Football Museum’s move to Manchester Confirmed

The National Football museum will move to Manchester, it has been revealed.

The relocation to Urbis was agreed today by officials, despite last-ditch attempts by Preston’s Deepdale Stadium to keep the museum.

Depending on funding, the current museum is likely to remain open as a secondary site, with a smaller number of exhibits and items in storage.

Urbis will close for up to 18 months from early Spring next year, reopening as the National Football Museum in Summer 2011 following a refit. As of yet it is unknown if new jobs will be created during this time.

Museum bosses hope to attract four times as many people to Urbis as Deepdale.

A target of 400,000 visitors has been set with Urbis currently attracting 265,000 visitors each year.

Manchester council will be expected to organise – and has agreed to underwrite - a funding package of up to £8m to prepare Urbis and move priceless exhibits from Preston.

The National Football Museum, which opened in 2001, was described as ‘a jewel’ by FIFA president Sepp Blatter.

Exhibits include the 1966 World Cup final ball, Bobby Moore’s shirt from the legendary England-Brazil match in 1970, and Stanley Matthews’ kit from the 1953 ’Matthews’ FA Cup final.

Sir Richard Leese, Leader of Manchester City Council, said: “I’m delighted that the trustees have accepted our offer for the National Football Museum to relocate to Urbis.”