Category: Football Museum Wales

Cymru qualifying for the World Cup, City Status, a City of Culture bid, Wrexham AFC playing at Wembley and just miss out on promotion in the first full season Rob and Ryan have taken charge as owners, Kop Development plans, that Mullin Goal, Tŷ Pawb shortlisted for Museum of The Year!

There’s been so much happening in Wrexham recently that it’s easy to forget that plans are progressing to create the Football Museum for Wales alongside a new Wrexham Museum on Regent Street in Wrexham.

Wrexham is the spiritual home of Welsh Football and our ambitious plans intend to make Wrexham a site of football fan pilgrimage! Football is part of the community and everyday life for many people so it makes sense to create a visitor experience that brings sporting heritage and community heritage together.

The museum’s staff, Haley Sharpe Design, Purcell (Architects) as well as other important project partners have been progressing the designs for Wales’s National Football museum, with work proceeding apace over the past few months.

The architects and designers have worked out plans that envisage:

• The current main gallery returned to its original use as a courtyard hub, but enclosed and providing a lift and stairs to the first floor.
• The Football Museum for Wales being centred around Court No.1 (the large courtroom)
• The Wrexham Museum focusing on Court No.2 and the eastern side of the museum building.
• A new learning and community hub on the forecourt, providing for the first time ever a flexible up to date and fully accessible learning and events space for use by schools, community groups and for holiday activities
• An enlarged temporary exhibitions gallery extending out into the former exercise yard
• A children’s zone on the ground floor
• A quieter introductory area for those who benefit from such places
• An expanded café providing additional seating in the re-purposed archives office, alongside the seating in the front extension and spreading into the forecourt
• A larger shop allowing the museum to sell football and Wales related souvenirs, especially targeted at day trippers and holiday makers.

The project team have been consulting with groups representing football supporters, historians, people involved in learning, disabled people, and a diverse range of community groups and individuals who like visiting museums. Their feedback is already informing design and content to help ensure the new museum will be the best it can possibly be.

The concept designs for the football galleries envisage visitors entering via an introductory immersive experience creating an engaging atmosphere for the story of football and the story of Wales to be told through football…

From there, they will emerge into Court No.1, the largest space in the museum. This space will divide into three broad areas:

• Loyalties & Rivalries which will focus on football in Wales at club level, from the big clubs down to grassroots level.
• Heartbreak & Glory, which will tell the story of the Welsh men’s and women’s teams and their roller-coaster fortunes over the years
• On the Terrace, which is where we focus on the fans and culture of Welsh football and include even more interactivity for younger visitors.

There is a lot more work to go into these designs, involving not just the museum staff and the consultation panels we have established, but people right across Wales, not least through the work of the Engagement Officers who will be recruited over the summer to act as roving ambassadors for the football museum.

As in the football galleries, visitors will initially enter the Wrexham Museum galleries through an introductory immersive zone that will highlight the kaleidoscopic story of Wrexham.

The Wrexham Museum galleries will be based around five themes connected to the people and places of the county borough:

• Beginnings – here the focus is on archaeology, with a re-display of Brymbo Man, the Bronze Age and Roman material
• Trade & Industry – this room will focus on our industrial and agricultural heritage, the development of the market town of Wrexham and the world of work in Wrexham.
• Conflict & Struggle – this theme is about both industrial struggle and setbacks, and also the World Wars and their impact on Wrexham and its people.
• Daily Life – this section is dedicated to topics such as changes in the home, the stages of life, health and medicine, and leisure and free time
• Communities – the final theme gallery will tell the stories of the many different groups that make up Wrexham, including the Penley Poles, Portuguese, the Wrexham diaspora, and cultural festivals.

Lead Member for museums, Cllr Paul Roberts said: “Overall much has been achieved, but there is so much more to do to ensure that we, with the help and support of people and communities from Wrexham and across Wales, working together, can create a Football Museum for Wales and a new Wrexham Museum fit for the spiritual home of Welsh football and Wales’s newest city.”

