The Turf pub has become a regular feature on the award-winning 'Welcome to Wrexham' docuseries. Its landlord, Wayne Jones, will continue to run the establishment as part of the purchase deal. This move is seen as a strategic step to protect the future of the club, as stated by a club statement announcing the acquisition from Admiral Taverns.
Wrexham AFC was founded at the then-named Turf Hotel in October 1864 and is the oldest football club in Wales. The Racecourse Ground, where the club plays its home matches, staged its first Wales fixture in March 1877 and is the world's oldest football stadium still hosting international matches. The acquisition of The Turf is a continuation of the strategy to protect the future of the club and its interests.
The acquisition will help preserve the historic pub by incorporating the club, the Racecourse Ground, and The Turf under a single ownership. This will allow for further investment into the fan experience on matchdays, including enhancements to the current fan zone and other fan-related activities in the area next to The Turf on the Mold Road. Eric Allyn, on behalf of minority investors the Allyn family, stated that the town, the community, and the football club have become a second home since their investment in Wrexham AFC through Red Dragon Ventures in 2024. By bringing The Turf into the group, they are securing the long-term future of the pub and preserving its history and that of the club.