Plans for a national football museum in Wrexham have received a £5.4 million boost, bringing the country’s passion for the sport one step closer to being recognised. The Welsh government believes the Museum of Two Halves will honour the sport’s history and encourage more tourists to visit the city.
The funding comes just a few months after Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney purchased Wrexham Football Club in February 2021. Due to the fact that the club’s Racecourse Ground is one of the oldest international stadiums in the world, Wrexham is an ideal location for the new museum.
The museum will display the largest collection of Welsh football memorabilia in public ownership in Wales, which is already housed in the archives of the city museum. The collection includes over 2,000 items, such as Wales shirts from international matches and medals and trophies from all levels of the sport in Wales.
Dawn Bowden, the Deputy Minister for Arts and Sport, expressed her hope that the museum would become a “key attraction” for the region. She stated, “Wrexham is the birthplace of Welsh football, so it is the perfect place to honour the sport’s heritage.”
Sian Gwenllian of Plaid Cymru also commented on the project, saying, “Yma o Hyd fever swept Wales and the world last year, when our national team reached the World Cup. It demonstrated the pride and joy that football has brought us in recent years, as well as its significance to Wales. This renovated museum will honour our nation’s contribution to the game as well as the heritage and legacy it bestows upon all of us.”
Jonathan Gammond, the project manager of the Museum of Two Halves, adds, “It’s about any football played in Wales or by Welsh people outside Wales. Every aspect of the game will be covered, including amateurs, professionals, men and women, various nationalities and minorities, and all those who love the game.”
It is anticipated that the museum will become a major attraction in Wrexham, capitalising on the growing interest in the men’s and women’s national teams, as well as Wrexham FC. Additionally, it is hoped that the festival will reflect the entirety of Wales through satellite events involving communities across the nation.
Overall, this exciting project is a fitting tribute to the beautiful game and will bring immense joy to football fans throughout Wales.