Chair of the Football Museum Steering Group Ian Bancroft said: “It really is an exciting time for football in Wales and Wrexham, the spiritual home of Welsh football. “Football plays a huge part in our identity, culture and heritage.”It’s great to see plans for the Wrexham Museum and Welsh football museum developing as we look forward to the delivery of this exciting project in 2025.”

The museum was pleased to receive a further donation from the FAW in January, particularly some shirts with a Wrexham theme.

From the World Cup qualifying match v Estonia (which Wales won 1-0 in Tallinn on 11 October), we have received signed match worn shirts from Harry Wilson, Danny Ward and Neco Williams – all Wrexham born.

They were presented to the museum by FAW President Steve Williams at the recent match between Bellevue FC and North Wales Police Wrexham Town, which took place at Colliers Park in support of Wrexham’s bid to be UK City of Culture in 2025. 

Collecting contemporary material is of real importance to the museum as it helps to interpret recent events which are fresh in people’s minds. The shirts are a great addition to our growing Welsh Football Collection!

The nation is gearing up for vital World Cup play-offs in March, which we hope will end in Wales’s qualification for a first finals appearance since 1958.

Saturday 5 February marks the anniversary of the last time Wales qualified for a World Cup finals, some 64 years ago, with a unique set of circumstances helping them to Sweden.

Wales had finished second to Czechoslovakia in their qualifying group and were seemingly eliminated until FIFA handed them another chance. Israel had advanced from their qualification zone but without playing a match; several opponents withdrawing from the competition for political reasons.

FIFA introduced a rule that a team couldn’t qualify without playing a match and organised a play-off with Wales drawn (out of nine names) to play Israel, the winner progressing to the 1958 finals.

On 15 January, Wales travelled to Israel for the first leg and won 2-0, with goals in each half from Ivor Allchurch and Dave Bowen. The second leg at Ninian Park on 5 February saw a repeat of the score line, with late goals from Allchurch again and Cliff Jones securing a 4-0 overall victory and finals qualification.

The second leg is also noteworthy, coming as it did a day before the Munich Air Disaster.

The pictured shirt was worn by full back Alan Harrington in the second leg at Ninian Park. It was acquired when the Welsh Football Collection was first established at the museum in 2000.

Harrington is a Cardiff City legend who played his whole career at the club (348 appearances) and gained 11 Welsh caps.

When FAW President Steve Williams arrived at the museum recently with boxes of objects to donate to the Welsh Football Collection, it was a Wrexham supporting colleague who spotted a wooden ball trophy and identified it…as the FAW Premier Cup!

Launched as the Invitation Cup in 1997-98, the competition changed its name to the FAW Premier Cup the following season.

Sponsored and televised by the BBC, the competition featured the top seven placed clubs from the Welsh Premier, joined by the best placed ‘exiled’ club from Colwyn Bay, Merthyr Tydfil and Newport County.

They played each other home and away in two groups of four, with the top two from each progressing to the quarter-finals, where they were joined by Cardiff City, Swansea City, Wrexham and the Welsh Cup winners.

The format was adapted before the start of the 2004-05 competition and eventually ceased in 2008 when the BBC decided to withdraw its sponsorship.

The last final saw Newport County beat Llanelli 1-0, making the Exiles still the official holders!

Wrexham were the most successful club in the competition’s short history, playing in eight of the eleven finals that took place, winning five.

The addition of the trophy to the museum’s collection resulted in plenty of comments on social media suggesting that it or something similar should return to football in Wales. One for the FAW!

(Source: Welsh Football Data Archive)

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Read more about the Football Museum for Wales project

Last month we launched a Wales-wide public survey to help us design a brand new attraction coming to Wrexham town centre.

Wrexham Council, in partnership with the Welsh Government, are undertaking a major redevelopment of the Wrexham Museum building to create a joint Football Museum for Wales and Wrexham Museum located on one site. 

The new Football Museum will aim to tell the story of football in Wales, from the clubs, communities and supporters across the country, all the way up to the national teams and their historic achievements.

Wrexham Museum will be refurbished as part of the project and will feature brand new galleries exploring the history of Wrexham.

