National Football Museum

The National Football Museum stands in Manchester city centre inside the Urbis building, a former exhibition centre converted for the purpose. It moved from Preston in 2012 after the original site at Deepdale closed. Deepdale was the oldest continuously used professional football ground in the world. The move followed years of financial pressure despite strong visitor numbers. Manchester City Council offered £2 million a year to secure the museum. The Urbis building provides four floors of exhibition space. The museum preserves and displays important football collections. It houses replicas of the Women’s Super League and Premier League trophies. The Hall of Fame lists inductees and changing exhibitions explore themes like the origins of the England men’s team. The Match Gallery contains the first ever rule book from 1863 and the shirt from the first international match. Visitors see the Jules Rimet Trophy, Diego Maradona’s “Hand of God” shirt and John Motson’s sheepskin coat. Interactive screens cover clubs, players and stadiums across English football. On the top floors, the Play Gallery offers football games and activities for all ages. The Discovery Zone is designed for under-fives and the Penalty Shootout lets visitors test their skills. A 10-minute film shows a month in English football at every level. Changing exhibitions in the Score Gallery have celebrated past triumphs and featured photography exhibits. The museum also includes spaces for learning and education. Its location in Manchester’s city centre makes it easy to reach alongside other attractions.