Racecourse Ground (Wrexham)

The Racecourse Ground is a football stadium in Wrexham, Wales. It is the home of Wrexham A.F.C. It is the world’s oldest international football stadium that still hosts international matches. The ground is sometimes used by the Football Association of Wales for home international games.

General information

Arena capacity: 10,771 spectators

Address: Racecourse Ground, Mold Road, Wrexham

GPS coordinates for the navigator: 53°3′7″N 3°0′13″W

Year of construction: 1864

Field: grass lawn with dimensions of 102 × 68 m

Seating plan of Racecourse Ground

The Mold Road Stand has an interesting shape to it.

It is a single tier of red seating which has the letters WREXHAM spelt out in white across the central blocks. The letter X is also noticeably larger than the rest and split across two seating blocks.

The entire seating area is taller in the middle than it is at the ends, and this is reflected in the stand’s roof which suddenly jumps up in the middle to accommodate the extra facilities underneath. These facilities include executive boxes, the 1864 Suite, Altitude Suite, executive seating, and the gantry holding the matchday camera.

Your view from anywhere inside the Mold Road Stand is perfectly clear because of the stand’s cantilever roof above.

Windshields are in place at either end, but they only provide full protection to the rows further back. The rows further forward have small walls in place to offer protection instead. Transparent panels are also in place at the points where the roof jumps up towards the middle.

University End

The University End is divided into two tiers of red seating.

A lot of these seats look worn however and there are much newer-looking seats in the blocks at either of the lower tier. There is an electronic scoreboard hanging down from a metal frame attached to the roof, and this screen can best be seen by those at the opposite end of the stadium.

Your view from anywhere inside the lower tier is perfectly clear, but two supporting pillars at the front of the upper tier can restrict the view for those sat behind or near to them. Clearer views are likely to come from being in the seats right at either end of the upper tier or by being in the very front row in between each pillar.

Large windshields at either end protect every row inside the upper tier, but there is less protection for those in the lower tier. A wall by the stadium’s southwest corner offers a decent level of protection, but the opposite end of the lower tier does not have a wall in place.

Yale Stand

The Yale Stand is divided into two tiers.

Every seat in the lower tier is coloured red, whereas it is only the inner blocks of the upper tier that are coloured red, with the outer blocks coloured blue. The red seating blocks in the upper tier include executive seating and the directors’ seating block, walled off from the seats around and behind them.

The Racecourse Ground’s dugouts are built into the lower tier beneath, with the tunnel located left of centre and the changing rooms located inside the stand.

Your view from anywhere inside the lower tier is perfectly clear, but there are two supporting pillars in place along the front of the upper tier. These pillars are well spaced out however, being based at either end of the red seating blocks. Your view is likely to be restricted if you are sat in the seats behind or near to them, but they should not get in your way at all if you are sat right at either end of the upper tier or right along the front row in the space between each pillar.

Windshields at either end provide full protection to every row in the upper tier, but both ends of the lower tier are left much more open and exposed. The Racecourse Ground’s Control Box in the northwest corner can help slightly with protection from the wind on this side.

Kop

The Kop is a giant bank of standing terrace that swings round to include the stadium’s northeast corner.

Multiple rows of metal bars run across the terraced area for fans to lean on. These bars are coloured predominantly red, but are also coloured white at the edge of each marked-out staircase.

A roof at the back of the stand hangs overhead, but only provides cover to the rows further back, with the terraced area down the front and in the northeast corner being left uncovered.

Three supporting pillars come down along the front of the Kop’s roof, which would restrict the view for anyone stood up towards the back of the stand. Views would be clear down at the front of in the northeast corner.

Developments in stadium safety requirements mean that the Kop is not in use on matchdays, and won’t be until major work has been conducted on it. It can still make for an impressive sight.

Away Fans

Away fans are housed along the length of the pitch in the Yale Stand, typically taking up the upper tier blocks that are next to the stadium’s northwest corner. These blocks are blue in colour, with most offering a clear view of the pitch, although the ones more inward can have their view slightly restricted by a supporting pillar to one side.

A windshield by the northwest corner fully protects this away section.

To aid with segregation, Wrexham have been known to leave the blocks in the bottom tier below the away section closed, and to also close the lower tier in the adjacent University End. These are only opened up again when a very high attendance is expected at the Racecourse Ground, and it can have an impact on the atmosphere as a result.

The away section at the Racecourse Ground is of a decent quality regardless.

Where to buy tickets?

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 £16 and £20.

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.

How to get there?

The Racecourse Ground is located right next to Wrexham Glyndwr University, well within 0.5 miles of Wrexham Town Centre. Acton Park is around one mile away to the northeast, Erddig Park is around 1.4 miles away to the south, and Wrexham Maelor Hospital is around 0.4 miles away to the southwest.

Coming to the Racecourse Ground by car is certainly possible.

Wrexham recommend using the Glyndwr University campus car park (usually £3 per vehicle) which is a very short distance away from the ground. Other private car parks are available nearby.

Free street parking is available to be had within close range of the stadium should you arrive early enough (more than one hour before kick-off typically). Ensure that you are legally allowed to park where you find however and do not block the drives of any residents.

Getting to the Racecourse Ground by train can be an even simpler process.

The nearest railway station is Wrexham General to the southeast, served by Transport for Wales and Avanti West Coast. The station is a 5-10 minute walk away, going along a route that leaves Station Approach and heads northwest up Regent Street (A541) which leads onto Mold Road outside the stadium.

Wrexham Central Station is a little further to the south of Wrexham General, though services are more limited and only by Transport for Wales.

Where to eat and sleep?

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

1. Wynnstay Arms. 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.
2. Ramada Plaza. 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.
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3. Rossett Hall Hotel. 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.