The questions in the survey were designed to help us learn more about who visits the museum, who doesn’t, and why. 

The survey also asked people what they thought the Museum does well, what could be improved and what they would like to see included in the new Football Museum and revamped Wrexham Museum.

What you told us

Here are some of the key findings from the survey:

• 529 responses were received in total
• 51% of respondents had visited Wrexham Museum previously
• Those responding to the questionnaire came from across Wales as well as some from England.
• 75% of respondents considered themselves to be Welsh.
• 67% of respondents were male, and 33% were female. 
• Majority of respondents were aged between 35-64.  Only 5% were under 24.

The survey also found that….

• 80% of all respondents were interested in an expansion of the core local history offer of Wrexham museum.
• In addition to this, 84% of people were interested in the new Football Museum for Wales.
• Football memorabilia is frequently listed as visitors’ favourite exhibits, alongside industrial history of the area and specific objects such as the Mold Cape and Brymbo man.
• When asked what could be improved, visitors suggested more rotating and visiting exhibitions, increased advertising as well as a larger and brighter museum space.
• When asked what would encourage people to visit the most common responses were interactive and engaging exhibitions, and activities and events with the football collection.
• Very few people were interested in a development of retail or education sessions, but 50% of people suggested that better publicity about the museum and events would make them more likely to visit the museum.

Read on for a more in depth look at the results….

Current Museum visitors

The survey found that visitors are most likely to have come to Wrexham museum from Wales, in particular from the area surrounding the museum and the Llandudno postcode. 

Visitors are most likely to have last come recently (within the last year or immediately before the pandemic)

Most people have heard about the museum because they live locally or from word of mouth and recommendations from others.

People who have previously visited have come due to an interest in Wrexham’s heritage or a specific event or object. They are less likely to have come to entertain themselves or their children. 

People enjoy the collection and the facilities – in particular the café – are especially popular. Temporary exhibitions also receive praise and have encouraged people to visit multiple times. 

Football memorabilia is frequently listed as visitor’s favourite exhibits, alongside industrial history of the area and specific objects such as the Mold Cape and Brymbo man. 

When asked what could be improved, visitors suggested more rotating and visiting exhibitions, increased advertising as well as a larger and brighter museum space. 

Most people enjoyed their visit, rating it either excellent or just below excellent.

Non Museum visitors

47% of those who had not visited the museum before had heard about Wrexham Museum.

Non-Visitors were also asked to indicate the reason why they had never visited Wrexham Museum. The most popular reason for not visiting was never having heard of the museum before. Additionally, non visitors frequently stated that they had either it had never occurred to them to visit, or that they felt that the museum was too far away or difficult to get to. 

The future

80% of all respondents were interested in an expansion of the core local history offer of Wrexham museum.

In addition to this, 84% of people were interested in the new Football Museum for Wales. 

When asked what would encourage people to visit the most common responses were interactive and engaging exhibitions, and activities and events with the football collection. 

Very few people were interested in a development of retail or education sessions, but 50% of people suggested that better publicity about the museum and events would make them more likely to visit the museum. 

Overall the idea of an increase of events (both related to football and to Wrexham’s heritage) was received positively with some write-in answers suggesting activities ranging from art exhibitions to comedy events and guest speakers. 

Location accessibility featured heavily in answers, with comments on how improved transport links to the museum and an increase of things to do in the area, suggested to encourage future visits.

Cllr Hugh Jones said: “Many thanks to everyone who responded to the survey from Wrexham and all over Wales. As results show, the interest in the new Football Museum continues to grow all over the country and the broad range of responses has given us an excellent platform to start developing ideas with the design team.

We hope this exciting new attraction will draw many new visitors to Wrexham town centre in the future, supporting our local economy and shining a spotlight on our local culture and heritage alongside the story of football in Wales.” 

What happens next

The results of the survey are now being discussed with the design team and will help inform the early proposals for the new Football Museum and revamped Wrexham Museum.

The realisation of a Football Museum for Wales here in Wrexham has come a step closer with the appointment of the design team. 

