Oldest international football ground-world
record set by
Wrexham Racecourse
[June
18] WREXHAM,UK--WREXHAM’S Racecourse ground is officially
the oldest soccer stadium in the world still hosting international
games.
Photo
by One Oak Studios Ltd.
(enlarge
photo)
The first international at the Racecourse was
held in 1877, with Wales losing 2-0 to Scotland.
A World Records adjudicator is now set to visit
the Racecourse to present a certificate to a representative
of both the FAW and Wrexham
FC at the forthcoming Wales U21 vs Romania U21 game
on August 20.
It is all thanks to faithful fan Glyn Davies who
researched the stadium’s claim and applied to get the record.
Yesterday dad-of two, 46-year-old Glyn, said:
“It is great news. “To be honest it is down to the hard work
of a lot of people in the last few years for which there may
not have been a stadium at all.”
Wrexham
FC spokesman Geraint Parry said: “We are delighted,
we have always accepted we may be the oldest surviving international
stadium but never thought about getting recognition.
“Credit to Glyn he decided to try and got the recognition.
“Sometimes you don’t know what you have got until you are
in danger of losing it as what has happened with the Racecourse
in recent years.”
Wrexham have played at the historic ground since
being formed in the local Turf Hotel pub in September 1872.
Redevelopment of the ground started in earnest after the war
when the Kop end had concrete terracing installed.
The latest addition to the ground was in 1999 with
a new stand on the Mold Road side of the ground.
The next oldest ground is Hampden Park, in Scotland,
which held its first international a full 27 years after the
Racecourse.
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