Racecourse Ground
 | |
| Full name | Racecourse Ground |
|---|---|
| Location | Wrexham, Wales |
| Coordinates | 53°3′7″N 3°0′13″W / 53.05194°N 3.00361°WCoordinates: 53°3′7″N 3°0′13″W / 53.05194°N 3.00361°W |
| Owner | Glyndŵr University |
| Operator | Wrexham AFC |
| Capacity | 15,550[1] |
| Field size | 102 m × 68 m (335 ft × 223 ft) |
| Surface | Grass |
| Construction | |
| Opened | 1807,[2] 1864 for Football |
| Construction cost | £3,500,000 (Mold Road Stand) |
| Architect | Ward McHugh Associates (Yale Stand) |
| Tenants | |
|
Wrexham F.C. (1864–present) North Wales Crusaders (2012–present) | |
The Racecourse Ground (Welsh: Y Cae Ras) is a stadium located in Wrexham, North Wales. It is the home of Wrexham AFC.
The stadium is recognised by Guinness World Records as the world's oldest international football stadium that still hosts international matches, having hosted Wales' first ever home international match in 1877,[3] and has hosted more Wales international matches than any other ground.[4] The record attendance at the ground was set in 1957, when Wrexham hosted a match against Manchester United in front of 34,445 spectators.[5]
The Racecourse Ground is the largest stadium in North Wales and the fifth largest in Wales. The ground is sometimes used by the FAW for Wales' home international games. The ground has also been used by North Wales Crusaders rugby league club, Scarlets rugby union club and Liverpool F.C. Reserves. In the past, the ground has also seen cricket, horse racing and music concerts performed.
History
Wrexham Football Club have played at the Racecourse Ground since being formed in the local Turf Hotel public house in October 1864. However, Wrexham played their home games in the 1881–82 and 1882–83 at the Recreation Ground in Rhosddu due to an increase in rent from the then owners, Wrexham Cricket Club, while also changing the name to Wrexham Athletic for one season. Before the club was formed the ground was mainly used for cricket and occasionally, horse racing.[6]
1952 saw the laying down of concrete terracing on the ever-popular Kop end, which is now the oldest part of the ground. Five years later was to see the largest ever attendance at the Racecourse when 34,445 people gathered to witness an FA Cup fourth round tie against Manchester United. On 30 September 1959 the Racecourse saw the switching on of the newly installed floodlights.
After promotion to the old Second Division in 1978 the Border Stand was built, taking its name from the Border Breweries which owned the ground. This part of the ground is now known as the Eric Roberts Builders Stand, where visiting supporters are normally seated.
The latest addition to the ground was achieved in 1999 after Grant Aid from Sport Lot, the Welsh Development Agency and the Football Trust together with generous local sponsorship allowed for the construction of a new stand on the Mold Road side of the ground. The impressive new structure was originally named the Pryce Griffiths Stand after the then chairman (but since renamed the Mold Road Stand after the then chairman sold the club to Alex Hamilton) has a capacity of 3,500 and also contains hospitality and conferencing facilities.
The development also saw the Paddock areas of the Sainsbury's Stand and the Eric Roberts Builders Stand become all-seated, bringing the current capacity up to 15,500 and thus allowing international football and rugby union to once again be played at the Racecourse.
In 2002 then Wrexham F.C. chairman William Pryce Griffiths secured a 125-year lease on the Racecourse with Wolverhampton Dudley Breweries for £750,000, and a peppercorn annual rent of £1. The club hosted TNS vs Liverpool in a UEFA Champions League qualifier in 2005.
On 26 June 2002 the freehold to the Racecourse Ground was acquired by Wrexham A.F.C. from Wolverhampton Dudley Breweries for the sum of £300,000. On the same day the ownership of the freehold was transferred by the chairman, Alex Hamilton, from Wrexham A.F.C. to another of his companies, Damens Ltd, for a nominal fee. After this controversial change in ownership the 125-year lease on the Racecourse held by Wrexham F.C. was renegotiated. The new lease stated that Damens Ltd could evict Wrexham F.C. from the Racecourse Ground upon 12 months' notice and payment of £1,000,000. The new lease also saw the club's annual rent increase from £1 to £30,000. In 2004 Wrexham F.C. was given a years' notice to quit the ground;[7] this triggered a furious reaction from fans – in a legal case running through to March 2006 the High Court ruled that the ownership of the freehold of the ground had been improperly transferred, and ownership of the ground reverted to the clubs' then-administrators (the club having gone into administration in December 2004 with debts of £2,600,000).
