Why Wrexham’s home form will be crucial again

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Football fans are often referred to as the 12th man, and there’s no denying those supporters at the Racecourse Ground provide Wrexham with a massive boost.

The largest stadium in North Wales now has a capacity of over 13,000 fans, with plans to expand it even further, most of whom are out in droves to support the hometown club.

For Phil Parkinson’s men, Fortress Cae Ras could once again play a bigger part than many may think in their success this season.

What is the history of the Racecourse Ground?

The Racecourse Ground is not only the biggest venue in North Wales but also the world’s oldest international football stadium.

It was home to the first-ever Welsh international football match in Wales in 1877, which saw Scotland defeat the Wales national team 2-0. Since 1864 it’s been home to Wrexham AFC and produced some memorable moments.

The Racecourse Ground was the site of their stunning FA Cup victory over Arsenal in 1992, while Jim Steel’s name became famous in 1984 when the Scotsman’s strike gave the Fourth Division side a 1-0 victory over FC Porto at the Cup Winners Cup. Many would argue it is still the spiritual home of the Welsh national team as well.

In more recent times, it was the venue where Wrexham began their now famous ascent up the football pyramid once again.

Along the way there have been some iconic moments, including two promotion pitch invasions and ‘that’ Ben Foster penalty save against Notts County, which all but secured the National League title.

What advantages does the Racecourse Ground give Wrexham?

If you believe the words of Wales great Sam Vokes, the atmosphere at the Racecourse Ground will be a big advantage for Wrexham in 2024-25. The Wycombe Wanderers striker was blown away by the venue and what he felt it did for the home team in their opening day defeat.

“I don’t want to say just the atmosphere will get them through because they’re a good team obviously, but I think that that can sometimes give you an extra 10 points during a season,” said Vokes.

Wrexham’s past few domestic campaigns would back up Vokes’ bold statement, as the Red Dragons were the best home side in League Two last season, averaging 2.35 points per game.

In their 2022-23 National League campaign they didn’t lose a single domestic encounter at the Racecourse Ground, leading the league with 67 home points.

It’ll take more than just the environment at the Racecourse Ground to propel Wrexham into another promotion.  Still, consistency at home could lay the foundations for another season of success.