Some pictures of Wrexham.

Wrexham Miners Project

At the Wrexham Miners Project AGM it was announced that building was about to start on the Superintendent’s House. Our Patron Humphrey Ker delivered the news in a digger.

And Finally.

The Royston Club played in front of thousands at Neighbourhood Weekender and continue their rise to stardom.

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I don't need to write many words this week. The pictures paint a thousand words. But, to be honest, after listening to John's heartbreaking stories of how he carries his son in his heart and now lives on for suicide prevention, we should use a thousand words . I say heartbreaking, but its also inspiring that this man can channel the hurt that I catch between the smiles, into such a campaign. So look at the pictures, and then follow John Bell on all the socials as well as Walking4hope.

I first met John when his walk from Mansfield Town to Wrexham was noticed by Ryan Reynolds. That's when Dadpool was invented. I caught up with them on Marford hill. I took a shot of John resting near a bus stop. I retook the very same Photo this friday.

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So to all the messages on Facebook asking why they'd seen a man carrying a bathtub with lots of rubber ducks on, you now know. And each duck, and names on the flag he displays, represents a life lost to suicide. We should talk more about it, because we all know, talking really does help everyone.

011 week on week

This week.

Wrexham Football. Wrexham music. Wrexham life.

This is Wrexham, week on week.

From record shops to big stages — a Wrexham music story

I stand on the balcony of the Victoria Warehouse, looking down at thousands of hot, sweaty music fans. They’ve just witnessed a magical show by one of Wrexham’s greatest exports, The Royston Club.

I sacrificed the last night at Focus Wales and I’ve no regrets. The lads have smashed it, and I’m not alone in thinking this. Right now, they’re the benchmark.

Earlier that day, I’m standing outside a record shop in town with Roscoe, a local band who are playing the main stage at one of the country’s best showcase festivals later in the afternoon.

They, and some other local bands, have been asked along to ReVibed Records to play an acoustic set.

As we listen to The Cherophobes doing their stuff, we discuss Focus Wales. It’s become the highlight of many people’s musical year. I’ve covered the last couple as media, but this time I’ve hit the big time and am now an official photographer.

The Cherophobes are on the musical climb to the summit and have just left base camp. They’re not at Focus, but this is like a fringe event. Festival-goers looking for their early live music are popping in and taking note of their name.

It’s what you have to do.

Roscoe have already played a set — late last night.

They smashed it, as they do, and a few Roscoe ‘virgins’ ask me about the band. What can I say? Four college friends coming together to form a band — not unique — but they’ve all now moved to Leeds to study and are loving the music scene up there.

And there’s a link — the same stage, the same journey.

Roscoe are playing the very same stage that The Royston Club once played to in front of about 100 people on a Saturday afternoon. The crowd was small because there was a football match on at the same time.

I explain this to Roscoe, but I needn’t have worried.

The tent is well attended for their big stage experience, and the lads play out of their skin. You can see exactly why people are starting to talk about them.

I shoot some shots from the pit, and then video them.

I’ve unofficially promoted these lads, and I feel proud that others can now see what I can see and hear. People come up to me and ask about Roscoe. They’ve started their journey.

As the gig finishes, I start my journey to Manchester — not before grabbing the playlist.

I’m like a fanboy.

Car parked, and the usual ticket chaos (I really should download them prior to travelling 🤣).

I’m aghast at the size of the queue.

We get in and make a decision to avoid the bumps and bruises of the lively crowd and head upstairs — and I’m so grateful.

The Royston Club can do nothing wrong.

I even make the bold statement that they’re too big to play anywhere in Wrexham — which, of course, was disproven two days later when they announced a hometown gig.

And the night is topped off when they play two of my favourite songs.

My day is complete.

So it doesn’t matter where you are on your journey to the big stages.

Put the effort in, and people will reward you.

Wrexham and the surrounding areas are producing some seriously good bands — and people are starting to notice.

This isn’t luck anymore.

It’s a scene.

This is Wrexham, week on week.

The football club, the music scene, the people and the places that make the town what it is..

This week.

Wrexham Football. Wrexham music. Wrexham life.

This is Wrexham, week on week.

Saturday 2nd May 2026

We all know that feeling. You wake up exhausted from the day before. You feel like you’ve got a hangover, but you haven’t touched a drop. I dread to think how the drinkers are feeling. I’ve been on an emotional roller coaster, and now the ride’s finished I can look back with pride, with happiness, with friends, on another brilliant day in Wrexham.

