English Football Hall of Fame

The English Football Hall of Fame sits inside the National Football Museum in Manchester. The museum moved into the former Urbis building in 2012, giving the Hall a permanent home. It honours English players and managers as well as figures from abroad who shaped the English game. New members join every year at an autumn ceremony held in the same building. A yearly guidebook keeps each inductee’s profile up to date.

The Hall is chosen by a rotating panel of historians and former professionals. Founding panellists included Jimmy Armfield, Sir Trevor Brooking and Jimmy Hill. Today the panel lists more than twenty names, including Neil Carter, Tony Collins and Jean Williams. Surviving inductees also join the panel, and fans have twice picked a ‘Fans’ Choice’ member. The Hall has grown to include managers, referees and even media figures.

Visitors find a permanent display of plaques and exhibits inside the museum. Each inductee’s career is outlined in words and images, with objects linked to their achievements. The Hall now recognises teams from the past, starting with Manchester United’s 1968 and Liverpool’s 1978 European Cup winners. Special awards mark wider contributions, such as to disabled football or the Football Battalion of the First World War.