National Football Museum to move to Manchester

MANCHESTER has lured the National Football Museum from Preston, it emerged today.

The tourist attraction, which is losing money, will move to the city’s Urbis museum, eight years after opening at Preston North End’s Deepdale ground. The move should occur early next year. 

Sir Richard Leese, leader of Manchester council, said: “Manchester is renowned around the world for its footballing heritage and attracts more visitors than any English city outside London.

“Having a nationally-significant football destination here would make perfect sense so when the National Football Museum approached us we were naturally keen to explore this exciting idea. Talks have been very positive so far.”

Late last year there was a furious backlash in Preston after Football League chairman Lord Brian Mawhinney suggested the museum should move to London’s Wembley stadium.

The free attraction needs just under £1m every year to cover costs and the Football Stadium Improvement Fund (FSIF) stopped its annual contribution of £308,000 in March to direct its cash into grassroots sport.

The museum gets 100,000 visitors a year – but it is hoped that number will be increased to 400,000 a year by the move down the M61.

Paul Dermody, chair of trustees of the National Football Museum, said: “While the museum has gone from success to success in Preston since it opened in 2001, the funding of the museum has always been a concern, but with the backing of Manchester City Council, the Department of Culture Media and Sport and the football family its future will be secured and the museum’s success will continue to expand as the collections and the community work it undertakes will be exposed to a significantly greater audience than at present.”

The North West Development Agency, which gave more than £2m in funding in 2003 to the museum and £240,000 in 2002 said it “hoped” the facility would stay in Preston.

Nick Brooks-Sykes, director of tourism at the NWDA “The National Football Museum is an important visitor attraction for the Northwest, and it’s vital that it remains in the region.

“As the birthplace of football, and with a strong community programme in place, we hope that the museum can remain in Preston, however we also recognise that the Trustees must look at the various options available in order to secure the museum’s future.”