Everyone was up for today. Wrexham AFC’s last league match of the season. We know what we have to do — just get a better result than Hull, while watching out for Derby. Anyway, I’ll explain later.

It was the Wrexham game and also a massive gig in town featuring some of my favourite bands. And I’m going to capture it all on camera and video. I double-check my equipment. I’m out of the house for a long time. Batteries charged and backed up, it’s before 9am and I’m off.

The Wrexham Miners Project was very busy for such an early time. Some games this season we’ve seen a drop-off in numbers, especially for 3pm games. This is us missing the fourth wall. Season ticket holders have a routine and need to get to the Turf and other pubs early to get in. A 12:30 kick-off means breakfast to prepare your body for the day. We prepare lots of bodies.

I grab a coffee and begin capturing images. I hit the Turf area as they queue up. I’m snapping away and notice a smallish man walking towards me. It’s only the legendary Brian Flynn. I snap him, as you do, and he comments about the fans waiting for Wayne to undo the bolt. He’s talking at the Maesgwyn this morning, so I might pop over to see him later, but first I have other things to capture.

I message some mutual photographers to synchronise plans. We’ve heard of a fan walk up to the ground, so we’ll meet there. Photographers love working together. We are competitive but supportive.

I decide to shoot the players arriving. Now this practice is very score-dependent. If you photograph a player arriving at the ground who scores the winner — magic, your photograph will fly. If the team loses, you just seem to garner negative comments.

I decide to try a new viewpoint and take shots facing the crowd rather than from behind. I get some great shots, but I don’t wait for all the players.

Some Boro fans were noisy and, like a lot of last away days, were all in fancy dress. I walk around to Maesgwyn, but it’s still quiet, so wander back to the Turf.

There’s lots of people mingling around the Wrexham Lager Club. This is where the start of the march will be. The three other photographers with us mingle and shoot. We hope for some pyro — it looks great in photos.

The march starts, we get pyro, we shoot, we are happy.

It’s now I change into a football fan. I leave my camera in the Wrexham Miners and I get ready for the game.

You’ve most probably read all the comments about the game. Wrexham were a goal from the play-offs. It’s close, but no cigar. Everyone should be proud. I am proud. Hull won, Wrexham drew, no play offs, but the highest ever finishing position. A proud moment indeed.

I am also back into media mode. I shoot the Wrexham fans walking into town. It won’t be a party, but it’s not despair.

As I walk with the subdued fans, I hear music. I look down the street and see my antidote to any mood dip. I see the Dynamic Signing Sensations choir performing. I’ve recorded these superstars several times, including a wedding video for Kaylem’s mum.

Kaylem sees me and, mid-performance, gives me a thumbs up. My mood lifts. My heart repaired. The football result is forgotten. The Signing Sensations have saved me.

I shoot a few more choirs performing at the Singing Streets event, but I’ve now got to become a music fan.

There’s a massive gig for Nightingale House on Llwyn Isaf and The Snuts are playing, along with one of my favourites, Cherryholt. I can’t take my camera in, unfortunately, so the Saith Seren pub gratefully allow me to store it there.

I get in the venue just in time for Cherryholt (I apologise to local bands Jonny Ash and the Scene). I’m off to Manchester later in the month to see these lads on a sell-out tour, but due to them being on so early, I’m able to get up close.

They smash it. These lads have a big future.

I spend the evening organising Wrexfest with Brendan whilst listening to The Rooks, Sleeping Together and Family Battenberg. All great sets.

Then it’s on to the main event. I love The Snuts, and it seems lots of other Wrexhamites did. It was a great gig.

There’s only one way to finish off the night. And that’s a bit of gig photography with my mates playing in the Saith Seren. The Sidekicks are 3/4 of The Declan Swans. I love these lads and they reward me with some great shots.

What a day. Laughs. Sadness. Lots of smiles, lots of singing and lots of love.

I walk home knackered but happy, even though the football was disappointing.

This is Wrexham, week on week.

The football club, the music scene, the people and the places that make the town what it is..

10 week on week

This week.

The Wrexham 10k

This is Wrexham, week on week.

Wrexham 10k.

I'm a man of principles, which sometimes covers the fact that I'm careful with money. When Coventry announced that tickets were £45 I shouted “NO”. I refused to buy a ticket at that price. Even with Wrexham Football Club trolling me by offering free transport, it wouldn't convince me to buy a ticket. “No”. I also had access to a ticket for the FA Cup semi-final, but I vowed never to go to Wembley again, as I've never enjoyed myself at a football match there, although if Wrexham get to the playoff final I might have to rethink. A man of principles does have limits.

