There’ll be plenty of new experiences for Wrexham in the 2025/26 campaign, and the Racecourse Ground is being adjusted in some pretty major ways ahead of the new season.
Wrexham play in the second tier for the first time in 43 years next term. It will be a fascinating challenge for the Red Dragons, but one the whole club appears to be relishing.
Phil Parkinson is now busy assembling his squad with the transfer window open (briefly), with players potentially departing, and plenty more sure to arrive through the summer.
But, while he tinkers with his playing staff, work is underway on transforming the Racecourse Ground for the new campaign.
Changes to Racecourse Ground approved by Phil Parkinson
A new pitch is being laid at the Racecourse as we speak, to get the venue ready for Championship football in 2025/26.
Reports claim more than £1 million has been spent on renovating the playing surface, with undersoil heating and new irrigation and drainage systems being implemented.
But, perhaps the biggest change of all is the fact that the team dugouts are being moved to the opposite side of the stadium.
Parkinson, his Wrexham coaching staff, and the substitutes have always been seated (though Parkinson actually does very little sitting) in front of the Wrexham Lager Stand, but the latest update will see them housed in the first few rows of the Macron Stand from next season.
Discussing the changes, Parkinson said: “It is something different and I am cool about it. I can get to know the fans on that side a bit more now.”
We’re sure the Wrexham fans will love being closer to their heroes, too.
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Racecourse Ground atmosphere will be key for Wrexham next season
How many times over the last few years have we seen the Wrexham crowd become that fabled 12th man for the team and carry them through tense moments to deliver the necessary results?
Wrexham will now be hoping that, as a collective, they can do the same again in the second tier. Indeed, in many ways, that raucous crowd at the Racecourse could well make all the difference for the Red Dragons.
Depending on what the ultimate target is for Wrexham next season, they’ll need every point they can get, and there’s no denying that the crowd can help change a tight game if they get behind the team.
With all the changes proposed — Wrexham want the stadium to match the best in Europe eventually — the simple fact of the matter is that the club needs more fans in the ground to make it all worthwhile and drive the team forward.
An average attendance in League One of just over 12,000 is not bad at all (it was the fifth highest in the division, actually), but that is a far cry from what is needed in the Premier League, if and when Wrexham get there.