News & Updates
Wrexham pub where Welsh football was born celebrates 150 years at the heart of the game
16th February 2026
Historic blue plaque unveiled at The Wynnstay Arms pub, marking it as the birthplace of the Football Association of Wales (FAW) in 1876.
A commemorative blue plaque has been unveiled at The Wynnstay Arms in Wrexham, in recognition of its historic role as the birthplace of the Football Association of Wales (FAW), 150 years after the organisation was founded in the very same pub.
Wrexham and the pub itself were written into the folklore of Welsh football back in 1876, when a group of local businessmen met in the pub to devise what is now one of the oldest national football associations in the world - an historic moment still commemorated today through local anniversary events and educational programmes.
To mark the anniversary, The Wynnstay Arms hosted an official FAW event attended by dignitaries from across Welsh football, including notable figures and representatives from the Welsh FA.
To further celebrate this historic milestone, the pub created a Welsh football pop‑up museum and welcomed a visit from St Mary’s Catholic Primary School, which showcased priceless football memorabilia spanning 150 years of the Welsh game.
Marston’s pubs have always been central to community life, bringing people together for shared good times and serving as cornerstones of British culture. The Wynnstay Arms continues that tradition today, standing as both a community hub and a living piece of Welsh sporting history.
James Fuggle, General Manager of The Wynnstay Arms, said:
“It was an honour for all of us at The Wynnstay Arms Hotel to host the FA Wales 150th Anniversary celebrations, back to where it all began in 1876 – a chance to recognise the shared history of Welsh football and our local pub, while marking an important chapter in our nation’s sporting story.”
“We were particularly proud to house a Welsh football pop-up museum, giving children an opportunity to learn about the rich history of Welsh football. As a pub that’s always been rooted in its local community, this celebration highlights the lasting link between football, heritage and the people who gather here.”
“From that first meeting back in 1876, you can see how pubs have brought people together for special moments for hundreds of years – and it really is no different today.”