Four goals. Three points. A boss under a bit less pressure. Wrexham turned on the style at the Racecourse on Saturday to beat Preston North End 4 to 1. The result lifts the Reds to 14 points from 11 games. The mood lifts with it. Add a world class tennis event starting in the city, a growing investment story across the region, and a bid for City of Culture 2029 that still has its best chapter to come. Plenty of good news to work through.
The Weekend at a Glance
| Story | Headline Number | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Wrexham 4 Preston 1 | Four scorers in one game | Racecourse, 17 Oct |
| Joe Worrall first goal | In over 2 years | 31st minute, header |
| New league position | 14th on 14 points | After 11 games |
| Lexus Wrexham Open begins | 1 of 33 global W100 cities | Wrexham, Sun 18 Oct |
| Free shop expansion | 30,000 items saved | City centre |
| Investment Zone backing | £160m, 6,000 jobs target | Wrexham and Flintshire |
Men: A Four Goal Response at the Racecourse
Phil Parkinson made four changes from the midweek defeat to West Brom. The move paid off. Joe Worrall nodded home a header in the 31st minute for his first goal in over two years. Alfie Devine levelled for Preston five minutes later. Then Ben Whiteman curled a right footed shot into the bottom corner from outside the box, bagging his first Wrexham goal against the club he used to captain. Sam Smith made it three in the 59th. Kieffer Moore added his third league goal in four games on 63 minutes. Four and one. First time Wrexham have scored four at home in the league in a long time. The Racecourse loved it.
Preston Goal Scorers
| Minute | Scorer | For | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 31′ | Joe Worrall | Wrexham | Header. First goal in more than two years. |
| 36′ | Alfie Devine | Preston | Right footed shot, bottom corner. |
| 42′ | Ben Whiteman | Wrexham | First goal for the club. Against his former side. |
| 59′ | Sam Smith | Wrexham | Rewarded a recall from the start. |
| 63′ | Kieffer Moore | Wrexham | Left footed finish, bottom right. Third in four games. |
Racecourse Key Stats
Wrexham were the better side on the ball and in front of goal. The expected goals line sums it up.
Expected Goals (xG)
Possession
Shots on Target
Championship Season at Eleven Games
Three wins. Five draws. Three defeats. 14 points. Mid table and climbing. Here is the shape of the season so far.
Results Breakdown
Wins (3)
Draws (5)
Losses (3)
Home vs Away Points
Home record now boosted by the Southampton and Preston wins.
Updated Form Guide
D
L
W
D
D
L
W
D
L
W
Up Next: Blackburn Away
Wrexham head to Ewood Park on Saturday 24 October for a 3pm kick off. Blackburn have been solid at home this season. Wrexham will travel with momentum. Sheffield United follow on Friday 30 October under the lights at Bramall Lane. Two big tests to close the month.
| Date | Opponent | Venue | Kick off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sat 24 Oct | Blackburn Rovers | Ewood Park (A) | 3pm |
| Fri 30 Oct | Sheffield United | Bramall Lane (A) | 8pm |
World Class Tennis Rolls into Town
The Lexus Wrexham Open began at the Wrexham Tennis and Padel Centre on Sunday 18 October. The tournament runs through to Sunday 25 October. Wrexham is one of just 33 cities worldwide hosting a World Tennis W100 event this year. The Welsh Government confirmed fresh funding for the tournament in 2026 and 2027 last week. The Mini Wrexham Open also gives local children a chance to play on the show courts.
Lexus Wrexham Open Fact File
| Dates | Sunday 18 to Sunday 25 October 2026 |
| Venue | Wrexham Tennis and Padel Centre |
| Tier | World Tennis Tour W100 |
| Global peer group | One of 33 cities worldwide hosting a W100 event |
| Local star | Megan Davies, Wrexham, in the main draw |
| Fringe event | Mini Wrexham Open for juniors on show courts |
Local Positive News Round Up
| Story | Detail |
|---|---|
| Free shop expands to city centre | A community shop where donated items are taken free has opened in the city centre. More than 30,000 items have been saved from waste so far. |
| Stiwt Theatre honours volunteer | The Stiwt in Rhos recognised a long serving volunteer for years of behind the scenes work. |
| Butchery conference announced | Wales’ butchery industry will gather in Wrexham for a landmark skills and growth event. |
| PR agency grows into new HQ | A local award winning PR firm has moved into a new base to support further growth. |
| Play Revolution backed for global growth | Wrexham based Play Revolution has received equity investment from the Investment Fund for Wales to expand overseas and grow its team. |
| Howden opens Wrexham office | Global broker Howden opened a new commercial office in Wrexham targeting North Wales manufacturers. Five brokers in the opening team. |
| City centre regen funding | Wrexham Council welcomed funding backing for a new city centre regeneration scheme. |
Investment Zone Snapshot
Wrexham and Flintshire Investment Zone keeps pulling the numbers. Here is the headline shape of what has been backed and what is expected.
The Investment Zone in Numbers
Core focus: advanced manufacturing. Main sites: Wrexham Industrial Estate (home to JCB and the new Kellogg’s cereal plant) and the land around Hawarden Airport (home to Airbus).
City of Culture 2029: Shortlist Watch
Still no shortlist on the ground. Mid October was the window the UK Government promised. Four names from the nine on the longlist are expected imminently. Wrexham is the only Welsh place in the running. The bid scored 365 out of a possible 370 from an independent cultural consultant before submission. A win would bring a £10 million national grant plus an estimated £200 million boost to the regional economy. Fingers crossed.
Shortlist Runners
| Location | Nation |
|---|---|
| Wrexham | Wales |
| Blackpool | England |
| Inverness and the Highlands | Scotland |
| Ipswich | England |
| Middlesbrough | England |
| Milton Keynes | England |
| Portsmouth | England |
| Sheffield | England |
| Swindon | England |
What’s On This Week
The Takeaway
Four goals at the Racecourse. Points on the board. A world class tennis event on the doorstep. A free shop lifting lives in the city centre. Fresh investment flowing in. A shortlist envelope waiting to be opened. Momentum is good. See you back here next week.
Sources and Further Reading
- Sky Sports: Wrexham 4 Preston 1 report
- ESPN: Game analysis
- Sky Sports: Match highlights video
- Fox Sports: Final score and timeline
- LTA: Welsh Government backs Lexus Wrexham Open
- Wrexham.com news feed
- Wrexham Council News
- Insurance Business: Howden opens Wrexham office
- Business News Wales: Play Revolution and Investment Fund for Wales
- Wrexham.com: Bid scored 365 out of 370
- Wrexham.com: Bid submission
- Wrexham AFC Official