On 19 May 2014, work commenced at the Racecourse,[8] this included; a new pitch and sprinkler system, changing rooms for players and officials. The medical and treatment facilities will also be upgraded, together with improved seating for disabled supporters, better floodlighting and removal of cambers at the ‘Kop’ end of the ground. The results mean the stadium has been reclassified to Category 3 level, meaning it will be able to host international football matches.[9]
Wrexham Village Ltd
With the clubs' emergence from Administration in May 2006, ownership of the ground passed new company, Wrexham Football Club (2006) Ltd, owned by Geoff Moss and Ian Roberts. They passed ownership of the football ground to a new holding company Wrexham Village Ltd, which owned both the new football club company, and later purchased the rugby league club Crusaders from its owners in Bridgend, South Wales. Thus the new company had two tenants for the stadium.
To put a permanent cash injection into the sporting clubs, Wrexham Village proposed in 2008 a joint venture development with a yet to be chosen third party, to develop a student village area near the site of the KOP stand. The £40 million project would be developed in conjunction with Glyndŵr University to house over 800 students, and take place in two phases. The club would benefit from either land-lease income, or joint ownership within the development and hence rental income direct from the tenants. However, due to the global recession, the company found it hard to find a development partner, and the land and project was eventually sold freehold in 2009 to another company owned by Moss and Roberts.
In August 2011, after a period of instability at Wrexham Village Ltd, the owning company of the stadium and both the football and rugby league clubs, the company agreed to sell the stadium and associated training grounds to Glyndŵr University. The proposed deal, subject to completion and contract under the financial terms agreed by both parties, will allow both sporting teams to continue using the facilities.[10] The purchase of the ground also resulted in the re-branding of the stadium, incorporating the university's name.[11]
Wrexham AFC signs a 99 year Racecourse Stadium lease
In August 2016 Wrexham Glyndwr University and Wrexham AFC signed a contract that signaled a new future for the Racecourse.
The University – which purchased the landmark in 2011, saving it from possible extinction – handed operational control of the ground over to the football club as part a 99-year lease.[12]
Stadium details
Stands
The Kop: the all-standing home stand, is named after the Battle of Spion Kop, as many grounds in the UK used to have ends named similarly. Behind the goal, it is known officially as the Crispin Lane End or "Town End". With a capacity of 5,000, the Spion Kop was the largest all-standing terrace in the English Football League. The owners of the Racecourse Ground, Glyndwr University have appointed a stadium development director to push forward plans for the future development of the Kop.[13]
The Yale, capacity 4,200, backing onto where Yale College used to be. It was built in 1972 in preparation for the club's first venture into Europe, and also provided new dressing rooms, club offices and entertainment suites. The Centenary Club is also located here. The stand is officially sponsored by Marston's beer. The club held a lottery during the 2009–10 season with the winner getting to name the stand for a season. The winning ticket resulted in the stand being called the Loyal Canadian Red Stand. For the 2010–11 season it has been renamed the Cash4Gold Stand.
Glyndŵr University Stand: formerly the Marston's Stand/Tech End. It holds 2,800 spectators and provides the supporters with excellent views of the pitch and excellent acoustics. From the 2007–08 season home fans will be located in this stand and away fans moved to the wing of the Yale Stand, with the exception of games where a large away attendance is anticipated.
Mold Road Stand: the newest stand, capacity 3,500, was secured with lottery funding, and built over the old Mold Road stand in 1999. The stand possesses a TV studio and eight fully equipped private boxes, and has a restaurant called "The Changing Rooms"; there is also a club shop which is run by the Supporters' Trust adjacent to the stand. The stand was initially named after the chairman Pryce Griffiths, but was renamed as the Mold Road Stand, following Pryce Griffith's endorsement of Alex Hamilton's redevelopment scheme. A family area, sponsored by Nando's was introduced in the 2009–10 season, located to the area of the stand nearest to the Kop. For the 2010–11 season, as part of the Crusaders presence, the stand was renamed the Greene King Stand
Disabled facilities
Wrexham have 45 disabled places available at the front of the Mold Road Stand. There are 22 parking spaces and two disabled toilets with dedicated refreshment kiosks. Admission is £10 for disabled supporters (£5 concessions) and helpers are admitted free.
Rugby League
The ground was home to former European Super League club Crusaders Rugby League from 2010 after their departure from South Wales Brewery Field in Bridgend they were hoping to play at Newport's Rodney Parade but the deal fell through and they then decided to move to North Wales and a new franchise was created.[14]
Crusaders have enjoyed some well attended games at the Racecourse Ground during 2010 with their opening engage Super League match against Leeds attracted over 10,000 people, with large local support.
In 2011 Crusaders withdraw their Super League licence application and ultimately folded citing financial invalidity.
2012 saw the birth of a new club, born from the ashes of the old club. North Wales Crusaders currently play in the Co-operative Championship 1 competition. They are seen as a separate entity from the former club, and are starting their own chapter in rugby league history. From 2016, North Wales Crusaders no longer play at the Racecourse Ground.