Haley Sharp Design (hsd), together with architects Purcell and quantity surveyors MDA Consulting, will work with Wrexham Council and the Welsh Government to develop the designs of the new museum before construction begins in 2022.

Meet the team

hsd are world leading interpretative designers who have nearly 40 years of experience leading visitor-focussed museum redevelopment projects. Other heritage projects they’ve worked on include Stonehenge Visitor Centre, Grand Egyptian Museum in Cairo, and the Ice Age Fossils State Park in Las Vegas.  Their experience working in Wales includes Big Pit: National Coal Museum, Blaenavon World Heritage Site and Cardigan Castle.

David Donoghue, Creative Director at hsd commented: “We are proud to be working with Wrexham Council, the Welsh Government and communities across Wales to develop a new, dynamic museum experience to enable everyone to actively engage with their heritage.  We can’t wait to start exploring the rich stories and collections, and to create impactful and exciting proposals.”

Purcell are one of the world’s leading design practices with more than 70 years’ experience as architects, masterplanners and heritage consultants. This includes experience with the existing museum building, having written a conservation plan for the building in 2005. 

Purcell Associate, Jane Roylance, said: “Purcell are delighted to have the opportunity to continue working with Wrexham Council, supporting hsd and the project sponsors to achieve their vision for a football Museum for Wales and for Wrexham Museum; an iconic building in the heart of historic Wrexham.”

MDA Consulting are an international property and construction consultancy who also celebrated their 70th year of trading in 2021.  MDA have extensive experience of working in the heritage sector and have in the past been involved in projects with the National Museum of Wales.  Other notable heritage projects MDA have worked on include Alexandra Palace, Museum of London, Dorset County Museum, Stonehenge Visitor Centre and Louvre Abu Dhabi. 

Managing Director, Steve Jones, said: “MDA Consulting are delighted to be part of the team to help deliver this exciting new project for Wales and Wrexham.”

‘Real progress being made’

The new Football Museum will be based within the Wrexham Museum building on Regent Street in the town centre.

Major refurbishment work will be carried out so that both the Football Museum and Wrexham Museum can exist side by side.

Over the next few months, the team will work with the public and stakeholders to develop the design of the new museum, together with its visitor facilities and public programmes. As well as the new football museum, the Wrexham Museum displays will also be refreshed and enlarged as part of the project.

New Welsh Government Deputy Minister responsible for Arts and Sport Dawn Bowden said, “I am delighted to see that real progress is now being made in moving this very significant project for Wrexham and Northeast Wales forward and I look forward to working with Wrexham Council to bring this exciting development to completion.”

‘A major new attraction for Wrexham town centre’

Wrexham Council’s Lead Member for People – Communities, Partnerships Public Protection and Community Safety, Cllr Hugh Jones said: “The new Football Museum will be a major new attraction for Wrexham town centre, drawing visitors from all over the country and beyond. It will tell the story of football in Wales in all its diversity, from the clubs and supporters across the country, all the way up to the national teams and their historic achievements. 

“We are delighted to welcome Haley Sharp Design and look forward to seeing this exciting project progressing as we move towards the next stage of its development.” 

Wrexham Council’s Chief Executive, Ian Bancroft, said: “The appointment of such a strong world class design team reflects the commitment both of the Council and the Welsh Government to create a museum which will recognise the importance of football in Wales and secure Wrexham’s place as the spiritual home of football in Wales.

“This significant step forward for the project comes at a hugely exciting time for football fans here in Wrexham and across Wales. We congratulate the national team for their fantastic achievements this summer and for adding another thrilling chapter to Welsh football history. ” 

Image: Cllr Hugh Jones (WCBC Lead Member for Communities, Partnerships, Public Protection and Community Safety), Ron Watson (hsd Project Manager), Marc Johnson (WCBC Procurement Assistant), Jane Roylance (Purcell AABC Architect), David Donoghue (hsd Creative Director), Katie Pampoulos (hsd Activity Planner), Steve Grenter (WCBC Heritage Services Manager), Joshua Price (WCBC Project Manager).