STōK Cae Ras Kop Stand captivating refurbish

Image: Wrexham AFC

The English Football League (EFL) Championship team Wrexham A.F.C. has appointed McLaren Construction Midlands and North under a Pre-Construction Services Agreement (PCSA – it is used to appoint a design-and-build contractor to carry out services before entering into a formal building) for the redevelopment of the iconic Kop Stand at the world’s oldest international football stadium still in use – the STōK Cae Ras in Wrexham, Wales, UK.

‘MCLAREN’ stated that the appointment marks the start of the Wrexham A.F.C.’s long-term vision for the stadium while the redevelopment of the Kop Stand will not only be a physical transformation of the renowned Racecourse Ground but a cultural and symbolic landmark in the club’s historic journey.

Preston (UK)-based the English Football League (EFL) is a league of professional football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888 as the Football League it is the oldest football league in the world and was the top-level football league in England from its foundation until 1992 when the top 22 clubs split from it to form the Premier League, the top tier of the English football league system. The Football League was rebranded as the ‘English Football League’ (EFL) starting with the 2016-2017 seasons.

The Wrexham A.F.C. is a professional association football club based in Wrexham, Wales (UK). Formed in 1864, it is the oldest club in Wales and the third-oldest professional association football team in the world. The club competes in the EFL Championship, the second tier of the English football league system.

The 10,771-capacity Racecourse Ground – also known as the STōK Cae Ras – is a football stadium in Wrexham, Wales (UK). It is the home of the Wrexham Association Football Club and is the largest stadium in North Wales and the fifth-largest in Wales (UK).

The McLaren Construction Midlands and North is a Regional Division of the larger McLaren Construction Group (one of the UK’s most successful privately-owned businesses), a United Kingdom and United Arab Emirates (UAE)-based contractor focused on sectors like student accommodation, industrial, logistics, and data centers. This division serves projects within the Midlands and North of England with a strong presence in student accommodation in Cities like Manchester, Nottingham and Coventry and is expanding its pipeline for industrial, logistics and data center projects in the region.

‘MCLAREN’ further stated that the return of the Kop Stand will restore the ground to its full four-sided structure reinforcing the Wrexham AFC’s ambitions on and off the pitch. Under the PCSA the McLaren Construction will lead on developing the final designs, tendering the subcontractor packages and refining the construction timelines and delivery strategies for the works.

The full-build program is scheduled for completion during the 2026-2027 seasons.

Maintained Michael Williamson, head honcho, Wrexham A.F.C., “The appointment of McLaren under the PCSA is a pivotal moment for the club not only in delivering on a longstanding promise to our supporters but in unlocking the potential of the Racecourse Ground as a top-tier venue for domestic and international football. The new Kop Stand will be the heart of the reimagined stadium – increasing the capacity, enhancing the experience for the fans and anchoring our place in our home City and as part of the wider Gateway Partnership regeneration plans a major expansion and redevelopment of the Kop stand at the STōK Cae Ras to create a full, four-sided stadium compliant with the Union of European Football Association [UEFA – the governing body for association football in Europe] and standards for international matches.”

The new stand will ultimately increase the stadium capacity to over 18,000 delivering modern facilities for the club stakeholders and enable the club to achieve UEFA Category 4 (highest classification) compliance and host more international matches.

As part of the wider Wrexham Gateway Partnership which includes the Wrexham University, the Wrexham County Borough Council and the Welsh Government the Kop Stand redevelopment is the first major step in a series of transformational projects designed to enhance the City’s infrastructure and public realm.

Exulted Joel Casstles, Operations Director, McLaren Construction, “We’re incredibly proud to be part of a project with such historical, cultural and sporting significance. The Wrexham A.F.C. holds a special place in the heart of the community and we’re committed to delivering a high-quality scheme that supports the club’s ambitions, creates local employment opportunities and celebrates the legacy of this unique football ground.”

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