International Rugby League games have also been staged at the ground. The stadium hosted Wales' clash with England in the 2012 Autumn International Series. In 2013, it held Wales' 2013 Rugby League World Cup home game with the USA on Sunday 3 November 2013, with the Tomahawks causing a boil over by ending the home sides chance of a quarter finals appearance with a 24–16 win. The win by the USA, a team expected to be easy beats in their first ever Rugby League World Cup, would see them return to Wrexham for a quarter-final clash against tournament favourite Australia, on Saturday 16 November 2013. As expected, the Kangaroos (who would go on to win the World Cup) ran out easy 62-0 winners over the gallant Hawks.
As part of the 2014 Rugby League European Cup, the Racecourse Ground was to host the match between Wales and Ireland on 2 November.
Summary
The Racecourse Ground has hosted nine Wales internationals. The results were as follows;[15]
| Date | Opponents | Result | Attendance | Part of |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29 October 2000 |  Cook Islands | 38 - 6 | 5,016 | 2000 World Cup |
| 29 July 2001 |  England | 33 - 42 | 6,373 | |
| 6 October 2010 |  Italy | 6 - 13 | 2,971 | 2010 European Cup |
| 13 November 2011 |  Australia | 14 - 56 | 5,233 | 2011 Four Nations |
| 16 June 2012 |  France | 16 - 28 | 1,464 | |
| 27 October 2012 | England | 12 - 80 | 4,014 | 2012 Autumn International Series |
| 29 October 2013 |  United States | 16 - 24 | 8,019 | 2013 Rugby League World Cup |
| 2 November 2014 |  Ireland | 14 - 46 | 1,293 | 2014 European Cup |
| 16 October 2015 |  Scotland | 18-12 | 1,253 | 2015 European Cup |
It also hosted a 2013 World Cup Quarter-Final match 3 November 2013 between Australia and the United States with Australia annihilating the United States 62 - 0 with 5,762 in attendance.
Rugby Union internationals
The Racecourse Ground has held four rugby union internationals. Three of them were Wales’ friendlies against Romania and won all three of them (70 - 21 30 August 1997, 40 - 3 on 3 October 1999 and 54 - 8 on 27 August 2003 which was a warm up game before the 2003 Rugby World Cup. It also hosted a 1999 Rugby Union World Cup Pool 4 match between Japan and Samoa on 3 October 1999 with Samoa winning 43 - 9.
The Racecourse has also played host to the Wales 'A' squad on numerous occasions, which provided the North Wales supporters the chance to watch fringe and youth players ply their trade.
Location
The ground is located on Mold Road close to the A483 dual carriageway. Wrexham General railway station is adjacent to the ground.[16]
Attendances
The five biggest attendances for Wrexham matches at the Racecourse have been:
| Date | Competition | Opposition | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 26 January 1957 | FA Cup | Manchester United | 34,445 |
| 26 December 1936 | Third Division North | Chester City | 29,261[17] |
| 17 January 1978 | League Cup | Liverpool | 25,641 |
| 11 March 1978 | FA Cup | Arsenal | 25,547 |
| 7 December 1935 | Third Division North | Chester City | 24,086[18] |
External links
References
- ↑ media, wrexham. "Wrexham capacity increased - Wrexham.com". Wrexham.Com. Retrieved 11 December 2013.
- ↑ The Glyndwr University Racecourse Stadium – World of Stadiums
- ↑ "Guinness cheers Racecourse with official record". Daily Post North Wales. 18 June 2008. Archived from the original on 20 July 2011. Retrieved 18 June 2008.
- ↑ "Racecourse Ground, Wrexham". Wales Football Online. Retrieved 27 July 2010.
- ↑ "Wrexham v Manchester United, 26 January 1957". 11v11.com.
- ↑ "History". Wrexham FC. 6 December 2012.
- ↑ "Timeline: Crisis at Wrexham FC". BBC News. 19 November 2004. Retrieved 4 January 2013.
- ↑ "Glyndŵr University - Racecourse pitch revamp". glyndwr.ac.uk.
- ↑ "Wrexham FC's Racecourse Stadium gets 300k revamp". BBC News.
- ↑ "Glyndwr University to buy Wrexham's Racecourse stadium". BBC News. 3 August 2011.
- ↑ "Wrexham ground to become Glyndwr University Racecourse Stadium". Daily Post.
- ↑ "Reds take back running of the football ground on an extended lease...".
- ↑ "Glyndwr University appoints new racecourse stadium development director". Glyndwr. 5 December 2012. Archived from the original on 27 November 2012.
- ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 29 August 2012. Retrieved 2009-12-09.
- ↑ "Racecourse Ground rugby league internationals". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 30 May 2015.
- ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 12 October 2011. Retrieved 2011-08-15.
- ↑ Fixtures 1936/37
- ↑ Fixtures 1935/36