Last Update:
October 24, 2025
Away fans are housed in the upper part of the Wrexham Lager Stand, specifically through gates 1-4. The view from this part of the stadium is decent enough, while the acoustics are also good, meaning fans can create a decent atmosphere, even if the allocation is usually small.
The facilities inside the away end are fairly basic, but fans can pick up burgers, hot dogs and pies from the concourse and in vans just outside the away end if they are peckish. Unfortunately, Wrexham do often impose a no-alcohol policy in the away end, so only soft and hot drinks can be purchased most of the time.
The stand is shared with home supporters, which typically results in plenty of back and forth.
Kop plans approved
The redevelopment of the Kop end at the Racecourse Ground has been given one final seal of approval after plans were passed through by Wrexham County Borough Council’s planning committee.
Work on the stand has been ongoing since 2022, but the club’s rapid rise through the EFL saw them revised to reflect the new ambitions of the club’s owners, Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney.
The plans for the new all-seated Kop mean that its capacity will be 5,500 upon completion. While this was always the figure Wrexham had in mind, the new plans detail that it will be built with future expansion in mind. As such, it will be built to allow 2,000 extra seats to be added should the club ever deem it necessary.
After the plans were approved, the club’s CEO, Michael Williamson, said:
“When Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds became co-chairmen four years ago, one of their core aims was to recreate a four-sided stadium. An early replacement Kop stand was approved by the committee in 2022, but our amazing success on and off the pitch over the last few seasons required a review of our ambition.
“Whilst the designs have changed, our commitment to the community engagement and use is resolute. The Kop stand will accommodate many events locally and variety of spaces we are creating in the stand. A new plaza will be created at the entrance to the stand, we envisage this will create an active environment on non match days as well as ahead of our home matches.”
Revitalising Heritage and Local Economy
Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney are taking their investment in the Welsh town of Wrexham AFC beyond football, submitting planning proposals for a major new facility featuring the historic Wrexham Lager brewery.
Their plans include a full scale brewery, taproom and a museum, located adjacent to Wrexham’s stadium, to tap into tourism and local pride. By leveraging a heritage brand with global recognition, the project aligns culture, fandom and economic revival, turning the club’s uplift into a broader regional opportunity. The project helps deepen Wrexham’s resurgence, building pride in the town and attracting visitors while celebrating its heritage.
Wrexham celebrate promotion at the Racecourse Ground
On Sunday, 27 April, Wrexham secured promotion to the Championship after a 3-0 win over Charlton at the Racecourse Ground.
It was a momentous day in North Wales, noting that it was the third year in a row that Wrexham have been promoted, going from the National League to the Championship.
The club lifted their promotion ‘trophy’ shortly after the final whistle before celebrating with the fans at the stadium.
The club’s owners, Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, were in attendance and joined the players and staff on the pitch after the match to get into the thick of the celebrations.
It is under the acting duo’s watch that the club have made history in recent seasons. They are now the first club in English football to ever earn promotion thrice on the bounce.
The club can now look forward to welcoming Championship clubs to the Racecourse Ground next season as they eye a place in the Premier League.
Ever since Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhinney became owners of Wrexham in 2021, the Racecourse Ground has been visited by several high-profile celebrities from Hollywood.
Reynolds and McElhinney themselves are two huge names and are regulars at the stadium but other notable faces that have been spotted at the stadium in recent years include:
Will Ferrell
Will Ferrell is one of the biggest acting names in the world and he has attended a number of Wrexham matches since Reynolds and McElhinney took over. Back in 2023, he turned up to see them take on Wealdstone in the National League.
Will Ferrell is at Wrexham’s Racecourse Ground today. #wxmafc #wrexhamfx pic.twitter.com/38C2r1A3Ya
— World Soccer Talk (@worldsoccertalk) February 11, 2023
Blake Lively
American actress, Blake Lively, who is married to Ryan Reynolds has also been to her fair share of Wrexham matches in recent times.
