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Wrexham News – 19th-23rd October 2026

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Wrexham & North Wales Weekly

The week around the city, the county and the border

Week of Monday 20 to Sunday 26 October 2026 · Wrexham · Chester · wider North Wales

A 4 to 1 win set the tone on the pitch. Off it, the county has an album launch, a new 3G pitch, a children’s art competition and a drugs operation that pulled in nineteen arrests. Here is what matters this week, with a few numbers worth keeping.

4 to 1
Wrexham past Preston, 17 Oct

£1m+
Football pitch investment in Wrexham

19
Arrests in a Caia Park operation

80m
Length of the Longest Yarn at St Giles

On the pitch: Wrexham AFC

Phil Parkinson’s side answered a midweek setback with a thumping reply. Preston North End arrived at the Racecourse on Saturday and left beaten 4 to 1. Three days earlier West Bromwich Albion had edged a 2 to 1 win there, so the response mattered. Before both came a 1 to 1 draw at Derby, rescued late.

The Reds started October 14th in the Championship, sitting on two wins, four draws and two defeats from eight games. Draws have defined the start. The Preston result pushed them back up the table and within sight of the playoff places. Blackburn Rovers away, this Saturday, is next.

Date Match Venue Result
Sat 10 Oct Derby County v Wrexham Away D 1 to 1
Tue 13 Oct Wrexham v West Brom Home L 1 to 2
Sat 17 Oct Wrexham v Preston Home W 4 to 1
Sat 24 Oct Blackburn Rovers v Wrexham Away 3pm, next up
Fri 31 Oct Sheffield United v Wrexham Away 3pm

Season shape: a team of draws
Championship record, 11 games to 17 Oct 2026
11 games

Won 3
Drawn 5
Lost 3

Nearly half the league games so far have ended level. Turn one or two of those draws into wins and the playoff gap closes fast.

October goals, match by match
Scored against conceded, three league games

01234 1 1 1 2 4 1 Derby (A) West Brom (H) Preston (H)

Scored
Conceded

Around the county: council & community

  • A new 3G pitch, and a milestone. Cymru international Rhiannon Roberts cut the ribbon on a full size artificial pitch at Ysgol Bryn Alyn. It is the sixth pitch delivered through the same partnership, and it tips total Cymru Football Foundation investment in Wrexham past £1 million. A mural of Roberts and Robbie Savage marks the spot.
  • The Longest Yarn lands at St Giles. Those early lamp post poppies had a reason. An 80 metre knitted exhibition telling the story of the Second World War, across 80 handcrafted panels, opened at St Giles’ Church on 5 October and runs through the month.
  • A debut album, four local bands, one night. Wrexham indie pop act Baby Brave launched Sugar to the Tongue at The Rockin’ Chair, pressed on vinyl and three years in the making. Lead single Cherry Tomato reached the BBC Radio Wales A List. Copies are stocked locally at Revibed Records.
  • Design a mascot, win a spot in the library. Wrexham libraries have opened an art competition for children aged 5 to 12 to design a character for the 150 year old Dewey Decimal system. Entry forms come from any local library. It closes 31 October, winners land in November.
  • Wildlife worry at Stryt Las Park. The council is weighing a camera and new signage after reports of antisocial behaviour towards birds, including concern for an injured swan. All wild birds in Wales are protected by law.

On campus: Wrexham University

  • More than 200 at the careers day. Over 200 young people from across North Wales spent a day at the university learning about engineering, manufacturing, creative and digital work.
  • A first for Kick4Life. A footballer from Lesotho, Kabelo Ngatane, became the first student to join the university through the football and education initiative, with ties to Wrexham AFC’s ground.
  • Fresh investment, fresh facilities. A new Simulation and Immersive Learning Centre is complete, and Arts Council of Wales and Welsh Government funding will pay for a feasibility study into the future of the William Aston Hall.
  • New chancellor, new champions. Entrepreneur Rachel Clacher CBE has been appointed chancellor, succeeding Colin Jackson CBE. October being Menopause Awareness Month, the university is also expanding its Menopause Champions programme.

Safety & streets

  • Nineteen arrests in a drugs operation. More than 50 officers executed warrants in Caia Park and other parts of Wrexham on 28 September, with further warrants on 1 and 2 October. Nineteen people were arrested.
  • Report harm to wildlife. Alongside the Stryt Las concerns, North Wales Police ask that antisocial behaviour towards birds be reported on 101, or through the force website. Injured animals are a job for the RSPCA on 0300 123 8960, not for members of the public to handle.
  • Autumn fire sense. North Wales Fire and Rescue’s seasonal advice stays steady and worth repeating: never leave cooking unattended, test smoke alarms, and keep chip pans off the hob entirely.

Over the border & across the region

  • Chester gets a mural trail. Ten mini murals commissioned by Chester BID now dot the city centre, a small self guided hunt for anyone heading that way. Chester Zoo, meanwhile, runs a Halloween programme across October.
  • A visitor levy becomes law in Wales. The Welsh Government’s visitor levy has received Royal Assent, letting councils choose whether to charge a small overnight fee on stays. Nothing changes for visitors overnight, but the power now exists.
  • Rail still on the agenda. Campaigners continue to press for better train links for Wrexham, with more than 120 stakeholders having travelled to London to make the case.

