Racecourse Ground: Wrexham A.F.C

The Mold Road Stand and Kop - Markbarnes, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The Racecourse Ground in Wrexham is the oldest stadium in the world that hosts international football matches, having hosted its first Wales game in 1877. That might well have remained the main reason for anyone to ever know about Wrexham AFC, were it not for the decision of Hollywood stars Robert McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds to buy the club in 2020 and make a documentary series about it.

Formed in 1864, the Robins are the oldest football club in Wales and the third oldest in the world. Despite being so old, the club didn’t actually enter into league football until it joined The Combination in 1890. The club has won the Welsh Cup a record number of times, the Football League Trophy and the FA Trophy.

Stats

Racecourse Ground Photos

• Racecourse Ground Entrance Racecourse Ground Entrance
• Main stand Main stand
• Ryan Giggs playing for Wales at the Racecourse Ground Ryan Giggs playing for Wales at the Racecourse Ground
• Wrexham v Aldershot Town Wrexham v Aldershot Town
• Wrexham Playing at the Racecourse Ground Wrexham Playing at the Racecourse Ground
• Wales v Ireland programme 1923 Wales v Ireland programme 1923
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Racecourse Ground Seating Plan & Where to Sit

As you might expect for such an old stadium, the Racecourse is built in the classical style of having stands on each side of the pitch. The Wrexham Lager Stand is an all-seater one that boasts disabled facilities and runs along the side of the pitch, whilst the SToK Cold Brew Stand (or Tech End) is behind the goal and is where you’ll find the most vociferous home fans. The Macron Stand is also the stadium’s main stand, whilst the Kop is behind the other goal.

Wrexham A.F.C Ticket Prices

The price you’ll pay for tickets to a Wrexham match will depend on a number of factors, including where you sit and whether or not you get a concession. Presuming you’re an adult you’ll pay between £22 and £24, as a concession you will pay between £17 and £19.

Tickets are £1 more expensive if you buy them in person.

How To Get Wrexham A.F.C Tickets

Buying a ticket ahead of time is always recommended, with online being your best bet. You can also buy tickets from the club shop and you’ll pay less if you buy your ticket ahead of time rather than leaving it until the day of the game.

Where to Buy

Getting To Racecourse Ground

Train - Wrexham General Station can be found right next to the ground, so if you’re heading there by train then that’s where to aim for.

Bus - The main bus station in the centre of Wrexham is about half a mile from the ground. Any bus that comes into the town from outside will stop there, so once you’ve disembarked you need to head towards the multi-storey car park and then turn right onto Mold Road. Alternatively, the 12A, 21 and PC2 all stop by the stadium.

Car - The A483 that runs between Chester or Oswestry and Wrexham is the road to take, coming off it at the Mold junction. Follow the signs for the town centre and you’ll see the Racecourse Ground along the way.

By Air - Liverpool John Lennon Airport is the closest to Wrexham, being a little over twenty miles away. Manchester Airport is next on the list but is closes to forty miles away from the Welsh town.

Taxi - A taxi from the centre of Wrexham out to the Racecourse Ground will cost you about £8. Depending on traffic, the journey should only take about five minutes.

Parking Near Racecourse Ground

Glyndwr University is located right next to the Racecourse Ground and offers parking for people going to the match. It’s only a short walk from there to the turnstiles.

• See Available Parking Near Racecourse Ground

Useful Resources

Racecourse Ground Hotels

Wrexham is a pretty little town that attracts a fair amount of tourism, especially since the documentary, so it is used to welcoming visitors.

Wynnstay Arms - £80+

Yorke Street, Wrexham, LL13 8LP

There are plenty of well-known chain hotels to choose from in Wrexham and the surrounding area, so why not opt for a hotel that is part of a pub? You’ll have your choice of drinking options and plenty of food to choose from, in addition to free Wi-Fi and parking on site. With sixty-seven guest rooms it’s not that small of a hotel, plus there’s a pleasant garden and a terrace area if the weather plays ball. If you’re working whilst on your trip then there are meeting rooms and a conference space for you to take advantage of. More details.

Ramada Plaza - £115+

Ellice Way, Wrexham, LL13 7YH

If you’re after something a little bit more luxurious then the Ramada Plaza might be more up your alley. It’s a lovely hotel with a spa area, complete with sauna and jacuzzi. There’s also a large garden area where you can sit and enjoy a drink or a bite to eat, should you fancy it. Add in a business centre and conference space for those who have to work, a terrace and a restaurant and bar on site and you can see that it is an excellent hotel option. More details.

