Mather scores with football museum

MATHER & Co has landed a contract to design the new National Football Museum in Manchester.

Wilmslow-based Mather, which specialises in designing museums, galleries and visitor attractions, will handle the relocation of the museum’s existing exhibits from its former home in Preston North End to its new site at Manchester’s Urbis building.

Mather & Co was awarded the work by Manchester City Council following a competitive tender process.

Its brief will involve designs for new external signage, lighting, graphics, displays and 3D structures. It will also design the permanent gallery space, its audio visual theatre and the temporary exhibition area. A new shop, hospitality and cafe area will also be created.

The firm has previously worked on creating museums and exhibition space at  Wembley National Stadium, Chelsea FC, Wimbledon Lawn Tennis and Yorkshire County Cricket Club.

Cllr Mike Amesbury, executive member for culture and leisure for Manchester City Council, said: “The National Football Museum will be an international-standard museum attracting up to 350,000 visitors a year and helping attract investment and jobs to Manchester.

“Mather & Co has a strong track record and we are confident it will deliver the sort of world-class attraction which will excite anyone with even a passing interest in football and the culture around it.”

Mather & Co designer on the project, Dan Procter, said: “What makes this project brief so exciting is the fact we are responsible for every aspect of the design, planning and implementation process.

“The new National Football Museum will be an exciting addition to visitor attractions in Manchester and, as a local company, we are very proud.”