Good to know, things worth acting on
  • Art competition closes 31 October. Children aged 5 to 12 can collect a form from any Wrexham library and hand it back in. One entry per child.
  • Free business conference, 6 November. The Elevate your Business in Wrexham conference returns to Bangor on Dee Racecourse. Attendance is free but places are limited and booking is essential, via the council’s Elevate page.
  • The Longest Yarn is on all month. St Giles’ Church, through October. Free to view, and 80 metres is worth the walk.
  • Council jobs refresh regularly. Roles across the council, from enforcement to teaching assistants, are listed at jobs.wrexham.gov.uk. The vice chair of the fostering panel is also open, with no social work background required.
  • Wrexham away at Blackburn, Saturday 24 October, 3pm. Anyone travelling should check ticketing before setting off.
  • Report wildlife harm: North Wales Police on 101; RSPCA on 0300 123 8960.

One bit of good news to end on

A mother and daughter graduated together this summer from the same mental health nursing degree at Wrexham University. Katie Stretton, 27, and her mum Caroline crossed the stage on the same day. A second act and a first career, starting in the same place.

Sources this week

  • Wrexham Council News, news.wrexham.gov.uk
  • Wrexham AFC results & fixtures, Sky Sports, Sports Illustrated, Vavel
  • Wrexham University News, wrexham.ac.uk/news
  • North Wales Police operation, reported via Wrexham Council News
  • North Wales Fire & Rescue, northwalesfire.gov.wales
  • Welsh Government & regional, gov.wales, wrexham.com
  • Chester, chester.com, Chester BID
Compiled for the week of 20 to 26 October 2026. Figures and fixtures accurate at the time of writing. Match results can change the league picture quickly.
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Wrexham and North Wales Round-Up: 13 to 16 October 2026

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A midweek defeat under the lights. A home game tomorrow against the team at the bottom. Fresh steel on the Kop. A City of Culture shortlist still due. Business confidence lifting across Wales. Plenty to work through this week. Let us get into it.

Wrexham city centre and STōK Cae Ras
Wrexham city centre with the Racecourse in the background. Photo credit: Wrexham.com.

The Week at a Glance

Story Headline Number Where
Wrexham 1 West Brom 2 Two goals in five minutes Racecourse, Tue 13 Oct
Kieffer Moore screamer 28 yards, top corner 64th minute
Current table position 17th, 11 points After 10 games
Welsh business confidence Eight month high Wales wide, 15 Oct
Pay as you go rail rollout 25 stations live Across North Wales
New university altitude lab Up to 5,000 metres Wrexham University

Men: WBA Nick It Late at the Racecourse

Phil Parkinson’s side came within touching distance of a second home win in a row on Tuesday night. Kieffer Moore struck a 28 yard shot into the top corner on 64 minutes. For 15 minutes it felt like the Racecourse was going to take all three points. Then Isaac Price volleyed home on 79. Aune Heggebø followed up on 84. 1 to 2. A frustrating one.

Kieffer Moore strikes from distance against West Brom
Moore’s long range strike beat Max O’Leary all ends up. Photo credit: Sky Sports Football.

Racecourse Key Stats

Wrexham Stat West Brom
1 Goals 2
0.38 Expected Goals (xG) 0.94
42% Possession 58%
4 Shots on target 3
317 Accurate passes 466
3 Corners won 7

Source: ESPN match centre. The xG told the story. West Brom edged the quality of the chances. Wrexham built one brilliant moment and briefly made it count.

Men: Preston at Home Tomorrow

Saturday brings a very winnable fixture. Preston North End sit bottom of the table. One win and eight losses from ten. The leakiest defence in the division. The Lilywhites have lost four of five away games this season. They go into this one on the back of a 4 to 0 defeat at Birmingham. Several national models have Wrexham as clear favourites. Nothing can be taken for granted. But a strong start could lift the Racecourse right back up.

Match at a Glance

Fixture Wrexham vs Preston North End
Date Saturday 17 October 2026
Kick off 3pm BST
Venue STōK Cae Ras
Likely absences (WXM) Max Cleworth, Ben Sheaf, Nathan Broadhead, Matty James doubtful
Preston suspension Stan Mills (one match ban)
H2H last three meetings Wrexham unbeaten (two wins and a draw)

Wrexham’s Championship Record So Far

Ten games played. Two wins. Five draws. Three defeats. A record that keeps the Reds hanging in. Here is the shape of the ten.

Points Earned by Match

Cardiff (A), 17 Aug
1 point (D)

Watford (H), 22 Aug
1 point (D)

Birmingham (H), 28 Aug
0

Millwall (A), 2 Sept
3 points (W)

Swansea (A), 5 Sept
1 point (D)

Burnley (H), 8 Sept
1 point (D)

West Ham (A), 11 Sept
0

Southampton (H), 19 Sept
3 points (W)

Derby (A), 10 Oct
1 point (D)

West Brom (H), 13 Oct
0

Total: 11 points from 10 games. 17th place going into Preston. Win tomorrow and the picture changes fast.

Kop Stand Keeps Climbing

The build does not pause. Last week Wrexham Council approved an extra 2,250 seats for the new Kop, lifting the planned capacity to 7,750. Fresh drone footage this week shows new roof lifts, cladding progress and painting work near The Turf corner. Weekend crews worked right through Saturday. CEO Michael Williamson has said the aim is still to have the stand fully operational for the start of the 2027/28 season.

Kop Stand build October 2026
The new Kop keeps taking shape. Photo credit: Football Ground Guide via Roberts and Daughter.

Kop Capacity, Then and Now

Original approval (March 2025)
5,500 seats

Interim plan
7,500 seats

New approved capacity (October 2026)
7,750 seats

A 41% capacity lift over the original plan without expanding the approved footprint. Overall Racecourse capacity target: around 18,000 once complete.