Rossett Hall Hotel - £160+

Chester Road, Rossett, Wrexham, LL12 0DE

This hotel is the perfect option for anyone hoping to combine their trip to Wrexham with a visit to nearby Chester. It’s located about seven miles from both, meaning that you’re close enough to the action but far enough away to enjoy some peace and quiet. With over fifty rooms, a restaurant on-site and a luscious garden, it’s very much a haven away from the craziness of city life. It’s a common place for weddings, thanks to the banquet hall, whilst there’s ample parking and free Wi-Fi. More details.

Pubs & Bars Near Racecourse Ground

You're never too far from a pub in Wales, and even though Wrexham is on the border, that is definitely still true. Here are our top picks:

Facilities

Facilities at the Racecourse Ground are what one might expect for a lower tier club, though it has undergone some refurbishments in recent years since the Hollywood takeover, so it's much more comfortable than it used to be.

Prices

• Programme: 3.50
• Pie: 2.80
• Cup of tea: 2.00
• Beer: 4.00

Hospitality

There are a number of hospitality options at the Racecourse Ground, including the Bamford Suite, the 1864 Suite and executive boxes. They all offer slightly different experiences but it's always some mix of food, drink, and better seating, with perhaps a few meet and greets included.

Private Hire

If you’re interested in hiring some of the facilities at the Racecourse Ground then your best bet is to contact the club directly.

Stadium Tours & Museum

In many ways, the Racecourse Ground is its own museum. In 2019 there were plans to open a new footballing museum in the town, but the stadium was not chosen as its location. They do run tours though, costing £10 or £5 depending whether you are an adult or a concession/child, although there are only a few each month.

About Wrexham A.F.C

Wrexham Association Football Club, or Clwb Pêl-droed Cymdeithas Wrecsam to give it its proper Welsh name, was founded in 1864 in order to give members of Wrexham Cricket Club an activity to keep them fit and active during the winter. The club played its first game on the 22nd of October that year against the Prince Of Wales Fire Brigade. When the Welsh Cup was created for the 1877-1878 campaign, Wrexham made the final and defeated Druids FC 1-0, becoming the competition’s inaugural champions. At the time, the Welsh club mainly played friendlies and cup tournaments, not becoming a league club until they joined The Combination in 1890.

Life in the league didn’t get off to a particularly auspicious start for Wrexham, losing 5-1 to Gorton Villa. It was a sign of things to come, with the Welsh club only really enjoying league success when playing in the Welsh League to smaller crowds. Arguably the most exciting thing to happen to Wrexham from a footballing point of view came in 1972 when the team travelled to Switzerland to play FC Zurich in the European Cup Winners’ Cup. They won 3-2 on aggregate, eventually losing to Yugoslavian side Hajduk Split on the away goals rule in the next round.

Having endured many ups and downs across the years, few could have imagined being taken over by Hollywood stars as happened in November of 2020. Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney not only took ownership, but filmed a documentary about their journey which became a smash hit on streaming platforms, catapulting the club to unprecedented levels of fame and gainging them fans all over the world.

Racecourse Ground History

The Racecourse Ground is steeped in history, thanks to the fact that it is the oldest international football stadium that still hosts matches. Wrexham AFC moved into the stadium as soon as the club was formed in October of 1864, playing there ever since apart from in the 1881-1882 and 1882-1883 seasons. At that time, the owners of the Racecourse Ground put the rental price up and to the club moved out. It gets its name from the fact that it was occasionally used for horse racing, with cricket also played there on a regular basis prior to the football club moving in. The stadium enjoyed its largest ever attendance in 1957 when 34,445 supporters turned up to watch Wrexham play Manchester United in the FA Cup.

As well as international football, the Racecourse Ground has also witnessed Champions League football, such as when TNS hosted Liverpool in a qualifier in 2005. It’s international football that allows it to hold its place in the record books, however. The ground was used to host Wales’ first international match in 1877, going on to host more Wales matches than any other stadium. Given that it’s the largest stadium in the north of Wales and the fifth largest in the country, it’s hardly a surprise that it’s used for big matches from time to time. It’s also used by teams other than the Welsh national side and Wrexham, with Liverpool occasionally hosting reserve matches there. In addition, both North Wales Crusaders rugby league club, and Scarlets rugby union club have used it in the past.

Future Developments

There were already works taking place at the Racecourse Ground before Wrexham was bought by Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds, with the Kop undergoing major reconstruction work, ready for the 24/25 season. The likelihood is that the club’s new Hollywood star owners will also want to spend some money in order to bring it up to scratch. Quite what developments are likely in the future are yet to be confirmed, but bringing the Kop back to life is the main focus, adding an event space and hospitality lounge in the process.