Wales to Open First Football Museum in Wrexham

Wrexham has been awarded over £2.7 million in national lottery funding to establish Wales's inaugural national football museum, aimed at celebrating the rich history of both grassroots and professional football in the region. The museum will feature a diverse collection of memorabilia, some dating back centuries, and will highlight Wrexham's cultural heritage. Notable items include Billy Meredith’s cap from the 1910 Scotland vs. Wales match and John Charles’s debut shirt from 1950. The funding is part of a larger initiative to renovate the Wrexham Museum building, which will be divided into two interconnected institutions: a refurbished local museum and the new football museum. Currently closed for renovations, the museum is expected to reopen in 2026. The additional funds will facilitate the acquisition of significant private collections, including international match programmes from 1901 and artifacts related to Cardiff City’s 1927 FA Cup victory. Wrexham, known as one of football's spiritual homes, is home to the Wrexham Association Football Club, the oldest club in Wales and the third-oldest professional football team globally. Paul Roberts, a council member, emphasized the museum's potential to become a major attraction, enhancing Wrexham's tourism and cultural landscape. The funding is part of a £7.6 million initiative supporting various museums across the UK, with the National Lottery Heritage Fund's chief executive highlighting the projects' diversity and their ability to connect visitors with unique stories from different heritage sectors.