City of Culture 2029: Shortlist Still Awaited

Wrexham filed its full bid back in August. An independent cultural consultant scored it 365 out of 370. The UK Government said the shortlist would land in mid October. As of Friday morning the four names have not yet been announced. Wrexham is the only Welsh location on the longlist of nine, up against Blackpool, Inverness and the Highlands, Ipswich, Middlesbrough, Milton Keynes, Portsmouth, Sheffield and Swindon. The judges’ visits would follow in November or December with the winner named in early January 2027.

Local News Round Up

From Wrexham.com and the council news desk this week.

Story Detail
10 new jobs at Wrexham manufacturer Local firm expanding production as part of recent Investment Zone backing.
New altitude lab at Wrexham University New facility can simulate altitudes above 5,000 metres for sport science and medical research.
Pavarotti picture scoops national prize A Wrexham photographer picked up a national award for a Pavarotti image this week.
Johns’ Boys turn 10 Wrexham’s famous male voice choir marked its 10th anniversary with sold out gala concerts.
Star Wars show hits local schools A themed show has been touring Wrexham primary schools this week.
Cinemas and theatres heritage day Wrexham Library hosted a community call out on 14 Oct to collect memories and photos of the city’s old venues.
Lexus Open at Wrexham More than 100 business leaders attended a networking event ahead of the Wrexham Lexus Open tennis.
Social services report New Wrexham Council report shows agency staff use is falling while demand stays high.
Bowel cancer fundraiser A local resident is encouraging others to walk 60 miles across October after a diagnosis earlier this year.

North Wales Snapshot

Beyond the city borders.

Story Detail
Welsh business confidence Hit an eight month high this week, driven by new orders. Reported 15 October.
Heathrow backs Welsh steelmaking Landmark agreement signed to use Welsh steel in airport expansion work.
Pay as you go rail live at 25 stations Transport for Wales rolled out contactless at 25 North Wales stations.
New Sbardun growth scheme 24 month business growth programme launched this week for established Welsh companies.
152 new homes approved Anwyl begins work on the Haul Y Mynydd scheme. 54 of them affordable.
Local Growth Fund deadline Denbighshire and Flintshire Local Growth Fund applications close on 2 November 2026.

What’s On This Weekend

Sat 17 Oct
Wrexham vs Preston North End, 3pm, Racecourse Ground.

17 Oct onwards
Calan Gaeaf at Erddig until 1 November. Welsh folklore trail for half term.

Thu 22 Oct
Autumn Business EXPO 2026, Deeside Leisure Centre, Queensferry.

Fri 24 Oct
Wrexham travel to Blackburn Rovers, Ewood Park, 3pm.

Mid Oct
UK City of Culture 2029 shortlist expected any day.

The Takeaway

A sore Tuesday night. A big Saturday ahead. A Kop still rising. A city still waiting for the envelope on the biggest cultural call of the year. Welsh business confidence back on the up. New jobs in the city. A university building a lab fit for mountain research. Plenty for Wrexham to feel good about. Preston at 3pm. See you there.

Sources and Further Reading

Wrexham and North Wales News Round-Up: 26 September to 12 October 2026

On By DaveIn Football, Wrexham NewsLeave a comment

Another fortnight in the diary. A late Rathbone equaliser at Pride Park. A record equalling 8 to 1 away win for the women. Approval for even more seats in the new Kop. A City of Culture shortlist about to drop. And a Tuesday night under the lights against West Brom to come. Plenty to work through. Let us get into it.

The STōK Cae Ras ahead of a big fortnight. Photo credit: Wrexham AFC.

Two Weeks at a Glance

Two Weeks at a Glance

Story Headline Number Where
Derby 1 Wrexham 188th minute equaliserPride Park, 10 Oct
Swansea 1 Wrexham Women 8Two hat tricksGarden Village, 11 Oct
Kop Stand extra seats approved7,750 capacityRacecourse Ground
City of Culture bid score365 out of 370Wrecsam2029
Wrexham AFC turns162 years oldMarked on 4 Oct
Mariam Mahmood awardAFA Women’s PlayerAnnounced 1 Oct

Men: Rathbone Snatches a Point at Pride Park

Phil Parkinson’s side came back after the international break and took a point from Derby County on Saturday. Sam Szmodics put the home side ahead in the ninth minute with a smart finish from outside the box. Wrexham spent long spells chasing. Then with three minutes of regulation time to go, a Danny Imray long ball found Kieffer Moore, who nodded down for Ollie Rathbone. The number eight did the rest. 1 to 1. A point on the road is worth something.

Highlights via Sky Sports Football and Derby County FC.

Pride Park Key Stats

Derby Stat Wrexham
1 Goals 1
0.52 Expected Goals (xG) 1.30
45% Possession 55%
4 Shots on target 3
303 Accurate passes 377
1 Corners won 9

Source: ESPN match centre. The xG line tells the story — Wrexham built the better chances. The equaliser was deserved.

“A point away from home is never devalued.”

Phil Parkinson, Wrexham manager. Source: Wrexham AFC.

Men: West Brom Up Next Under Lights

Tuesday night football at the Racecourse. 7.45pm. West Brom in town. The Baggies sit ninth and ran into back to back defeats before the break. Wrexham sit 14th on 11 points. Both sides need the three. Sky Sports Plus has it live.

Match at a Glance

Fixture Wrexham vs West Brom
Date Tuesday 13 October 2026
Kick off 7.45pm BST
Venue STōK Cae Ras
Broadcast Sky Sports Plus
Likely absences (WXM) Max Cleworth, Liberato Cacace, George Thomason, Nathan Broadhead

Women: Garden Village Goal Rush

The headline act of the fortnight. Wrexham AFC Women travelled to Swansea on Sunday and stuck eight past the hosts. Katie Barker and Faye Knox both grabbed hat tricks. Chloe Chivers pulled one back for Swansea with a long range strike. Substitute Mikayla Wildgoose made it eight on 82 minutes. The result equals a club record league win and keeps the champions right in the title mix.

