Wrexham AFC reveals plans for new ‘Ruabon Red’ Kop stand with unique features

Wrexham AFC has lodged planning paperwork with Wrexham Council as the refreshed plans for the new ‘Ruabon red’ styled Kop have been revealed.

The club already have approved planning for a 5,500 capacity stand off Crispin Lane, so have now submitted a ‘Section 73’ application, which is technically considered as a new application, however allows variation or removal of a condition on an existing planning permission.

The new plans are seen by the club as essentially being inside the same mass and volume of the already approved stand, and therefore should sail through the local planning process, and crucially will not require the several month in depth application that would be required for an entirely fresh application – rather a more tidy two month process.

The capacity of the application is 5,500 again however significantly the new stand will be built to allow 2,000 extra seats to be added via a second tier. That however, would require separate planning approval to be added in, to take it to a 7,500 capacity stand.

The new plans see player changing rooms moved to the Kop, and a player tunnel also added to the new designs.

The black shed of a previous design has been binned and replaced with an ‘iconic’ Ruabon brick inspired design, with ‘transparent’ brickwork allowing views in and out of the stand.

If, or when approved, the work on the Kop will start at the end of the season, and be partially open for the Uefa European Under-19 Championship finals tournament in 2026. However the club have indicated that significant pitch work will also be taking place this summer to fully level, equip under soil heating, and install a hybrid stich pitch, so the large work on site for that should not be confused for Kop activity.

The club say the new stand includes the provision for safe standing, hospitality and accessible seating and will be a prominent focal point of the area visible from the city centre.

They add, “The seating bowl has been designed to create a home end for the Club’s fans that will reinforce the atmosphere within the STōK Cae Ras, with design of the roof optimised to amplify sound from the spectators towards the pitch.
The new Kop Stand has been future proofed with the current design capable of supporting an increase in capacity, subject to a separate planning application.

“The inclusion of player and officials’ facilities within the new Kop Stand allows fans to welcome the team onto the pitch through a player tunnel in the stand, providing another unique experience at the stadium.

“At the rear of the stand an external brick facade pays homage to the City’s “Terracottapolis” nickname, and the brick colour and textures are reminiscent of the historic Ruabon red brick from the local area.

“Built against a glass wall along key areas at the rear of the stand, the brick façade uses a contemporary interpretation of the ‘Flemish bond’ brickwork found throughout Wrexham, creating a signature brickwork pattern for the club that is rooted in the area. Two dragons from the club’s crest are prominently embossed into the brick façade at one corner of the stand.

“The pattern allows the texture to transition across the façade and includes a lattice effect that allows transparency through the brickwork into and out of the stand itself, reflecting the transparency that the Club aims to have with its community.

“The overall effect creates an authentic aesthetic grounded in the history and heritage of the city, while providing a modern, forward-looking identity to create a unique destination and landmark.

“The rear of the stand looks onto a public plaza that will act as a fan space on match day and a community space and public area throughout the year. Plans for the plaza include the positioning of the sister wheel of the Gresford Colliery wheel in remembrance of the miners who perished in the 1934 mining disaster.

“The new Kop Stand will be fully compliant with UEFA Category 4 stadium requirements and along with adjustment to the pitch, and other technical requirements, this will enable the STōK

Michael Williamson, Wrexham AFC Chief Executive Officer, said: “The new Kop Stand marks a special moment in the history of the STōK Cae Ras, allowing us to restore the traditional four-sided enclosure of the stadium, providing new and improved facilities and experiences for our fans and visitors to the stadium alike.

“The distinctive design of the new Kop Stand embodies the history and heritage of Wrexham – rooted in the local community creating a timeless, authentic piece of civic architecture that complements other landmarks. It will provide an iconic landmark standing at the gateway to the city giving it a true sense of place.

“The stand reflects the key role the football club can play in the rejuvenation and redevelopment of the city through its role in the Wrexham Gateway Project.

“The upgrading of facilities to meet UEFA Category 4 specifications are central to our wider vision of bringing international sport back to Wrexham and the benefit this will bring to the local community of hosting these events in North Wales.”
Declan Sharkey, Global Director and Senior Principal at Populous, added: “We have designed the new Kop Stand to be both authentic and unique in its approach to hosting Wrexham’s passionate fans. To do that we involved our team of audio consultants to maximise atmosphere, while the physical design of the façade at the back of the stand takes inspiration from the local brickwork and the city’s ‘Terracottapolis’ nickname, to link it to the generations of fans that have visited the ground in the past.

“The striking form and profile of the stand facade uses Ruabon-style red brick with dynamic textures and modern interpretation. The angled planes and carved form of the brick façade echo the strata of coal and slate seams that represent the industrial heritage of the local area, with the feeling that they have emerged organically from the ground they stand on. A contemporary approach to the brick detailing enables layers of transparency through the brickwork that dissolve the boundary between the stand and the public plaza outside. This allows visibility into and out of the stand, responding to the club’s role as an open and integral part of its local community.”

Councillor Mark Pritchard, Leader of Wrexham Council, said: “The development of the new Kop Stand is a key element of the wider Wrexham Gateway project, which will transform one of the main corridors into the city of Wrexham.

“I would like to thank the football club for working in true partnership on this. The incredible things happening at the club are continuing to propel Wrexham onto a global stage, and football is bringing communities together, boosting local pride and helping to attract visitors and investment. So it’s very exciting to see the club developing these proposals for the new Kop, and they will hopefully pave the way for more regular international football in Wrexham.

“We’re looking forward to seeing the Cymru women’s team take on Sweden at the STōK Cae Ras later this month, and hope everyone will get behind them on the night. If the Kop development leads to more international fixtures being hosted in Wrexham in the future, that will be hugely important for the city, and the benefits will be felt far beyond the football pitch.”

Professor Joe Yates, Vice-Chancellor of Wrexham University, said: “We are delighted to hear of the latest progress from our neighbours at the football club, who have today unveiled the plans for their new Kop Stand, which is extremely impressive.

“Not only is this an incredibly exciting development for our community, it is also momentous for North Wales which is now one step closer to bringing international sport back to Wrexham.

“We have a long-standing, special relationship with the club and are proud that we, as a university, were able to play a role in helping to keep the football club alive during some difficult times.

“The club is so important for Wrexham, and we will continue to be supportive neighbours and do all we can to enable the delivery of the ambitious new stadium adjacent to our halls of residence.

“Our support for the club remains unwavering and we will continue to collaborate and work together for the benefit of our community.”