It was fantastic to return to the National Football Museum in Manchester: our visit is always one of the highlights of Schools Football Week. And this year’s visit could not have started any better: the very first thing we saw when we arrived was the Premier League trophy — the one that Jordan Henderson raised in the air in Liverpool FC’s famous title-winning season!
First up was the learning zone on the top floor for a Designer Balls workshop, the students competing in teams to design their perfect football out of recycled materials and then testing it in a variety of challenges.
We were also able to explore how the world’s most popular game has been adapted on different continents. There were fascinating insights into traditional football-related games that people still participate in, such as the mass football event known as ‘Shrovetide’ (which had actually taken place the day before in Ashbourne in Derbyshire — although fortunately it is a lot more civilised now compared to the original medieval version!).
We learned about the history of the various cup competitions, about different clubs and about how names have changed over the years.
Then it was time to get our hands on some football artefacts. We kicked footballs over a hundred years old, as well as getting a feel of what football boots were like from the past, very different from the boots worn nowadays. Students were also allowed to try on old jerseys donated to the museum by former players.
In the afternoon it was time to take in the museum’s exhibitions. From a whole floor dedicated to Pelé to England’s World Cup winners and more, the students found this thoroughly enjoyable. There was even a chance to see the famous 1966 World Cup trophy.
Students also took part in a range of interactive games such as the reaction wall and a penalty shoot-out. Well done to Declan New who was crowned champion of the museum that day with three excellent penalties that beat the goalkeeper.
This story features in the February 2022 issue of Ridgeway New Times. Click the link to read lots more about recent events at Ridgeway.
