By Gareth James
Wrexham owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney won’t just be seeing a return to the Football League this season, but also a return of international football to their refurbished Racecourse Ground.
Rob Page’s Welsh side will return to what is now known as the STōK Cae Ras for the first time in more than four years when they face Gibraltar in a friendly on 11 October.
The north Wales venue boasts being the world’s oldest international stadium having hosted Wales first home game back in 1877, when they lost 2-0 to Scotland.
Big one for all those Wales fans from the north who make the trek down to Cardiff time after time. Now for the team to be half decent… https://t.co/HaLslArWRj
— Mark Jones (@Mark_Jones86) July 21, 2023
Ben Woodburn struck the winner in the last international at the venue when Wales beat Trinidad & Tobago in a friendly on 20 March, 2019 in front of a crowd of 10,326.
The ground is currently going through a major renovation ahead of Wrexham’s much heralded return to the Football League after a 14 year gap, with the redevelopment of the Kop terrace into a new 5,000-seater stand. The FAW is hoping the upgrade will allow them to take more games to the traditional home of Welsh football.
They are also bidding to host the 2026 UEFA U19 EURO finals. If successful, that would be the icing on the cake of the 150th anniversary celebrations of the FAW.
CYMRU RETURN TO THE RACECOURSE 🏟️
We’ll be heading to the spiritual home of Welsh football on October 11th when Rob Page’s take on Gibraltar at Y Cae Ras 🏴 pic.twitter.com/d0R6mDsEox
— Welsh Football Fans (@welshfootball_) July 21, 2023
Wales will play their international friendly against Gibraltar in Wrexham on October 11 🤝 pic.twitter.com/wZZt4itToR
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) July 21, 2023