Half Day Out (National Football Museum)

Member Name: sagregson

Product:	National Football Museum
Date:	06/04/02 (91 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Interesting, Varied

Disadvantages: Expensive, Limited for Kids

Based at the home of Preston North End FC in preston the museum is accessable from the M6 motorway and very easy to locate.

The museum is split into two distinct sections. The "First Half" is an exhibtion based on an old style museum exploring the origins of the game, the experience of fans and brings together great football moments with significant events in a broader social history.

The first Half
Football is placed in it's social context by "The Big Picture", a wall of images that shows what was happening in the wider world from the present day back to the mid 19th century. You can see how the lives of fans and players were effected by war, technology and entertainment.

Opposite is "A Fan's Life". This colourful wall depicts the average fans experience of going to watch football through the decades and provides an excellent insight into how fans grow with the sport.

At the far end of the gallery is "In The Beginning", which looks at modern football's origins in the ancient ball games that were played by the various civiliations around the globe.

As you reach the end at turn back on yourself "The Greatest Game" the museum provides a narrative history of football. Utilising stories, pictures, objects, film and sound to trace the development of football.

Opposite is the "Real Thing", a run of cases that house football memorabillia from around the world.

Soundbenches are situated around the museum that provide stories from both players and fans of their experiences of football throughout the years.

The Second half
The second half is a collection of different galleries. The largest of these galleries is "Playing The Game", an interactive gallery based on eight distinct themes within the game: -

Toys and games;
Rules;
Tactics;
Players and skills;
Equipment;
Fans;
Media; r>Grounds;

Visitors can learn how the rules of the game have developed, appreciate the tactics employed by some of the great sides and participate in a live edition of Match of the Day.

Visions of Football is an art gallery dedicated to the game and displays unique worked that has been inspired by football.

Wembly Stadium - Icon of Sport housing the national stadiums collections during the rebuild.

The National Football Museum is only really suitable for Half day visits as children will probably get a little bored after Two or three hours. The Museum is fully accessible for wheel chair users as it features ramps, lifts and a disabled toilet.

The museum has a cafe and Gift shop but the shop was not very good as its main items were classic football shirts and there weren't many football items that seemed interesting and affordable.

Also discount tickets are available for groups and the museum provides a "Football Trail" quiz that keeps the kids entertained for at least an hour in the first half.

Overall a good place to visit although it is expensive for the time you will spend there. Adults with an interest in football will love it and learn a lot from the visit.