National Football Museum

The National Football Museum is a football museum in Manchester that holds over 40,000 items in its football heritage collection. The displays are arranged across four separate galleries with around 2,500 pieces shown inside the Urbis building.

The museum was founded in February 2001 at Deepdale Stadium in Preston and moved to Manchester in 2012 with support from Manchester City Council. The relocation to the modern Urbis building marked an important turning point for the institution.

The collection shows objects that document how the game developed over time, from early rule documents to iconic trophies from different countries' tournaments. Visitors can see how equipment, playing style, and international competitions have changed.

Visitors should note that the museum is open daily except on certain days and is fully equipped with lifts and accessible facilities for wheelchair users. It is easy to reach and allows plenty of time to explore all four galleries comfortably.

The museum holds the original 1863 football rules document and the Jules Rimet trophy, two core objects in sports history. These pieces show how the foundations and achievements of the game have developed across generations.

Location: Urbis

Inception: February 2001

Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible

Address: Urbis Building, Cathedral Gardens, Manchester M4 3BG

Opening Hours: Monday-Friday 10:00-17:00

Phone: +441616058200

Email: info@nationalfootballmuseum.com

Website: http://nationalfootballmuseum.com

GPS coordinates: 53.48636,-2.24242

Latest update: December 9, 2025 18:45