Hugh Jackman
Hugh Jackman recently starred with Ryan Reynolds in Deadpool and Wolverine and the Hollywood A-lister took a trip to North Wales in August 2023 to watch Wrexham in action at the Racecourse Ground on their return to the Football League.
HUGH JACKMAN AT RACECOURSE GROUND ✨??????? Deadpool 3 co-star “Finally snagged an invite” from Ryan and Rob. Wolverine in as potential new midfield signing? pic.twitter.com/9Sj2DUFOEq
— Men in Blazers (@MenInBlazers) August 5, 2023
Wrexham fans have made the Racecourse Ground a fortress in recent times. Some of the most popular Wrexham chants are as follows:
- Wrexham is the Name
- It’s Always Sunny in Wrexham
- Allez Allez Allez
The Racecourse is a traditional football ground featuring four prominent floodlight pylons and a spacious home terrace, which is unfortunately now closed. The stadium beautifully combines classic and modern elements, with the Mold Road Stand showcasing an interesting contemporary design.
The Kop Stand
To show how times have changed and the number of all-seated stadiums that there are now, the Kop Terrace at Wrexham was, until recently, the largest terrace in the League.
In its heyday, almost 9,500 fans could stand on it. This stand is a throwback to when every ground had a similar kind of terrace, and even the crowd barriers are painted in the club colours of red & white (rather than those dull metallic coloured barriers present in modern stands).
The Kop Stand is one of the stadium’s facilities that has undergone renovation in recent years.
University End
At the other end is the University End. This stand, which was opened in 1978, is a two-tiered stand, covered and all seated. It has a couple of supporting pillars, situated between the two tiers. It also has an electric scoreboard on its roof.
Yale Stand
This stand was opened in 1972 and got its name from Yale College, which was situated behind this stand. It is now known as the Bkoncepts Stand in a corporate sponsorship deal. It is a fair-sized two-tiered covered stand, which is now all seated, having previously had terracing at the front. The team dugouts are located in front of this stand.
Mold Road Stand
Opposite is the Mold Road Stand, opened in 1999. This side of the ground has been unused for several years, so its construction greatly improved the overall ground appearance. It is semi-circular in design with a capacity of 3,500 seats and features an unusual roof design. It is now called the Hays Travel Stand.
Racecourse Ground entrance
Away supporters are accommodated in both the Upper and Lower tiers of the Wrexham Lager Stand. They should enter through turnstiles 1-4, all of which are situated behind the stand.
Home fans have two main options, depending on where they sit in the stadium.
Those with tickets for the West or South Stand should use the turnstiles located on Neville Road. Supporters seated in the North Stand should enter through the turnstiles on Moor Lane.
At the back of the Yale Stand is the fair-sized Centenary Club which allows in away fans. Other options include:
Chicken tikka kebab at Wrexham AFC (Outside @Wrexham_AFC)
? £8 with a pint pic.twitter.com/ZrCYyBWX28
— Footy Scran (@FootyScran) April 12, 2022
More ?‘s at Wolves and Wrexham! @Wolves | @Wrexham_AFC pic.twitter.com/zau7lWrVcf
— Footy Scran (@FootyScran) April 21, 2023
By train
Wrexham General Railway Station is located next to the ground and is only a few minutes’ walk away. Exit the station, walk up the station approach road, and at the top turn right along the main road. The ground is on the right. It is served by trains from Wolverhampton and Holyhead.
By car
From the North: Take the A483 towards Wrexham (this is the Wrexham by-pass). Leave the A483 at the junction of the A541 Mold road. The ground is 300 yards from this junction (on the A541) towards Wrexham town centre.
From The South: Take the M54 from the M6 (Junction 10A Northbound). Follow the M54 to the end of the motorway and join the A5 towards Shrewsbury. Continue on the A5 past Shrewsbury and Oswestry and then join the A483 towards Wrexham. Stay on the A483 as you reach Wrexham (this is the Wrexham by-pass). Then as above. Street parking.