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:

1. The Long Pull. Very much aimed at attracting a sporting crowd, The Long Pull has plenty to recommend it for everyone. Pub grub is decent here, plus there are loads of different drinking options for you to choose from. It’s the sport that will interest most people, which is why they’ve opted for big screens aplenty to ensure that you can watch it regardless of where you find yourself sat.
2. Welch Fusilier. The Welch Fusilier shows live football, but it’s a pub that offers so much more than that. Pets are welcome for a start, so you know that the atmosphere will be a friendly one. Food is served daily, whilst real ale drinkers will be delighted with the drinks menu. The big screens around the venue will keep people entertained when the sports on, but when it’s not there are dart boards and pool tables for a more amateur sporting experience.
• Take a look at the freebets offered by the bookmaker.
3. Squire Yorke. Part of the Greene King chain of pubs, the Squire Yorke puts food at the centre of everything that it does. The carvery is one of the best around, whilst kids can busy themselves in the indoor and outdoor play areas. There’s a beer garden for the summer months, plus pretty much every football match that is shown live on TV can be watched on the big screen that are dotted throughout.

Facilities

Facilities at the Racecourse Ground are what one might expect for a lower tier club, though it has undergone some refurbishments.

There are a number of hospitality options at the Racecourse Ground, including the Bamford Suite, the 1864 Suite and executive boxes sponsored by both Hays Travel and bkconcepts.

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

Accessibility

32 spaces for both home and away supporters at pitch level in the Macron Stand. Fair cover with helpers sat beside.

There is also a pitch-level platform available, with four wheelchair spaces and provision for companions beside, in the WREXRENT Stand.

They offer a waitress service to all wheelchair users, meaning you can order food/drinks pitchside.

There are two accessible toilets in the Macron Stand concourse, one as you enter via gate 12 and one the opposite end of the concourse with alarm cords in place.

There is also an accessible toilet on Floor 1 of the 1864 Suite, inside, which can be accessed via the Macron Stand lift for anybody using the suite or the accessible viewing platform.

An accessible toilet is available on the concourse of the WREXRENT Stand, while supporters in the Wrexham Lager Stand can use the accessible toilet located within the Centenary Club – please note, you do not need a Centenary Club pass to access this toilet, but may need to inform the receptionist.

All accessible toilets must be unlocked with a radar key – please contact the DLO or a steward if you do not have a radar key with you.

A refreshment area with low level counter is by the gate 12 entrance and in the middle of the concourse there is a further refreshment area with both higher & lowered counters for easy access, all with steward assistance. The newly-refurbished WREXRENT Stand concourse also features lowered counters throughout.

Exterior

Heading to the Racecourse Ground via Mold Road brings you to the South Stand, known for sponsorship reasons as the Hays Travel Stand and otherwise known as the Mold Road Stand.

The stadium’s southeast corner houses a pub called ‘The Turf’ which does welcome away fans but only in small numbers.

Further along here is the rather modern-looking exterior of the Mold Road Stand, using a brickwork base with large silver panels and rows of glass windows higher up and a cantilever roof on top. There are brick towers at the end of this exterior, which then lead onto the curved ends of the stand, one of which is blocked from view by ‘The Turf’ in front of it. The brick tower near the southwest corner houses the entrance to the 1864 Suite, Altitude Suite, Executive Boxes, 1864 Ticket Office, and access to Disabled Platforms.

To the left of here are turnstiles for the Mold Road Stand itself.

Heading round in a clockwise direction, past a small fenced-off car park, brings you to the West Stand. It is known for sponsorship reasons as the WREXRENT Stand but is otherwise known as the University End as Wrexham Glyndwr University is out beyond it.

Accessed via a footpath off Mold Road, its exterior uses a brickwork base with silver corrugated iron higher up and a strip of translucent panels at the top. This stand houses Jonesey’s Bar inside and has an entrance to an education suite next to the northwest corner.

Turnstiles for the University End are spread along the stand’s base, though there is also a red fence in place part way along that sometimes restricts access from one end of the stand to the other.

The University car park is immediately outside the University End, on the other side of a fence and row of tall trees.

The North Stand at the Racecourse Ground is known for sponsorship reasons as the bkoncepts Stand, but is otherwise known as the Yale Stand as Yale College used to be based outside of it.

The stand’s base contains a number of different shaped buildings along it, with corrugated iron in place higher up. The buildings hold numerous Club Offices including the Wrexham Club Shop, Main Ticket Office, and entrances to the Centenary Club, Bamford Suite and Executive Boxes.

Turnstiles for the Yale Stand are in place along the base, with the turnstiles near to the stadium’s northwest corner being in use for away supporters.

The large buildings outside part of the Yale Stands are nowadays used for student accommodation.

The East Stand at the Racecourse Ground is known as the Kop. Sharing its name with several others stands at stadiums in the UK, its name references the Battle of Spion Kop between British forces and two Boer Republics in January 1900. Spion Kop itself is the mountain in South Africa that the battle was fought on.

The Spion Kop in its heyday was a standing terrace that could hold around 9,000 people, making it the largest in the English Football League at the time. Developments in stadium safety requirements mean that the Kop is not in use on matchdays, and won’t be until major work has been conducted on it.

You can still make out the roof of its exterior clearly, but access up to it is very limited as there is trees, grass and a perimeter wall around it.

Turnstiles for it, down by the stadium’s southwest corner, are still in place today but not in use. You can often that there are cars parking right in front of it.

If you are outside the Yale Stand, you can get around the Kop by heading past the student accommodation buildings, heading south along Crispin Lane, and then turning right which puts you back on Mold Road and over to the Mold Road Stand.

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.