“Very important for us in north Wales” that international football returns to Racecourse

A call has been made for international football to return to the Racecourse, alongside a challenge to UK Government to fund the ‘levelling up’ bid.

There are hopes locally of winning a £18.5m UK Government ‘levelling up’ bid for the high profile ‘Wrexham Gateway’ project. £25 million has already been committed by the Welsh Government for the project that could see plans to transform the Mold Road area into the town, a new 5,000+ seat stand built at the Kop end of Wrexham AFC’s Racecourse Ground. A four-star hotel, multi-storey car park and conferencing and hospitality facility have also been suggested as part of efforts to boost the infrastructure and economy.

The topic was again raised this week as Wrexham’s MS Lesley Griffiths was taking questions as part of her role as Trefnydd – the Minister who is responsible for organising government business in the Senedd on Tuesday.

Clwyd South MS Ken Skates asked, “Saturday’s National League football match at the Racecourse was a phenomenal event—you and I were both present at it, along with almost 9,000 spectators. Once again it demonstrated how the world’s oldest international football stadium can host dramatic and sensational events. Would the Government commit to pressing for the return of international matches to the Racecourse as soon as possible?”

“Also, just across from the Racecourse—indeed, part of the Racecourse—is included in the Wrexham gateway project, to which the Welsh Government has already committed a huge amount of money. Although we’ve been promised levelling up funding from the UK Government, this isn’t yet to materialise. Would you be able to make a statement on whether you believe the UK Government is in a position to fund this vitally important regeneration project, or is it just warm words that we’re hearing?”

Lesley Griffiths MS answered, “The match on Saturday was certainly absolutely extraordinary. I was chatting to Llyr Huws Gruffydd about it over lunch. I’m still smiling. And in my 50 years of attending the Racecourse, I’ve never seen anything quite like it.

“I think you make a really important point. As a child, that’s where I went to watch international matches, and, of course, with the success that the Wales football team have had over the past few years in particular, I think the players have made Cardiff City Stadium their fortress, if you like. I think last week—. Again, we were talking at lunchtime, saying we can’t imagine football crowds singing like that 20 years ago, and singing in Welsh. And I think that says a lot about the way people have really taken this Welsh national football team to their hearts. But I know the new chief executive at the Football Association of Wales is very keen to see games played at the Racecourse. I think it’s very important for us in north Wales that those games are played, even if they’re only friendly games, in the coming years. So I’m sure the Deputy Minister for Arts and Sport, and Chief Whip will certainly continue to press that with the Football Association of Wales.”

“You refer to the levelling up funding bid that has been submitted in relation to the Wrexham gateway.

“Unfortunately, we know, despite the UK Government’s promise we wouldn’t lose a penny less if we left the European Union, that’s not the case. And the funding that is available to the UK Government is much less than had we remained in the European Union. I think it’s really vital that the UK Government work with the Welsh Government, and other devolved Governments, around the levelling up fund—it’s got to be a genuine partnership if it’s going to work; we don’t want a fragmented funding landscape. So I think it’s really important that we do see that funding. I know the second bid is in, and I think it’s by June that that funding bid has to be in by.”