If you arrive early (around 1-1.15 pm), there is some street parking to be had, on the other side of the road from the car showroom by the Turf Pub. There is also parking available at the nearby Glyndwr University (£3) or there are a couple of private car parks in the area, charging in the region of £2, including NEWI on the Plas Coch Retail Park.
At present, the capacity at the Racecourse Ground is 12,800, but this will soon rise to 16,000 once the redevelopment of the Kop is complete.
The ground isn’t likely to stay at 16,000 for long, though, as the owners have grand plans to one day turn the Racecourse Ground into a 55,000-seater stadium.
As things stand, the current capacity of each stand is as follows:
- Wrexham Lager Stand – 4,200
- Temporary Kop – 2,309
- SToK Cold Brew Coffee Stand – 2,800
- Macron Stand – 3,500
Wrexham Football Club has been playing at the Racecourse Ground since its establishment in October 1864, except for three years from 1880 to 1883. This break was due to a rent dispute with the Wrexham Cricket Club, the landlords at the time.
During those three years, the club played its home games at the Rhosddu Recreation Ground in Wrexham.
The Racecourse Ground has a storied history, having been in use well before 1872, with horse racing first taking place there in 1807. It is recognised as the oldest remaining football ground to host international matches, with the first such game occurring between Wales and Scotland on March 5, 1877.
In 1952, concrete terracing was laid down at the Kop End, which is the oldest part of the ground. Five years later, the Racecourse Ground welcomed Manchester United, setting a record attendance of 34,445 spectators. Just two years after this record, floodlights were installed at the venue.
Record attendance
34,445 vs Manchester United (FA Cup 4th Round, 26 January 1957)
Average attendance
- 2024-2025: 12,781 (League One)
- 2023-2024: 11,041 (League Two)
- 2022-2023: 9,973 (National League)
- 2021-2022: 8,647 (National League)
Wrexham AFC are based in North Wales, a place known for bitter football rivalries.
Notable Wrexham rivals include:
- Chester F.C., a club that is only 12 miles away from the Racecourse Ground, making them the fiercest rivals of Wrexham AFC. This clash is often known as the Cross-Border Derby as Chester FC is on the England side in Cheshire.
- Tranmere Rovers is another local rival, located approximately 30 miles away.
- Rivalry with Shrewsbury is also noteworthy, given that these teams are only 25 miles apart.
- Then there is Crewe Alexandra, another cross-border rival to Wrexham AFC.
Wrexham AFC have a comprehensive accessibility plan for disabled supporters. First off, there are currently a total of 42 wheelchair spaces in the home section. All of these are at pitch level in the Macron Stand for easy access.
There are an additional six wheelchair spaces above pitch level, built in 2015 and are assigned by the club’s Disability Liaison Officer on a rotating basis.
Racecourse Ground is also autism-friendly. A quiet zone can be found in the home end, which also welcomes supporters of visiting teams.
Moreover, Wrexham have a free Audio Descriptive Commentary Service, catering to both home and away supporters. The service is operated by Wrexham AFC Disabled Supporters Association (DSA).
The club also operates a matchday parking space at the University car park for £5. Disabled supporters are advised to use the toilets in the Macron Stand concourse, accessible via gate 12 or the one on the opposite end. Another accessible toilet can be found on floor 1 of the 1864 suite.
For more information on disability and accessibility at the Racecourse Ground, visit Wrexham’s official website.
Wrexham ticket prices for the 2025/26 season:
Adult: £22-£24
Over 65: £17-£19
U21: £17-£19
U18: £11-£12
U11: £8
Ground Layout
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the ground itself?
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out
Wrexham v Bromley
National League
Saturday 2nd November 2019, 3pm
Paul W (Bromley)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Racecourse Stadium?
