Racecourse Stadium
I’ve only been the once and it was back in the eighties but the Racecourse is a classic looking football ground. And since one of my favourite ales from that era, Lowenbrau, used to be brewed in Wrexham, I’ve gone a little OTT, offering five inns to choose from.
Capacity: 10,500* (All seated)
Address: Mold Road, Wrexham, LL11 2AH
Telephone: 01978 891 864
Pitch Size: 111 x 74 yards
Pitch Type: Grass
Club Nickname: Red Dragons
Year Ground Opened: 1872**
Undersoil Heating: No
Home Fans
Mold Road Stand: Adults £20, Over 64’s/Under 21’s £15, Over 80’s/Under 18’s £8
Yale Stand: Adults £20, Over 64’s/Under 21’s £15, Over 80’s/Under 18’s £8
Glyndwr University Stand: Adults £16, Over 64’s/Under 21’s £13, Over 80’s/Under 18’s £7
Away Fans
Yale Stand: Adults £20, Over 64’s/Under 21’s £15, Over 80’s/Under 18’s £8
In addition the Club make available a number family tickets in the Mold Road and Yale Stands:
1 Adult + 1 Under 18 £23
1 Adult + 2 Under 18’s £26
1 Adult + 3 Under 18’s £29
2 Adults + 2 Under 18’s £46
1 Adult + 1 Under 11 £21
1 Adult + 2 Under 11’s £22
1 Adult + 3 Under 11’s £23
2 Adults + 2 Under 11’s £42
Record Attendance
34,445 v Manchester United, FA Cup, 4th Round, 26th January 1957.
Average Attendance
2016-2017: 3,892 (National League)
2015-2016: 4,616 (National League)
2014-2015: 3,264 (National League)
With four prominent floodlight pylons and a large home terrace, (which unfortunately is now closed), the stadium also has a great blend of the old and the new, with the Mold Road Stand, having a modern interesting design. To show how times have changed and the amount 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 be stood 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 terrace which is located at one end of the ground is partly covered (to the rear) and although no longer in use is still a great sight.
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. On one side is the Yale Stand. This stand was opened in 1972 and got its name from the 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. Opposite is the Mold Road Stand that was opened in 1999. This side of the ground has been unused for a number of 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.
Away fans are housed in the upper tier of the bkoncepts Stand, at one side of the pitch, towards the University End. The view of the playing action is generally okay from this area, as are the facilities. The atmosphere is normally not bad too, with away fans being able to really make themselves heard. The close proximity of the home sections also helps with the banter.
It is a pity though that the Kop Terrace is closed as it is judged to no longer safe by modern standards. Having such a large area empty in th ground makes the stadium look more deserted than what it is. This feeling is not helped by the Club normally also closing the lower tier of the bkoncepts Stand in front of the away fans and also the lower tier of the University End, to the right of the visitors section.
PUBS FOR AWAY FANS
At the back of the Yale Stand is the fair-sized Centenary Club which allows in away fans. It is free to enter, has Sky Sports and also offers food in the form of Pie & Peas, it is also handy for the away turnstiles. There is also one pub right on the corner of the ground at the Kop End called ‘The Turf’. It is a Marstons pub which does allow in away supporters, but only in small numbers. It can get extremely busy, so arrive early. Before the new Mold Road Stand was built, this pub used to have a balcony that overlooked the ground.
The favoured pub for away fans is the Plas Coch. It is about a five minute walk away from the stadium’. The pub is on the Plas Coch Retail Park opposite NEWI, where you can also park for the afternoon, at a cost of £2.
Paul Evans informs me; ‘About a 15 minute walk away on the High Street in the town centre (and not too far from Wrexham Central Railway Station) is the historic Golden Lion pub where the local beer from the Sandstone Brewery, Plassey Brewery and Wrexham Lager Brewery can be sampled.
On Hope Street is the Horse and Jockey which is Wrexham’s oldest surviving pub. Frequented by the social/friendly drinker and small groups of Wrexham fans, friendly conversation can always be found beneath the timbers of this historic inn in another fantastic old style traditional boozer. Both pubs serve good grub too!’
Also on the High Street is the Royal Oak which is listed in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide and serves beers from the Joules Brewery.
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From The North:
Take the A483 towards Wrexham (this is the Wrexham by-pass). Leave the A483 with 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 1-1.15pm) 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 a couple of private car parks in the area, charging in the region of £2, including NEWI on the Plas Coch Retail Park.
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