WREXHAM AFC KOP STAND CONSTRUCTION NEWS

Added: 2026-05-17

[00:00:32][music] >> Okay, so more from the cop site [music] and what a day it turned out to be. The place was absolutely buzzing from morning onwards with activity happening in almost every corner of the development. Concrete pours were underway, >> [music] >> steel crews were hard at it again.

[00:00:58]Drainage work continued around the lower sections and machinery [music] seemed to be constantly moving across the site all day long.

[00:01:08]It genuinely feels now like [music] multiple phases of the build are overlapping together rather than one single task being focused on at a time.

[00:01:16]What really stands out now is the scale of coordination involved. While one crew is working around the steel structure, others are preparing ground works nearby, concrete teams are moving into position [music] and drainage gangs are still threading services through sections that soon will not be accessible [music] once more of the stand rises.

[00:01:36]You can tell the pace has shifted up another level. The cop is no longer just isolated concrete cores and ground work zones. It is beginning to behave like a full stadium build with different trades all operating together across the same footprint.

[00:01:53]I am going to make this one a mix of music, narration and subtitles because there was simply too much happening on site today to fit everything into a full narration edit. Stay watching though, because during the video, I will also be showing you newly released developer plans linked to the Kop project, including fresh details that give us an even better idea of how parts of the finished development could eventually look.

[00:02:30]Here you get an overhead look inside one of the new stair cores [music] at the Kop site. On the left, you can see the precast concrete stair flights already installed. [music] Each section craned carefully into position before being secured permanently [music] into the structure.

[00:02:43]Meanwhile, over on the right, workers are tying together huge reinforcement grids ready for another concrete pour.

[00:02:49]Once that steel reinforcement is encased [music] in concrete, it will form the landings and floor slabs connecting the stair sections together.

[00:03:08]Did any of you spot my footage in Welcome to Wrexham last night? I can finally let the cat out of the bag now and confirm that I've been filming material for season 5. Some of the footage I've been capturing both from the air and down on the ground around the Kop development and wider club infrastructure will be appearing in the series. [music] It has been really hard keeping quiet about it over the past months while filming continued, but it is brilliant to finally be able to say something publicly. Knowing that parts of this incredible transformation at Wrexham AFC are now being documented, not just for the channel, but also for a global audience through Welcome to Wrexham, is something [music] I am genuinely proud of.

[00:03:46]Many thanks to the club and McLaren for allowing me to do this.

[00:04:41]>> [music] >> And here you can see the next phase [music] happening almost immediately afterwards. The crane has now lowered a massive concrete skip directly over the reinforcement area, allowing workers to [music] pour concrete into the freshly prepared slab section beside the new stair flights. This is one of the advantages of using a concrete bucket rather than a pump in tighter spaces like these cores, as it gives crews very accurate control over exactly where the concrete is [music] placed.

[00:05:29]The precast stairs themselves are already installed on the left side, while on the [music] right the reinforcement grid is slowly disappearing beneath fresh concrete.

[00:05:37]Once cured, this section [music] will become another permanent landing, connecting the stair structure together.

[00:05:45]It really highlights how carefully sequenced stadium construction is. One team installs the permanent concrete stairs, [music] another ties steel reinforcement around them, and then the crane moves in with the concrete pour to lock the next section permanently into place.

[00:06:02]>> [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] >> Here you get a close look at the steel erection process now taking place around the main concrete cores of the Kop [music] Stand. Suspended from the crane is a large horizontal steel beam, which is being carefully [music] guided into position between the vertical columns.

[00:07:48]The worker in the MEWP basket is helping line everything up while the beam [music] is slowly maneuvered into place with absolute precision.

[00:07:58]You can also clearly see the connection plates and bolt holes already prepared on both the beam and the [music] columns. Once perfectly aligned, the steel workers will temporarily bolt the section into place before final tightening and alignment takes place across [music] the wider frame.

[00:08:14]What is impressive now is just how quickly the skeleton of the stand is beginning to spread [music] outwards from the concrete cores. The cop is finally starting to reveal its true shape as steel rises level by level around the structure.

[00:08:38]>> [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] >> One thing that really stands out watching this phase of the build is the sheer level of skill involved from the steel crews and MEWP operators.

[00:09:38]From above, it almost looks effortless, but these workers are maneuvering heavy steel sections through incredibly tight spaces, while also coordinating movements with each other at height.

[00:09:55]The operators are constantly weaving the boom lifts in and around the steel frame, carefully positioning themselves exactly where they need to be without clipping columns, beams, or fellow workers nearby. At the same time, the steel itself is being guided into place with millimeter accuracy.

[00:10:11]>> [music] >> Every movement has to be controlled, steady, and coordinated between the crane operator, banksman, [music] and the workers up in the baskets.

[00:10:31]It is a real display of teamwork and experience because one wrong movement could easily damage freshly installed steel or create dangerous working conditions. Instead, what you are seeing here is a crew operating with huge confidence as the skeleton of the cops slowly grows around them level by level.

[00:11:23]>> [music] [music] >> Here you can see another important part of the cop development continuing alongside the steel and concrete work.

[00:13:13]The underground drainage and service installation. Those orange pipes are part of the drainage network being built [music] beneath and around the stand before large areas eventually become inaccessible once more >> [music] >> of the structure and concourses are completed. The worker in the middle is preparing and connecting sections of pipe together while excavations [music] nearby show where trenches are being dug out for runs beneath the future stadium footprint. You can also see several [music] bends and junction pieces laid out ready to be fitted depending on the direction and fall of the drainage line.

[00:13:48]Everything has to be carefully surveyed because these [music] systems rely on gravity flow, meaning the angle and height of each pipe section must be extremely accurate. The yellow tripod on the left is surveying equipment being used to check levels and positioning while the machine on the right is likely supporting site power or tools for the drainage crews. What often gets overlooked on stadium projects is how much hidden infrastructure goes in beneath the surface long before supporters ever walk through the turnstiles. Drainage, utilities, and service ducts are absolutely critical because once the concourses, [music] slabs, and seating are built over the top, accessing these areas becomes far more difficult.

[00:15:18]>> [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] >> Through the fields of silence. [music] A lot of secrets are hid.

[00:16:21]>> [music] >> Maybe you'll find out >> [music] >> through them.

[00:16:32]The others hide among >> [music] >> the straw.

[00:16:44]Look at all >> [music] >> the pieces.

[00:16:55]>> [music] >> And you'll see that they're all one.

[00:17:11]Through the fields >> [music] >> of joy.

[00:17:21]>> [music] >> There [music] are many ups and downs.

[00:17:34]>> [music] >> Lonely through the [music] I've been through it all.

[00:17:55]>> [music] >> Maybe [music] you'll find someone >> [music] >> the other side of the >> [music] >> storm.

[00:18:21]>> [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] >> I will [music] discuss these new plans in detail in the video later. Thanks so much for watching. Please subscribe and switch notifications on so you don't miss a thing. Have a great day.

[00:20:07]>> [music] [music]