I hadn't ever been to Wrexham, and with them being one of the traditionally big teams in the league was looking forward to attending a classic away venue.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Went up by train on the via Birmingham New Street route. No delays, ground next to the stations, got there in plenty of time to have a couple of drinks.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
As we left the station we met a young family-supporting Wrexham and one of their youngsters wanted a picture with one of the Bromley kids, which was a nice touch, I felt immediately welcomed, which was not something I necessarily expected in North Wales. Perhaps it was because we lost in the Rugby. 🙂 We were advised against visiting the Turf pub and ended up going to the Maesgwyn Hall Club. Sky Sports showing the match and found the staff extremely friendly. Prices decent, locals happy to have a chat about football, and served food too. I went back after the game, and a Wrexham fan insisted on buying us a beer and even said he'd drop us off at the Station afterwards. No heirs and graces about the fans I met, no superiority complex like others that have been relegated. Thoroughly nice people.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Racecourse Stadium?
The ground itself is decent as you would expect, the away seating requires a bit of TLC but which ground in lower leagues doesn't? Such a shame that the large terrace isn't in use. If that's not fit for purpose, I don't know how Bromley's is.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The game was very poor, we have been playing well, but nothing seemed to happen for us. The atmosphere was reflected by two teams desperate for points for different reasons and things not really happening. Wrexham fans were surprisingly quiet, I'd expected it to be loud, but they come to life when a common need to 'sack the board' was sung loudly and proudly. Only one moment of class in the match and that was Wrexham's goal, absolute beauty, was in as soon as it left his foot.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
No problems. Went into the same pub for a quick one before getting the last train home to London, which sadly was at 5.45.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Other than the result a thoroughly good away day. Would recommend a visit, and as long as we are in the same division ill be going back again.
Wrexham v Maidenhead United
National League
Tuesday 3rd September 2019, 7.45pm
Mark Ashcroft (Maidenhead United & Reading)
Wrexham v Barrow
National League
Saturday 3rd August 2019, 3pm
John Woods (Barrow)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Racecourse Stadium?
The first game of the season, and a chance to see how the Barrow side, strengthened over the summer, would perform.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
As a London based supporter, it was a fairly straightforward journey, changing trains at Crewe and Chester. The ground is almost next to Wrexham General Railway Station, so easy to find.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
We stopped off at Chester to meet other Barrow supporters at The Old Harkers Arms, a canalside pub only a few minutes stroll from the railway station. Then a train from Chester to Wrexham in time for the kick off.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Racecourse Stadium?
Initially, confusion outside the ground. Many supporters had bought adult tickets online for £19, only to find that admission at the turnstiles was just £16 (Wrexham FC quickly admitted it was an error on their part and are refunding the difference). Once inside and having negotiated the scrum around the snack bar (collecting a pie on the way) it was up the steps to find a seat with my friends. The ground itself is quite impressive for the National League, only let down by the large disused terrace away to our left.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Barrow had the better of the first half and were leading 1-0 at the interval, although it could easily have been more. It was a different story after the break, however, with Wrexham scoring twice to take all three points.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
With the game kicking off slightly late and with a fair amount of stoppage time, catching the 17.03 was always going to be a challenge. Thankfully, the train itself was several minutes late and we caught it easily. It meant a very tight connection at Crewe, though!
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
An enjoyable day out catching up with fellow supporters after the summer break, but disappointing in that Barrow didn't collect at least one point.
Wales v Trinidad & Tobago
International Friendly
Wednesday 20th March 2019, 7:45pm
John Hague (Wales)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Racecourse Stadium?
It's been a long time since Wales played at Wrexham and it was a new ground for me. The fact it has four traditional corner floodlight pylons made this an essential visit.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
We had some traffic problems en-route so arrived with 15 minutes to spare. I had planned to park on a street nearby but that wasn't an option so we tried the University which was full. The tennis club, however, had signs saying parking for users only but no cameras and no obvious restrictions. A few others were parking there so we took a risk.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
As we were pushing it we went straight in, though I did make time for some floodlight photos. Being an International everyone was in a good mood especially a small number of very vocal Trinidadians.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Racecourse Stadium?
