Stadium for the North: Why fans say they want Racecourse revamp

Wrexham AFC's Racecourse Ground, despite being the largest sports stadium in Wales north of the M4, is currently unable to host competitive international sport. Despite a long and illustrious history of hosting Wales international football matches, the Racecourse doesn't meet FIFA criteria.

The Stadium for the North campaign, which ends this Friday, has been set up to support Wrexham Council's bid to gain UK Government Levelling Up funding in order to renovate the Kop end of the ground and return top-class competitive sport to North Wales. The Racecourse Ground is the oldest international sports stadium in the world still in use.

Given its illustrious history, many Welsh sports fans would like to see it returned to its former glory and host Wales international football matches once again. So we asked supporters for their reasons why they want to see a new 5,500 Kop stand built and how it would benefit the north of the country.

Tracey Jones, from the South Wales Valleys, said: "I've signed and I'm from South Wales. I want to see everyone in Wales have the opportunity to see matches."

Matt Jones, from Wrexham, said: "Everyone in Wales should be able to watch the national team play. How do you expect to inspire a generation if watching Wales is unobtainable for so many?"

Twitter user @WelshUnderdog said: "The younger generations deserve the opportunity to watch international sport in North Wales so that they can be inspired to be the next Bale, Fishlock, Rees-Zammit or Joyce."

Wrexham AFC Fanzine Fearless in Devotion said: "To quote Alice Cooper in Wayne's World - if you build it they will come. 'They' meaning visitors to the town, more fans, a wealth of diverse musical acts, other spectator events. It would be a huge