haven't had one and it's going to take a miracle to save the club from heading out of the Football League.

"It's sad to see the club in such a state but I was at a game the other week with Dixie McNeil and was watching Brian Little and the management staff screaming out orders from the dug out.

"I turned to Dix and said: 'Did you ever listen to what Arfon had to say to you when we were playing?'. Dix said no and that wasn't an insult to Arfon, it was just that we all knew what we were doing and we all covered for each other.

"We had different styles of players but we all complimented each other.

"I had been given a gift of being able to shoot and if you don't have a shot, you won't score. So what if I hit the back of the stand. As long as some of them went in and I was lucky enough to be the top scorer in 78 and the season before."

Whittle admits he may have a tear in his eye as he heads back to the ground where he was idolised as a player, scoring 117 goals in 394 appearances between 1971 and 1981.

He said: "I'm taking my nephews to the game and hopefully I'll take them round the dressing rooms and onto the pitch and tell them: 'This is where your uncle used to play.

"It's ironic that it's 30 years to the day that we won promotion but we went out knowing we could beat sides. There was no fear, no nerves and that showed by beating Rotherham, who were always a tough side to play against, 7-1 in a game we needed to win to go up.

"It was the icing on the cake and something you can always look back on.

"It would be nice for those glory days to come back to the club.

"I must admit, I haven't the best of memories and couldn't reel off game after game from that season. But what I do remember is that most of the team lived n the town. We did our shopping in Wrexham, socialised in the town and visited all the schools. That needs to happen again under Brian Little next season.

"Fans want to see the players as part of the community but whether it will ever happen in an age when Michael Owen flies to Newcastle by helicopter. I just hope Brian Little can turn it round although it won't be easy to bounce straight back."