The Racecourse is a proper ground, I just wish funds would allow the Kop End Terrace to be redeveloped… hopefully into safe standing.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The pre-match atmosphere was great and Land Of Our Fathers was sung with more gusto than at Cardiff however the game itself was dire. I know it was an experimental team and the young lads were getting some experience but I have seen a lot better Step 7 games this season. Pies were lovely but strangely priced at £2.90. I'd happily pay £3 and have a more robust pastry case…
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
We popped on Google maps and exited right out of the car park and looped around towards the town centre before heading home. This turned out to be a great move as there was no traffic.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Apart from the dire game, I loved every minute of it. I need to get back to see a Wrexham game now.
Wrexham v Gateshead
National League
Saturday 11th March 2017, 3pm
Callum (Gateshead fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Racecourse Ground?
With me living in Wolverhampton and being a big Gateshead supporter, this is a game I've been looking forward too since the fixtures had been released because of how simple a journey it is for me on the train. It is also a ground I had yet to visit and my first trip to Wales.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
As I said, the journey was easy from Wolverhampton. We caught a 11.45 train from Wolverhampton and was in Wrexham at 1pm with no changes needed. The station, Wrexham General, is also very ideal being just a 2 minute walk from the Racecoure Ground.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
Before the game we went straight to the club shop and bought our match tickets. The staff in there were very friendly and welcoming. We then went for a couple of pints in the clubhouse/pub on the side of the Yale Stand. It's a very impressive set up with large televisions broadcasting the early kick off on BT Sport and plenty of room to either stand or sit with comfortable seating. It felt very much like a Football League club. The fans in there were brilliant too, I had a number of fans notice my Gateshead colours and approach me and they were all very nice and welcoming and also all pointed out our recent good form which was nice to hear.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Racecourse Ground?
The Racecourse is a fantastic ground. The view from the away end is just what you want with no obstructions and there's seating as well as little bit of terracing in the Yale Stand. The perfect combination. The Main Stand is also very impressive and modern looking. The 'Kop' End, although not in use, is also quite an attraction in my eyes. It gives off a nice historical feel being a very large covered terrace.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The first half of the game was rather poor if I'm honest. The second half picked up slightly and eventually the Heed took the lead with an astounding half volley from Jordan Burrow on the edge of the box. Wrexham then pressed for the rest of the game and came close a few times with Manny Smith making a crucial block for a goal-bound shot and they also were to hit the bar with a header as well. In the end though, the Heed were victorious with Danny Johnson wrapping it up in the dying seconds with an impressive counter attacking goal to score in his sixth consecutive game. The atmosphere was impressive, the travelling Heed fans did their best, although there was only 40 of us. The stewards were friendly and the facilities which just box standard so nothing at all to complain about.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Getting away was easy, just a simple walk back down to the nearby railway station.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
A very enjoyable day out at the Racecourse Ground. It is always a good away day when you come away with the three points. Wrexham is definitely a ground I will visit again next year if we're still in the division saying that as our play off push is well and truly in gear.
Wrexham v Braintree Town
National League
Saturday 12th November 2016, 3pm
Daniel Turner (Braintree Town fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Racecourse Stadium?
I was looking forward to visiting the Racecourse Ground as it would be my first venture away from English soil to watch a football match. This would be my 99th ground in total and looking at the photos of the ground on this website I couldn't wait to visit!
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Pretty easy to be honest I went on a supporters coach so we parked right outside our turnstile.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
I did some research and whilst being a Groundhopper but being a away fan for the day I couldn't help notice a small ground called Lex Glyndwr a 15 minute walk away from the Racecourse. I went and took some photos before making my way back to the racecourse by 2:10pm.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Racecourse Stadium?
Entering Welsh soil I couldn't help but notice the large old fashioned floodlights from a distance and when we got there the ground is absolutely wonderful some parts old and new, with loads of character!