Wrexham AFC Women celebrating a goal
Katie Barker and Faye Knox celebrate during the 8 to 1 win at Garden Village. Photo credit: Lewis Mitchell FAW via Grassroots North Wales.

Swansea 1 Wrexham 8 Goal Scorers

Scorer Goals Note
Faye Knox 3 Opened the scoring on 21 minutes. Also just called up to the first ever Cymru Women’s Under 23 squad.
Katie Barker 3 Hat trick lifted her tally even higher. Already a league record holder.
Mikayla Wildgoose (sub) 1 Headed finish on 82 minutes to seal eight.
Other Wrexham scorer 1 Rounded out the eight.
Chloe Chivers (SWA) 1 A fine strike from 20 yards for the hosts.

Women’s Spotlight

Player Reason to Watch
Mariam Mahmood Collected the Women’s Player Award at the 2026 Asian Football Awards on 1 October. Pakistan international, 10 goals in 20 appearances for Wrexham.
Faye Knox Historic call up to the first ever Cymru Women’s Under 23 squad on 2 October.
Katie Barker Already a league record scorer. Keeps extending her own mark.

Kop Stand Keeps Climbing

Big fortnight at the Racecourse. On 6 October, Wrexham Council approved a further 2,250 seats for the new Kop Stand, taking its capacity to 7,750. On 10 October the same council gave the green light for a wider public realm around the stand, following the club’s land purchase from the Welsh Government. On 1, 8 and 11 October, drone footage captured steel lifts, glazing, cladding, concrete pours and painting work. The build does not stop at weekends.

Kop Stand under construction October 2026
Kop Stand build progress through early October. Photo credit: Wrexham Reds via Roberts and Daughter.

Kop Capacity Journey

Original approval (March 2025)
5,500 seats

Previous plan
7,500 seats

New approved capacity (October 2026)
7,750 seats

That is a 41% capacity lift over the original plan, without expanding the approved footprint. The club says CEO Michael Williamson will “take a breath” when the Racecourse reaches around 18,000 overall and then look at the other three stands.

Kop Timeline Last Two Weeks

1 Oct
Four horizontal orange beams removed. Service trench reaches 1.9 metres deep. Insulation work begins on the first floor.

6 Oct
Council approves extra 2,250 seats. Drone footage captures multiple roof lifts.

8 Oct
Rear glazing largely complete. Mesh style cladding being fitted to the exterior.

10 Oct
Approval for extended public realm around the Kop confirmed by Wrexham Council.

11 Oct
Weekend concrete pours and painting continue near The Turf corner.

City of Culture 2029: Shortlist Window Opens

The Wrecsam2029 bid was submitted in August. An independent cultural consultant scored it 365 out of 370 before it went to DCMS. Wrexham Council’s Executive Board gave unanimous backing on 22 September. The shortlist of around four places is expected this month. If Wrexham makes it, DCMS judges will visit the county in November or December. The winner is named in late December 2026 or early January 2027. The projected prize is a £10m national award plus £200m in forecast economic benefit and roughly 2 million visitor days across the year.

Bid Score vs the Benchmark

Wrecsam2029 bid score
365 / 370 (98.6%)

Scored by an independent cultural consultant before submission. The Trust has kept the detail of the bid confidential to protect its position.

What Happens Next

Window Milestone
Mid October 2026 UK Government reveals the shortlist of around four places.
November to December 2026 DCMS Expert Advisory Panel visits each shortlisted location.
December 2026 to Jan 2027 Winner announced.
2029 Winning city delivers a full year of culture programming.

Culture and Community Round Up

Plenty happening around the city.

Story Detail
Wrexham AFC turns 162 The club marked its 162nd birthday on 4 October. Still one of the oldest professional football clubs on the planet.
Football Museum of Wales opens its doors Fans have begun sharing favourite moments inside the Museum of Two Halves. A tribute to Joey Jones is already a popular stop.
New Welsh language music festival Announced on 23 September. A fresh cultural fixture for the city.
Top tennis returns to Wrexham Annabel Croft set for an evening with a Wrexham audience in October.
Rachel Clacher named University Chancellor Confirmed in the October Love Wrexham issue. A high profile civic appointment.
Theatr Clwyd autumn season Blockbuster programme launches, continuing the regional cultural lift.
Racecourse Ramble podcast Still in the running for two national podcast awards announced last month.

Business Diary

Dates to pencil in across the region.

Date Event Where
Mon 12 Oct North Wales Business Network Holywell Springfield Hotel & Health Club
Thu 22 Oct Autumn Business EXPO 2026 Deeside Leisure Centre, Queensferry
Fri 6 Nov Elevate your Business in Wrexham Conference Wrexham (free entry, deadline for exhibitor extras is Sun 18 Oct)

What to Watch This

Two Weeks in Wrexham and North Wales: A Round-Up (11 to 25 September 2026)

On By DaveIn Wrexham NewsLeave a comment

Two weeks. That is all it took for North Wales to book itself onto the national news agenda. A jet wing production line worth 150 million pounds. A new national football museum opening on Friday morning. Kop Stand steel rising higher every day. A late Kieffer Moore header. A hydrogen hub with a green light. If you have felt like the region is having a moment, you are reading it right.

