Collections Stories
Looking to learn more of the stories behind the objects?
Delve into the fascinating history of our extensive collection. Below you will find blogs, articles, Q&As and features on our favourite objects, unlocking the stories within each item and exploring what makes football the game of our lives. This is also where we will be revealing our Object of the Week, showcasing some of the fascinating items from our ever-growing collection. Check here every Thursday for the latest insight and opinion from our museum curators and experts.
Do you have a story to share with us about your own prized football possessions? We’re collecting memories as part of our #GameOfOurLives campaign. Click here to contribute to our growing digital collection of stories.
Object of the Week: Karen Bardsley’s title-winning Manchester City shirt
14 April 2021
As the Women's Super League celebrates its 10th anniversary this week (April 2021) Alexandra Heaton looks at a shirt from our collection worn by a legend of the game.
Object of the Week: Sir Tom Finney’s Footballer of the Year Award 1954
6 April 2021
One of English football's all time greats, Sir Tom Finney played his entire career with Preston North End as a brilliant and versatile forward. He also won 76 caps for England, scoring 30 times. We take a closer look at one of Finney's individual honours...
Object of the Week: Barrow AFC programme
30 March 2021
This week, Alexandra Heaton looks at a programme from a game never played due to the pandemic: the fixture between promotion-chasing Barrow AFC and Wrexham AFC.
Object of the Week: Dog collar belonging to Pickles
24 March 2021
It's 1966 and the World Cup is about to take place in England. Excitement is mounting, but then the trophy is stolen. Exactly 55 years ago a cup crisis threatened to de-rail plans for the tournament. That is until a mixed breed collie called Pickles became an unlikely national hero.
Object of the week: Everton v Liverpool programme
16 March 2021
This is the match programme from last spring's Merseyside derby at Goodison Park - a match which didn't go ahead.
Object of the Week: Burnden Park Disaster programme
10 March 2021
This week marked the 75th anniversary of the Burnden Park disaster. We look at an object from our collections connected to the ill-fated match in 1946.
Object of the Week: Billy Meredith
2 March 2021
With St David’s Day this week and the Manchester derby this weekend, this week’s Object of the Week focuses on an object from the museum’s collection relating to a significant figure in the history of Welsh football and both Manchester clubs.
Object of The Week: Hope Powell portrait by Stanley Chow
23 February 2021
This week’s Object of the Week is a portrait of Hope Powell by Manchester artist Stanley Chow. Tilly Johnson explores the career of one of English football's most important figures.
It’s not about results or multi-million pound salaries, it’s how football can change lives – Jane Bateman
16 February 2021
Jane Bateman has developed football networks around the globe for more than 20 years leading The Football Association's International Relations Team. But it's delivering programmes around football and social change that she feels are the most rewarding.
Object of the Week: Valentine’s Day card
12 February 2021
Love is in the air (sort of) in our latest Object of the Week: a humorous old-timey Valentine's Day card.
