THE NATIONAL Football Museum in Manchester will open to the public on 6 July 2012.
With the help from the Manchester City Council and European funding the museum has the opportunity to become a national and international visitor destination, having taken over the whole Urbis building.
The new museum will provide a home for the greatest collection of football memorabilia assembled and looks set to becoming a key UK visitor attraction.
Executive member for Culture and Leisure for Manchester City Council Mike Amesbury, Museum Chair of Trustees Paul Dermody and Museum Director Kevin Moore made the announcement in Manchester city centre, with a 100-day countdown to the grand opening.
"Manchester is already the most visited English city outside London. The National Football Museum will add to our existing range of visitor attractions and further strengthen the city as a destination of choice."
The museum will be arranged over three floors within the building, with the atrium space dedicated to the museum’s Hall of Fame. It will become the new home for the UEFA European Cup Winners Cup, and will feature exhibits from the museum’s collection of more than 140,000 objects, works of art and photographs as well as some interactive exhibits.
Cup Winners Cup
Highlights inside the museum include a ‘Pepper’s Ghost’ video illusion exhibit featuring famous footballing personalities including Gary Lineker and England World Cup winning legend Sir Geoff Hurst - a chance to come face-to-face with legends of the game.
Exhibit highlights include a shirt from the world's first international match played in 1872, the 1966 World Cup Final ball and the shirt worn by Maradona during the1986 ‘Hand of God’ quarter final match between England and Argentina.
The official website for the museum has been launched, and will host the 100 day countdown to the grand opening.
As well as three floors of objects, there will be ‘hands on’ Football Plus interactives for visitors to have a go and take part in aspects of the game, and a changing temporary exhibition programme tackling other aspects of the rich culture surrounding the game. It will become the new home for photographer Stuart Clarke’s ‘Homes of Football’ collection of images.
The museum will also provide a commercial opportunities, from event partnerships to exclusive branding spaces, both on- and offline. The museum will offer event spaces for a range of venue requirements, and play host to a distinctive retail, cafe and restaurant offer that will compete with Manchester’s best.
"Football is very much a part of Manchester’s DNA and a key driver for tourism. The game brings thousands of visitors to the city each year and we are confident that having the National Football Museum here in Manchester will be a big draw for football fans visiting the city."
National Football Museum Director Kevin Moore said: “We are delighted to announce the date for opening the new National Football Museum. We’re proud to be opening an international visitor attraction in the heart of this footballing city, and particularly welcome the arrival of the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup.
“It’s a hugely impressive trophy and is very much part of the history of European football competition. Some of the greatest names in modern football have competed for the trophy over the years and we’d very much like to thank UEFA for allowing us to display it.
“Our new museum will provide visitors with a unique opportunity to get up close and personal with the most impressive collection of football exhibits ever assembled.”
Howard Webb is lending the shirt in which he refereed the 2010 World Cup Final
Councillor Mike Amesbury, Executive Member for Culture and Leisure for Manchester City Council, said: "The National Football Museum has been eagerly awaited and there's a mounting sense of anticipation now the opening date is just around the corner.
"It promises to be a nationally and internationally significant attraction, combining a world-class collection of memorabilia with an innovative, interactive take on the history and culture of the sport.
"Manchester is already the most visited English city outside London. The National Football Museum will add to our existing range of visitor attractions and further strengthen the city as a destination of choice.
"Mention Manchester to anyone around the world and one of the first things they will think of is football, so it's the perfect location for a must-see shrine to the global game. Whichever team you support, and even if you only have a passing interest in football, the museum is sure to be a winning attraction."
Cllr Mike Amesbury at the launch
Paul Simpson, managing director of Visit Manchester said: “We are thrilled with the announcement that the National Football Museum will open its doors in July 2012 during an important year of sport for the UK.
“Football is very much a part of Manchester’s DNA and a key driver for tourism. The game brings thousands of visitors to the city each year and we are confident that having the National Football Museum here in Manchester will be a big draw for football fans visiting the city.
“This world-class cultural attraction will be a welcome addition for the city’s excellent tourism industry which currently generates £5.8bn for the local economy and supports 77,000 full time equivalent jobs across the region. We wish the museum every success.”