STōK Cae Ras and Wrexham city centre
The STōK Cae Ras and Wrexham city centre. Photo credit: Wrexham AFC.

The Big Picture at a Glance

Here is the aggregate view of what has landed in the last fortnight. It reads like a good news bulletin.

Story Value Jobs Where
Airbus A321 line £150m 480 Broughton, Flintshire
Holyhead Hydrogen Hub £22m TBC Parc Cybi, Holyhead
Flintshire tourism boost £1m Sector support Flintshire
Wrexham packaging firm grant Investment Zone 10 Wrexham
Tŷ Pawb market plans £72k TBC Wrexham
Fortnight Total £173m+ 490+ Across North Wales

Airbus Bets Big on Broughton

The headline number. Airbus announced a £150m investment at its Broughton site on 21 September. The former A380 wing production line becomes an A321 line. Around 480 new jobs land at Broughton in 2026. Roughly 250 of those sit in the refurbished factory. Airbus already employs about 6,000 people at the site.

Airbus Broughton factory
Airbus Broughton, home of wings. Photo credit: Airbus.

Broughton by the Numbers

Investment £150m
New jobs in 2026 480 (about 250 in the new factory)
Existing workforce at Broughton 6,000
A320 family global order backlog Around 7,500 aircraft
Share of backlog that is A321 Roughly 75%
A320 family aircraft takeoff or landing frequency Every 2 seconds worldwide
Conversion complete By end of 2026

“Today’s announcement of 480 new jobs is great news for North Wales.”

Adam Price, Cabinet Minister for Enterprise, Connectivity and Energy. Source: Nation Cymru.

Football Museum of Wales Opens Today

Doors opened at 10am on Friday 25 September 2026. Free entry with pre booked tickets. The Grade II listed County Buildings have been reworked into what Wrexham Council calls a Museum of Two Halves. One half tells the story of the city and the county. The other half celebrates Wales as the birthplace of the Football Association of Wales. More than six million pounds of Welsh Government money sits behind the football side alone. Ticket booking opened at midday on Monday 14 September through wrexhammuseum.wales.

Football Museum of Wales interior
Inside the new Football Museum of Wales. Photo credit: Wrexham Council News.

Museum Visitor Info

Opening day Friday 25 September 2026, 10am
Location County Buildings, Wrexham city centre
Entry Free, pre booked timeslot required
Bookings via wrexhammuseum.wales
Public transport 200m to Wrexham bus station, 230m to Wrexham Central
Funding partners Welsh Government, National Lottery Heritage Fund, UK Government, Wolfson Foundation, V&A Purchase Grant Fund, Wrexham Council

“This is a fantastic milestone.”

Heledd Fychan, Cabinet Minister for Culture and Sport. Source: Wrexham Council News.

Kop Stand Rises Fast

The Racecourse looks different every week. Steel keeps going up. Concrete keeps going down. The last two weeks have brought three visible milestones. Fans walking past on match day can now see the shape of the finished stand.

Kop Stand Progress Timeline

9 Sept
Final section of the primary roof truss lifted into place shortly after 8am. Cranes visible from across the city.

16 Sept
The 125 tonne inverted ribbon truss installed. Wrexham AFC called it a landmark moment.

22 Sept
Galvanised steel shuttering being fitted on the first floor. Glazing framework taking shape on the fourth. Changes now visible on the pitch too.

Stadium Capacity Journey

Current capacity (during construction)
10,771

Post redevelopment target
Around 18,000

New Kop Stand capacity
7,500 seats

Contract awarded to McLaren Construction, valued at £69.29m. Target for full opening: start of the 2027/28 season.

Kop Stand construction at the Racecourse
Kop Stand construction progress. Photo credit: Wrexham Reds via Roberts and Daughter.

Wrexham AFC: Southampton Reset

A West Ham hangover met a Southampton response. The 6 nil loss at London Stadium on 11 September was as heavy as Wrexham have felt this season. Eight days later Kieffer Moore headed the Reds in front against the form side in the league. Keven Schlotterbeck’s own goal in the 89th minute made it a first home Championship win of the campaign. Ten points from eight games. 14th in the table. Next up, Derby County away on 10 October after the international break.

Two Match Contrast

Date Opponent Result Moment
11 Sept West Ham (A) L 0 to 6 Heaviest defeat of the Hollywood era.
19 Sept Southampton (H) W 2 to 1 First home Championship win. Late Schlotterbeck own goal from an Ekomié cross.

Green Light for the Holyhead Hydrogen Hub

Anglesey gets a low carbon signal. On 9 September the £22m Holyhead Hydrogen Hub secured Growth Deal backing. The outline business case has been approved. The project is led by Menter Môn with Hynamics, part of the EDF Group. A 5MW green hydrogen production site will go up at Parc Cybi, powered by renewable electricity through electrolysis. The plan is to give local businesses a cleaner fuel option and cut fossil fuel reliance in the region.

Hydrogen Hub Key Facts

Total project value £22m
Growth Deal share sought Around £3.8m
Site Parc Cybi, Holyhead
Production capacity 5MW green hydrogen electrolyser
Lead partner Menter Môn, with Hynamics (EDF Group)
Site area (with expansion) 24 acres

City of Culture 2029: Shortlist Window Approaching

Wrexham’s bid for UK City of Culture 2029 is heading into its next stretch. The county is the only Welsh location on the longlist of nine. Blackpool, Inverness and Highland, Ipswich, Middlesbrough, Milton Keynes, Portsmouth, Sheffield and Swindon complete the group. Each longlisted place gets £60,000 to develop a full bid. The shortlist of up to four is due in mid October 2026. Win the top prize and the region secures £10m plus a national spotlight for a full year.