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Braintree won the game 1-0 which made my day as this was the first time seeing Braintree play and win outside England. However we was very lucky as we parked the bus for the whole game and frustrated Wrexham.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Pretty simple, hop back onto the coach and set off at 5pm, a little busy getting onto the bypass near the ground with Matchday traffic but a clear journey ahead making back to Essex around 10:15pm.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
A really enjoyable day from start to finish a win and a clean sheet visiting a lovely ground which in my opinion is the best ground in the national league. Magnificent! If you're a Groundhopper or a fan of a team in the national league, the Racecourse Stadium is a great day out Win lose or draw!
Wrexham v Southport
National Conference League
Saturday 26th December 2015, 3pm
Stuart Ainsworth (Southport fan)
Why were you looking forward to visiting the Racecourse Ground?
It promised to be a good day out and for Southport to continue their revival under new manager Dino Maamria.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
I was visiting my family in Southport and travelled on the supporters' club coach from there, so no problems whatsoever.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
We tried the Turf pub by the ground, but there was no real ale on. They did have real ale pumps, but the pump clips were turned round. The friendly doormen advised that the town centre was only a five minute walk away. So we did that and went into the Wetherspoon's (The Elihu Yale). This was a great choice as the beers and food were both excellent and cheap.
What you thought on seeing the Racecourse Ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
The Racecourse Ground is one of the better grounds in the Conference League, although the old terracing behind one goal is closed. However the rest is all-seater and of a good size.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Great atmosphere in the away section, especially after we went ahead after 20 minutes. This was how the game ended and Southport were good value for the win. I didn't try any refreshments inside the ground (I rarely do) but toilets and stewards were fine.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Our coach was parked right outside so it was straight back to Southport and more beer for our very happy group.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Fantastic day out with good mates, much lubrication from start to finish
Wrexham v FC Halifax Town
Competition National League
Saturday 9th January 2015, 3pm
Saul Brocklehurst (FC Halifax Town fan)
Why were you looking forward to visiting the Racecourse Ground?
I was looking to this game, despite Halifax losing their last five away games. This was because it was to be my first visit to the Racecourse Ground and it wasn't too far a distance to travel.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
It was about a two hour journey from Halifax to North Wales. The only slight difficulty on arrival was finding a parking space due to the healthy matchday attendance of 5,600.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
We just went straight into the ground. There was only one food outlet inside that we could see and the service was slow as it was only manned by just one person.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
Overall the Racecourse Ground is very impressive, which was emphasised due to the large crowd in attendance. The view from the away section was fine. However there was a large section of seats below us which we weren't allowed access to, but instead a number of fans flags had been draped across them.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
From an Halifax point of view, rubbish. We lost 3-1 and never really looked like being in the game, falling two goals behind in the opening 20 minutes. Even after pulling a goal back, it still didn't look likely that we would cause a mini upset. The atmosphere however was something special. The Welsh are renowned for their singing voices, and this shone through throughout the game; they never stopped chanting!
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Simple enough, just found where we parked and got going. Took about ten minutes to actually get anywhere though because of how much traffic there was.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Despite the result, it was a decent ground, which I may not have the chance to visit again for a while, due to the likely scenario of either Wrexham being promoted to the football league, or at this rate Halifax's relegation to the Conference League North!
Wrexham v Gateshead
Conference Premier League
Saturday, February 19th 2011, 3pm
Stuart McCluskey (Gateshead fan)
1. Why you were looking forward to going to the ground (or not as the case may be):
This was shaping up to be a cracker of a match as both Wrexham and ourselves (Gateshead) were in good form. Also, I hadn't been to an 'international' away game with the Heed before!
2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking:
Our supporters bus had to battle through a pretty heavy blizzard in Yorkshire on the way down. Everyone cheered up when we met up with the team bus at Wetherby Services and exchanged a bit of banter with the Manager, Staff and players. By the time we crossed the Pennines, the weather had improved dramatically and we arrived at the Racecourse about an hour and a half before kick off.
3. What you did before the game pub/chippy…. home fans friendly?
Straight off the bus and into the pub next to the ground, The Turf. A good selection of beers and plenty of bar staff. The pub began to fill up with home supporters after a half an hour or so who were really friendly.
