The Turf Pub, Wrexham. Credit: the-turf.co.uk
Wrexham CEO Michael Williamson has outlined how The Turf could become part of the club’s long-term vision for the Racecourse Ground experience following the recent purchase of the famous pub.
The club’s ownership group agreed to acquire The Turf from Admiral Taverns on September 21, bringing one of Wrexham’s most recognisable landmarks under the same ownership umbrella as the football club.
At the time, Wrexham made clear that day-to-day operations would continue as normal, with Wayne Jones remaining in charge. Williamson has now shed more light on how the pub might eventually fit into the club’s broader plans for the Racecourse.
Michael Williamson outlines Wrexham’s plans for The Turf
Speaking to The Athletic, Williamson explained that owning The Turf gives Wrexham the opportunity to consider how the pub can become part of the wider matchday experience without losing what makes it distinctive.
“Long-term, it allows us to ask, ‘How can we incorporate the uniqueness of The Turf into the future planning of the Racecourse experience on a matchday?’”
Williamson said the thinking extends to non-matchdays too, before pointing towards Fulham’s Craven Cottage as an example of how modernisation and football heritage can exist alongside each other.
“The best example of this is at Fulham. They have the Cottage in the corner. It’s a lovely throwback that feels part of the stadium but also makes sure that history is not lost, while the rest is developed.”
Craven Cottage has undergone significant modernisation, including the Populous-designed Riverside Stand, while retaining the historic Cottage pavilion that gives the ground its name. Populous is also behind Wrexham’s new Kop.
Williamson believes The Turf could eventually fulfil a similar role at the Racecourse.
“I look at this as an example where you can build in something similar to Craven Cottage here with The Turf. Where we don’t change what it is but you embrace it into the experience.”
The Turf deal protects piece of Wrexham history
Wrexham announced the agreement to acquire The Turf earlier this month, with the move designed to protect the history and traditions associated with the pub.
The Turf’s relationship with Wrexham stretches back long before the arrival of Rob Mac and Ryan Reynolds. Sitting immediately alongside the Racecourse, it has been a familiar gathering point for supporters for generations before gaining an enormous international profile through Welcome to Wrexham.
There is no announced timetable to redevelop The Turf and no suggestion that its existing character is about to change. Jones continues to operate the pub, with the immediate message following the acquisition effectively being business as usual.
The Turf could become part of wider Racecourse plans
The longer-term possibilities come as the Racecourse itself undergoes its biggest transformation in years. Construction continues on the new Kop, which is expected to take the stadium towards an 18,000 capacity when fully operational.
Williamson says Wrexham intend to assess what needs to happen to the other stands once that stage has been reached before developing the framework and designs for the next phase of the stadium.
Any major development beyond the Kop would require years of planning, design and approvals, meaning Williamson’s idea for The Turf should be viewed as a long-term vision rather than an approved building project.
What is much clearer is the principle behind it. Wrexham want to modernise the Racecourse without sacrificing one of the landmarks that helps give the club’s historic home its identity, and Williamson now sees Craven Cottage as an example of how that balance could be achieved.
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