2029 Bid Timeline

Summer 2026
Full application submitted to DCMS.

Mid Oct 2026
Shortlist of up to four locations announced.

Late 2026
Winner named.

2029
Winning city hosts a year long cultural programme.

Investment Zone Wins for Local Firms

Two Wrexham businesses have secured Investment Zone Programme support this month. A packaging manufacturer has funding for a new machine that will lift productivity by up to 40 per cent. The firm expects to grow annual production from 12 million units in 2025 to 30 million units within five years. Ten new jobs are part of the plan, alongside double the turnover. Derwen Joinery Ltd has also secured backing through the Wrexham and Flintshire Investment Zone Programme.

Business Support Impact
Packaging manufacturer Investment Zone grant 40% productivity uplift, 10 new jobs, target 30m units by 2030
Derwen Joinery Ltd Investment Zone support Advanced manufacturing upgrade and sustainable growth plans

Culture, Community and Small Wins

A few smaller stories worth flagging.

Story Detail
Racecourse Ramble podcast The independent Wrexham AFC podcast picked up two national award nominations, announced on 10 September.
Tŷ Pawb funding £72,000 secured to develop plans to transform part of the market hall.
Flintshire tourism boost £1 million package announced on 17 September for tourism businesses across the county.
£1bn grid investment plan Green Gen Cymru proposals could open manufacturing opportunities for Welsh firms across the wider power network build.

What to Watch Next

The next fortnight has plenty in the diary.

25 Sept
Football Museum of Wales opens to the public.

Early Oct
Kop Stand facade continues to take shape as glazing arrives.

10 Oct
Wrexham travel to Derby County at Pride Park.

Mid Oct
UK City of Culture 2029 shortlist decision expected.

End 2026
Airbus A321 line conversion complete at Broughton.

The Takeaway

Two weeks. £173 million or so in fresh investment. 490 plus jobs announced. A new national museum. A rising football stand. A late winner in front of a full Racecourse. That is a lot of good news in a short window. Long may it keep coming.

Sources and Further Reading

Wrexham vs Southampton match report [2026]

On By DaveIn FootballLeave a comment


Wrexham won. After a week that felt heavy, that word is worth a moment. Kieffer Moore’s header, a late own goal, and the Racecourse in full song sent Southampton home with nothing. It was the first Championship home win of the season. It came against the form side in the league. It could not have been better timed.

Highlights via Sky Sports Football on YouTube.

Match at a Glance

Result Wrexham 2 Southampton 1
Competition Sky Bet Championship, Round 8
Date Saturday 19 September 2026
Venue STōK Cae Ras, Wrexham
Wrexham Scorers Kieffer Moore 35′, Schlotterbeck 89′ (og)
Southampton Scorers James Ward Prowse 50′
Referee Gavin Ward
Bookings Sheaf 14′, Hyam 85′ / Wood 69′, Manning 90+1′, Downes 90+5′
Kieffer Moore celebrates his opening goal for Wrexham
Kieffer Moore rose above the Southampton back line to head Wrexham in front. Photo credit: Wrexham AFC

The First Half

Wrexham started sharp. Callum O’Hare had two attempts inside the opening ten minutes. Josh Windass linked play well between the lines. The home crowd, still buzzing from a full throated round of Parkinson chants, made the noise you would hope for at a game like this.

Southampton settled quickly. They kept the ball, moved it side to side, and forced Wrexham deep. Cyle Larin, the Championship top scorer coming in, had a big chance on the half hour. He got in behind and chipped Anthony Patterson. The ball landed on the roof of the net. Wrexham held their breath.

Then the game turned. O’Hare drove at the Southampton box and forced Daniel Peretz into a save. Wrexham won the corner. Ben Whiteman stood over it. He whipped it in. Kieffer Moore rose above the defence at the far post and thumped a header into the top corner. Racecourse noise, off the charts. 1 to 0.

The Second Half

Southampton came out with fresh legs. Samuel Edozie replaced Léo Scienza at the break. Five minutes in, they levelled. James Bree drove a cross from the right. Dom Hyam could not cut it out. Ward Prowse pounced on the loose ball. His first attempt was blocked. He smashed the rebound home from close range. 1 to 1.

Then came a moment the Racecourse will replay for years. Moore chased down a loose Saints pass just inside their half. He looked up. He struck it. The ball flew towards the empty net as Peretz sprinted back. The keeper got a fingertip on it. Goal kick given. Wrexham fumed. Fans could not believe how close it came.

The visitors kept pressing. Patterson palmed away a Ward Prowse free kick. Ryan Manning volleyed over from a Bree cross. On 80 minutes Windass rolled a low shot at Peretz. Finn Azaz forced Patterson into a save five minutes later. Both keepers were working hard.

Then the winner. Jacques Ekomié skinned his man on the left. He clipped a low cross into the six yard box. O’Hare steamed in. Keven Schlotterbeck slid to clear. The ball flicked off his boot and rolled over the line. Own goal. 2 to 1. The place went up.

Wrexham players celebrate the late winning goal against Southampton
Wrexham celebrate the 89th minute winner. Photo credit: Wrexham AFC

By the Numbers

This was a smash and hold. Southampton owned the ball. Wrexham owned the moments.

Possession

Wrexham (33%)
33%

Southampton (67%)
67%

Key Stats

Wrexham Stat Southampton
2 Goals 1
33% Possession 67%
Few Shots 19
1 Goals from set pieces 0
2 Yellow Cards 3
5 Changes from last league game 0

Key Moments Timeline

2′
O’Hare tests Peretz early with a low shot from inside the box.

