The Racecourse Ground, Wrexham

This account normally focuses on badges and kits – mostly because of their symbolism and what they can tell us about the history and nature of a town or city. But occasionally, bricks and mortar catch our attention too – for exactly the same reason.

In steps some North Wales mining town called Wrexham. You may have heard of them. I think there’s a TV show or something.

All the influx of Hollywood dollars has, happily, allowed for a transformation in the club’s fortunes – but also in the built infrastructure of the town and the club. Most notably, the club is now on course to turn the once-condemned Kop stand (which stood derelict and a visible blight on the landmark since 2007) into something remarkable.

The plans are pretty darn cool – developed by the same firm that built the new Tottenham Stadium (widely applauded as the best in the country).

So, let’s #GetTheGroundIn for the new Kop stand.

But before we go there – why the Kop? There’s also a Kop at Anfield – the home of Liverpool. So what on earth does it mean?

A "Kop" or "Spion Kop" is a term for a single-tier stand, typically behind the goal, known for its steep slope and large capacity. The name originates from the Battle of Spion Kop in the Second Boer War, where a hill in South Africa with a similar steepness was the site of fierce fighting. Many terraces in British football stadiums were named "Kop" in memory of the battle and the soldiers who fought there.

At first glance, the new stand looks like a sleek modern shape – something you’d see at the Tate. Full of clean lines, sharp angles – all very smart. But look a little closer and you’ll spot something far more grounded – far more Wrexham. The deep red brick is Ruabon brick, long used in homes, schools, and chapels across North Wales. It came from the town of Ruabon, only a ten-minute drive from Wrexham. The Ruabon Brick and Terracotta Company, established in the 1890s, was a key producer of Ruabon bricks at its factory near the town. Henry Dennis founded the Hafod Brickworks in 1878 to capitalise on the Etruria Marl (top-notch quality) clay found in the area, which was used to make the bricks. So popular were these bricks that the area earned the nickname "Terracottapolis". There could be little more North Wales than this.

That connection to place runs deeper still. The angles and shapes of the brickwork have been carefully modelled on the coal seams and slate layers that criss-cross the land beneath Wrexham. It’s a nod – unspoken, but clear enough – to the generations who grafted underground, powering the country from deep beneath the ground.

The lattice-style brickwork means you can see in and out – a gentle reminder that the club isn’t shutting itself away. It’s still a part of the town, and it wants the town to feel part of it.

Down at ground level, there’ll be a plaza – open, public, and home to a miner’s wheel. It’s there to honour the 266 men and boys who lost their lives in the Gresford Colliery Disaster of 1934. A stark number, even now. The wheel doesn’t just mark a tragedy; it anchors the club to a wider story, one written in soot and sweat. The bodies of those lost still remain, locked in their underground tombs, and even today, many in the town have grandparents or great-grandparents who lost their lives in this terrible industrial disaster. The wheel will reflect the beating heart and spirit of the town (it also appears on their kits).

Of course, this is still about football. The new stand isn’t just beautiful or symbolic – it’s practical too. It’s being built to meet UEFA Category 4 standards, which means the club could one day host international matches. Which is fitting, as it will restore the ground to its historic role as an international venue – it hosted Wales v Scotland in 1877.

There is also the small matter of the dragons. The nickname for the team. The creature on the Welsh flag. Two will stand proudly on the corner of the Kop – taken straight from the badge.

All in all, it’s more than a stand. It’s a story in stone and steel. About who Wrexham is. And where it’s going.