So no football for me, so I needed something else to fill my time. I hear the Wrexham 10k is on, so I might pop along with my camera for a look. And it turned out to be an uplifting morning. I turned up but didn't think about asking about a media pass, and saw 2 photographers in media bibs. I've realised that the best way of getting access to better shots is finding the official photographer and befriending them. And as long as you don't get in the way of him, you'll be fine. And then Micky Thomas turned up.

I went to say Hi to him and was honoured for him to buy me a coffee. He was interviewed before the race that he and the mayoress was starting. I wandered around and tried to get some warming up shots. As the time ticked up to nine, the starting time, I set up my 360° camera for the video, and got a position for the start. We are ready. 9am on the dot and the gun was fired. And we're off.

Thankfully I'd had the coffee off Micky because as soon as the race started there were queues in all the shops as family and friends waited for the finish. And the good thing with it being 10k it isn't long until the first runners are back with us. I took some great pictures.

These athletes were impressive but this wasn't the thing that impressed me most. It was the fun runners. The first timers. The smiles on their faces as they crossed the line. I happened to capture some lovely sights. I did a video of a dad stopping to put his son on his shoulders for the last 100 metres. The dad sees it online and I gladly sent him a copy.

I then take some shots of finishers showing off their medals and wait for the last few runners. I'm impressed by the encouragement of others. The camaraderie. The way others retrace the route to shout the runners home. I feel the emotion as runners, beaming smiles, finish their first run. I admire the Personal Best bell ringers.

I spend a few hours editing and I must admit, I'm proud of my work. I make a note to try other sports. I hang around for the prize giving, but I'm amazed not many others do. Then I realise that most of the runners are not here to win. They are here to complete, not compete. Finishing the race is winning. They are all winners. I go home and watch 2 depressing games of football (for me anyway) and accept that this morning race had been the highlight of the day. And I'm already looking forward to the next race.

This is Wrexham, week on week.

The football club, the music scene, the people and the places that make the town what it is..

09 week on week

This week.

A charity walk.

Football.

Our town.

This is Wrexham, week on week.

Ruperts Rainbow

I usually plan my blog early in the week, but this week a chance photo (above) changed things. I went along to the Fearless in Devotion live podcast event and did some media shots for them. Between interviews, a gentleman in a charity T-shirt got up…

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08 week on week

This week had everything.

New small bands through to chart toppers.

A pub with a musical history to a venue with a similar history.

Bands on a different stage of their musical rise to stardom.

Five bands over two nights.

This is Wrexham, week on week.

🎸 Saith Seren. Gamelin.

It was my first time watching this band and I was impressed. They p…

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07 week on week

This week had everything.

A title lift at the Rock.

A room full of stories remembering a legend.

And an away day that had a bit of everything—noise, edge, and chaos.

This is Wrexham, week on week.

⚽️ Wrexham Women are Champions

The hard work had already been done. The title secured. This was about the moment. This was the day the Wrexham Wom…

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06 week on week

⚽️ Wrexham Women are Champions

And we've captured it all. Firstly the Fanzone.

▶️ Watch this

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05 week on week

🎨 Murals in town

Wrexham’s walls are changing — and this one stands out.

Wrexham walls are being painted by some brilliant artists, some local, some imported. This wall has been painted by Michelle Edwards of Painted Creations by ME. Its another great addition to the Murals in the town.

▶️ Watch this

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04

Wrexham v Hull

Wrexham lost to Hull City under the lights at a wet and windy Racecourse. We remain in the playoffs with Hull City just above us.

Live at ReVibed

ReVibed Live is a night where local bands showcase their music.

This week Cherophobes and Roadside Assistance played to a packed record shop crowd.

Support local music. Support ReVibed Records.

12.…

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03

Aquabats in the Rockin Chair

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02

Support WXM Weekly

Wrexham Lager Stand

Night matches under the lights feel different — especially with a win. Wrexham 2 Portsmouth 1 and still in the play-offs.

23.02.26 ▪︎ Racecourse ▪︎ Photo: Peter Colin Forbes

St David’s Day

The brilliant St Davids Day display on La Baguette in town. Painted Creations by ME designed and painted this beautiful window display. Dydd G…

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A structured photographic record of football, music and culture in Wrexham

From next week, paid subscribers receive early Tuesday access and full archive access.

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01

Football

The autograph has been replaced. “Can you sign this?” is now “Can I have a selfie?”

21.02.26 ▪︎ Racecourse ▪︎ Players arriving ▪︎ Photo: Peter Colin Fo…

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