30′
Larin chips Patterson from a clear break. The ball lands on the roof of the net.

GOAL 35′
Wrexham 1 Southampton 0. Whiteman corner, Moore header, top corner.

GOAL 50′
Wrexham 1 Southampton 1. Ward Prowse smashes home the rebound from close range.

55′
Moore strikes from inside his own half. Peretz gets a fingertip on it. Just wide.

58′
Patterson palms away a Ward Prowse free kick.

85′
Azaz has a deflected effort held by Patterson.

GOAL 89′
Wrexham 2 Southampton 1. Ekomié cross, O’Hare pressure, Schlotterbeck turns it into his own net.

Player Ratings

Numbers are subjective. But when a team wins a game they should have lost on paper, the individual efforts stack up. Here is how the Wrexham eleven and their subs graded out.

Player Position Rating Note
Anthony Patterson GK 8 Stayed calm under pressure. Kept his side level in the second half.
Zak Vyner RCB 8 Aggressive on the right. Dealt with crosses well.
Dominic Hyam (C) CB 6 Missed the cross for the Ward Prowse goal. Booked late.
Callum Doyle LCB 8 Commanding. Read the game well.
Issa Kaboré RWB 7 Steady. Whipped in an early delivery that flashed across goal.
Ben Whiteman CM 9 Assisted the opener with a perfect corner. Ran the midfield.
Ben Sheaf (sub 65′) CM 7 Disciplined debut. Booked early. Withdrawn on the hour.
Jacques Ekomié LWB 8 Carved out the winning goal with a low cross from the left.
Josh Windass (sub 86′) AM 7 Clever between the lines. Forced a Peretz save at 80.
Callum O’Hare AM 9 Drove Wrexham forward all game. Won the corner for goal one. Pressured the second in.
Kieffer Moore (sub 72′) ST 9 Match winner header. Nearly scored from his own half. A menace.
Substitutes
Matty James (on 65′) CM 6 Helped stay organised. Struggled at times to control the middle.
Sam Smith (on 72′) ST 6 Worked hard. Little service to feed on.
Lewis O’Brien (on 86′) CM 7 Fresh energy in the closing minutes. Kept the ball high.
Man of the Match
Kieffer Moore
A towering header for the opener. A near miss from his own half. Constant physical threat. The number nine delivered when the club needed him most.

Alternative Highlights

Alternative angle via Southampton FC official YouTube.

Voices After the Whistle

“The togetherness of the group, you could feel it.”

Phil Parkinson, Wrexham manager. Source: Denbighshire Free Press post match report.

“One of Wrexham’s standout performers.”

On Ben Whiteman. Source: Yahoo Sports player ratings.

“You only win when you’re spying.”

Home fans’ terrace chant. Source: Sky Sports match report.

“Great will to win until the very end.”

Wrexham AFC via X. Source: Canadian Soccer Daily.

Wrexham squad and fans celebrate at full time
Full time at the Racecourse. Photo credit: Wrexham AFC

Where This Leaves the Season

A win before the international break is a good win to have. Wrexham move up to 14th on ten points from eight games. The next Championship match is three weeks away. That is time to breathe, to recover the injured, and to refresh the mood.

Updated 2026/27 Wrexham Record

P W D L GF GA GD Pts Pos
8 2 4 2 9 12 3 10 14th

Updated Form Guide

D
L
W
D
D
L
W

Last seven league matches, oldest to newest.

What Comes Next

The international break lasts three weeks. Wrexham travel to Derby County at Pride Park on 10 October. Then a home double against Hull and Sheffield Wednesday. Southampton head to Ipswich next. That one carries baggage from the Spygate case still hanging over the club. For now though, this Saturday is one to enjoy. Wrexham came off the floor. They responded. That is the message going into the break.

Sources and Further Reading

Corsa Campervan Adventures – Hope Mountain

On By DaveIn Campervan, DaysOut, Photography, RandomLeave a comment

Thought I would trial the ‘campervan’ somewhere close, so Saturday night I slept on Hope Mountain, which is on the border of Wrexham & Flintshire in North Wales.

CorsaCampervan

The campervan is basically at the prototype-stage…several black-out-blinds cut out to the shape of the back windows, and ducktaped on, a USB charger for the cigarette-lighter and an army-issue sleeping bag.

I tried my folding Judo-mat as a sleeping platform, but it was too hard and too high, so I’ve replaced this with a shed-load of thick-blankets (thanks Aunty Vicky). I’ve order some velcro-stickers to add to the car interior and the black out blinds and a unisex urinal. I might take the passenger- front seat-out, as it was a right pain getting in and out.

I want to build (or buy) a hollow sleeping platform with pull out bits for cooking utensils etc There’s a few ideas here.

Anyway, here’s Hope Mountain Sunrise:

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Hope Mountain

I didn’t get bummed (chance would be a fine thing) or woken up by Police or wild animals (as predicted by friends), but I was a bit tired.

That sunrise was one of the best things I’ve ever seen, better than the one I saw in Death Valley or the rip-off skywalk thing in the Grand Canyon.  Amazingly peaceful too. So definitely worth losing some sleep over.

 

Halkyn Mountain

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2 nights later I slept on Halkyn Mountain, it was shit. I think it’s all about the sunrises really, so it’s definitely worth checking the weather forecast. Also I probably chose a bit of a crap spot

 

 

Moel Famau, Mold, North Wales – Car Park PostCode

On By DaveIn DaysOut, PhotographyLeave a comment

Follow the sign for Moel Famau and carry on past Loggerheads to your right.

