Oldest International Football Ground

A certificate well received and deserved during the under 21 game. But all the accolades is thanks to lifelong Wrexham FC fan Glyn Davies who actually made an effort to get the old soccer ground noticed to the world record   organizations. The stadium has a 200-year history as a sporting venue. WREXHAM’S Racecourse ground is officially the oldest soccer stadium in the world still hosting international games.   The first international at the Racecourse was held in 1877, with Wales losing 2-0 to Scotland.

Mr Davies of Wrexham FC  Collectors and History Society  said that  it was  a great news . The ground ahs  a huge history in store and there were another couple of clubs who were trying to lay claim to the title but the Racecourse beats them both by more than 20 years.

Davies said that it was a huge task. He had to first  prove that the venue was being used for internationals. Around that time there were not much matches scheduled in the ground and hence Davies had to write to the Football Association of Wales  to get their support in this regard. And with that  in hand he was able to get the approval from  the world record authorities. The Football Association Of Wales confirmed that Racecourse was still being used for international matches. It was held that the Racecourse was indeed the oldest international football ground.

The aptly-named Racecourse was initially known as a horse racing venue, and staged its first contest - the Town Purse - in 1807.At the time it offered a prize of 20 guineas, worth about £3,600 today. After about 50 years, the races were stopped amid concerns that they encouraged crowd trouble, including drunkenness.

In the 1860s, the venue began to be used for autumn sports, including donkey races and cycle races.

As well as horse racing, the Racecourse was also used by Wrexham Cricket Club, and it was the club's members who formed Wrexham Football Club in 1872 as a way of keeping active during the winter months. Research shows the football club was formed in the now famous Turf Hotel, which stands just outside the ground and where historians say players used to change for matches.

The first international football match was held five years later in 1877, when Wales lost 2-0 to Scotland.

The following year, however, Wrexham FC won the first ever Welsh cup.

Wrexham FC now has plans to form its own property development company and wants to develop land around the stadium, including a new stand at the Kop End of the ground.

The ground's new official status as a record holder has received recognition in the Welsh assembly chamber.

Wrexham AM Lesley Griffiths tabled a statement of opinion at the Senedd. Griffith stated that it was a wonderful achievement and applauded  the  excellent piece of detective work carried out by Davies in this matter.

The  oldest international football ground  which is more than a  century old was set by the Wrexham’s Racecourse at Wrexham, United kingdom on June 18, 2008.