4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground?
The seating for away fans provides a good view of the action on the pitch. The newer stands to our right and opposite must be amongst the best in this division but the toilets in the away end were a bit primitive. Catering consisted of a precariously balanced portakabin with only one person serving so there was a pretty hefty queue at half time but on the plus side the pie that I bought was first rate.
5. Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, toilets etc..
The game has gone down in Gateshead legend! 7-2 to the Heed, we scored our first within 30 seconds. Wrexham equalized after 12 minutes but their comeback was halted by two further goals for Gateshead in the first 20 minutes. 1-4 at half time, Wrexham pulled one back in the second half but then succumbed to 2 Jon Shaw headers to finish 2-7. A totally unexpected result and somewhat harsh on Wrexham who created plenty of chances and played some excellent football.
The home fans were staging a protest that day against their board so the stewards were perhaps a little edgier than they would normally have been but we never felt threatened by what were largely good-natured protests. The home fans also found time to provide pretty steadfast support to their players and were gracious enough to applaud the Gateshead lads at the final whistle.
6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Due to the above mentioned protests we were kept in the stand for about 15 minutes after the whistle and then escorted onto our bus by police and stewards who accompanied us to the main road. In all honesty this seemed a little excessive as the Wrexham fans were in dispute with their owners and it never seemed likely that any trouble would spill over in our direction. As you can imagine, with a 7-2 victory under our belts we had a very happy journey back to Tyneside.
7. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
An unforgettable day out! Wrexham was one of the friendliest away trips I have made. I will definitely return in futre and wish the supporters of Wrexham FC the best of luck with their ownership issues.
The Racecourse
Wrexham V Mansfield Town
Saturday, March 1st 2008, League Two, 3pm
By Jake Stone
1. Why you were looking forward to going to the ground (or not as the case may be):
It was getting to be quite a big game as us and Wrexham were both down the bottom with everything to play for. I also love the look of Wrexham's Kop and it would be the last time I was set to see fans in it with it now being put out of use.
2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking:
The welsh signposts didn't make our journey any more difficult at all! Apart from a diversion which added an extra 10 minutes onto our journey it was fine, we got their early and parked up right next to the entrance/exit hoping to get away quickly.
3. What you did before the game pub/chippy…. home fans friendly?
We went straight into the supporters bar where they had a big screen with sky sports news on and nice beer too, can't complain. They'd even scrapped the £1 entrance fee which they had before making it free for home and away fans alike.
4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground?
The away end when walking in seems very old fashioned with lots of old style brick toilets and refreshment stands joined together by the odd caged fencing giving a closed in feeling whilst walking under the stand behind the goal. Once walking out onto the stand it gives a great view apart from up the top where the scoreboard actually prevents you from seeing the goal at the far end! If you brought a big following I'd advise anybody to get in 20 minutes early and find a decent view.
5. Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, toilets etc..
The game finished 1-1 after Mansfield taken the lead, both sets of supporters were quite vocal, especially the bunch of Wrexham lads who make a lot of noise to the right of you in their new stand. The stewards were willing to help all the time and even tied up our flag with us to the metal railings, top notch. Meat and potato pie which I purchased was just like any bog standard league two food, nothing to write home about but nice enough to fill an hole after a few beers. The toilets as mentioned before were very old style with lots of away teams graffiti on but thats what is expected of an away stand toilet.
6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
After the little trouble from the lads (read below) we got to the car and as we had parked quite close we got out of the car park imminently. We did have a little hold up of about 10 minutes as we waited to get out onto the main road but it was nowhere near as bad as places like Chester etc. pretty manageable.
7. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Coming out of the ground we got a group of lads calling us 'English ****'s' and offering to 'do us over' but nothing came of it and quite frankly we took with a pinch of salt. So it didn't tar my view on Wrexham as it's a lovely day out with a lot more pubs to go to than what I visited apparently. I enjoyed my day trip to Wales and will definitely head out to the racecourse next season now Mansfield got relegated with Wrexham.