Don’t do what I did and put “Moel Famau” into Google Maps, it took my right off the main road, past the entrance to Loggerheads and round in circles for about an hour around the mountain/hill/whatever it is.

The postcode for Moel Famau Car Park is CH7 5SH

If you put in “Coed Moel Famau NRW car park” to Google Maps, you’ll get a direct route/accurate route to the first car park. The second car park is about 2 minutes down the road, on the same side – if you come to the first car park and it is in your right, the second car park is on the right too (there’s a smaller one across the road anyway!)

Some pics from our camp on Friday.

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It was minus 5 degrees C

Moel Famau

will update more pics when I can work out how to embed the Instagram images!

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Moel Famau Post Code

– This is a bit of a mystery, even on Google maps there isn’t one shown, hopefully a SatNav will list it as a local attraction/landmark though. The postcode – CH7 5SG should bring you by Loggerheads, turn right after that down  Bwlch Pen barras road

wild camping snowdon

An Overview of North Wales – Part 1

On By DaveIn DaysOut, Holidays, Photography1 Comment

North Wales has always been a go-to holiday destination for many in the UK. It has traditionally been regarded as a great family destination for holidays and days out to the beach.

The regions’ reputation was greatly enhanced, when Lonely Planet declared that the region was one of the top regions in the world to visit – according to their Best in Travel list for 2017, ahead of areas including South Australia and The Tuamotus in French Polynesia and the only region in the UK to be listed.

Modern Attractions & Activities in North Wales

The region’s beautiful landscapes, mountains, waterfalls and islands provide endless placeless to explore and enjoy. In addition, recent investment in the area, with Zip World and Surf Snowdonia, make it an amazing place to visit for anyone who enjoys adrenaline-sports and activities.

 

Often described as the best outdoor playground in the UK, North Wales has an embarrassing number of tracks and centres for mountain biking and it’s mountainous landscapes are perfect for hiking, climbing and bouldering. Now the addition of modern facilities, such as Zip World’s 3 attractions – Velocity; Bounce Below and Zip World Fforest.
Surf Snowdonia is another recent attraction to the region’s impressive range of tourist attractions. In 2016 an addition £1m was reportedly invested in new facilities including and obstacle course and human catapult.

Snowdonia National Park

Mount Snowdon

Despite the modern investment in the area, the jewel in the proverbial crown of the region is still Mount Snowdon. Designated as a national nature reserve, it provides a number routes to the summit, some relatively easy, some terrifying! The Llanberis Path still requires a decent level of fitness to complete, but is the easiest ascent to the top of the mountain, whilst the Crib Goch route is more of a knife-edge than a path. Only attempted by seasoned walkers and climbers, it is dangerous when attempted without proper equipment or in less than perfect weather conditions.

Mount Snowdon is of course, only one of many attractions set within the National Park. The park itself comprises areas such as Conwy, Anglesey, The Carneddau and the Glyderau Heartland.

Snowdon is great for a hike, with the dog

snowdon with a dog

and even camping – although you’re not officially allowed to camp there – and if you do, make sure to take all your rubbish with you – please!

wild camping snowdon

snowdonnight
Photo Credit – Kris Williams – Wild Camping Group

 

Conwy

Conwy, is regarded as the gateway to Snowdonia and boasts an impressive and well preserved thirteenth-century castle and walls. It’s a wonderful place to visit for history buffs in particular, but has plenty to see and do, including an excellent beach and residential caravan park with an award winning restaurant – Aberconwy.

conwyvalley
Llyn Crafnant, Conwy Valley – Image Source

Plas Mawr is the “Great Hall”, which was built in the 16th Century and is described as the finest and most well preserved town house of the Elizabethan era to be found anywhere in the UK. Just as impressive;, are the reviews on tripadvisor, which have earned the attraction the elusive Certificate of Excellence.

plasmawr
Image source

 

Anglesey

The Isle of Anglesey is surrounded by dozens of spectacular beaches. A perfect destination for families, and adored by dogs (and their owners), there are many things to do on a visit to the isle. Regarded by many as one of the most beautiful beaches in the UK, Newborough Beach provides stunning views of the mountains of Snowdonia, you can walk the dog, go for a stroll or following one of the cycling or running routes in the area.
Other famous attractions of Anglesey include Plas Cadnant Hidden Gardens and the South Stack Cliffs RSPB Reserve. There are dozens of other attractions, including the engineering marvels that are the bridges leading across to the isle. It is a favourite destination for sea fishermen, golfers, ramblers and dog-lovers. The Anglesey Coastal Path is a 124 mile footpath which, as you would imagine, follows the coastline of the isle (except for the bits by the Plas Newydd Estate and the estuary of the Afon Alaw.

Menai Bridge anglesey
Menai Bridge – Image Source

Also worth a visit on the island – is Barclodiad y Gawres, which is a Neolithic (very old) burial chamber located near the south coast of the island. It can be found in the village of Rhosneigr

If you like an ancient relic, then Bryn Celli Ddu is also worth visiting.

anglesey2Image Source

Beaumaris is also a great place to visit on the island. The name means ‘Beautiful Marsh’ in Norman-French. The castle was built at the end of the 13th century by Edward the first.
North Wales is dotted with hidden treasures that are not particularly well publicised. If you love history then be sure to visit St Winefride’s Well in Holywell, Flintshire – a site visited by pilgrims since the 7th Century.
There are dozens of other places to visit in Anglesey (please don’t just visit Benllech like the rest of the Range Rover yuppies with iPad kids). Llynnon Mill for example, an 18th century mill, Pant-y-saer – another chambered tomb, and Penmon Point to name just a few!

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