How new Kop Stand has become a “real symbol of hope” as Wrexham chief makes “exciting” claim

Wrexham's new Kop Stand is continuing to take shape at the Racecourse Ground, providing a striking reminder of the club's rapid rise through the English pyramid.

Chief executive Michael Williamson believes the developing structure is now a “real symbol of hope” for what lies ahead.

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The new Kop was clearly visible behind the goal as Wrexham opened their Championship campaign with a 1-1 draw against Watford, although construction means supporters cannot yet use the stand.

Speaking to the BBC, Williamson said the progress had been “very exciting”, pointing to the transformation since work began last year.

“This time last year it was a dirt lot,” he said. “Now you see the steelwork, the foundations in place. It's moving along very quickly. For the first time, people are seeing how massive a stand it is going to be.”

The new stand will add around 7,500 seats to the Racecourse's capacity, taking it beyond 18,000, while also providing significantly upgraded hospitality, dressing room and media facilities.

The development has been designed with further expansion in mind, with a future capacity of around 30,000 possible if Wrexham's growth continues.

Around 1,500 tonnes of steel are being used in the project, with a huge LED screen measuring almost seven metres tall and 18 metres wide also set to feature in the new stand.

Manager Phil Parkinson admitted the development is already impressive from inside the ground.

“It's very impressive,” he said. “We're pleased at the progress of that and it's going to be amazing when we'll be able to get supporters into it.”

A small number of fans could potentially be allowed into the stand before the end of the current season, although it is not expected to be fully operational until next season.

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The Kop is becoming a fitting symbol of how far Wrexham have come since their takeover in 2021, when the old stand had been closed for more than a decade.

Adding thousands of seats and new revenue-generating facilities should give the club a much stronger platform for its next stage of growth, while keeping the Racecourse at the heart of that journey.