Steering Group considering Fourth Street business plan for National Football Museum in Wrexham

Plans for a new national football museum in Wrexham are ongoing, with an update on the project being given by Welsh Government this afternoon.

Last this year it was announced that “developing new facilities at Wrexham Museum would be the best option to create a showcase for our football heritage” with the project proceeding to more detailed planning.

Dafydd Elis-Thomas MS, Deputy Minister for Culture, Sport and Tourism has said today, “A steering group has been established to take forward the work to develop a national football museum. Wrexham Council is leading the project, which will redevelop Wrexham Museum. The museum will work alongside communities to encourage participation and inspire visitors from all backgrounds.

“The project will complement other developments in Wrexham including the FAW National Training Centre at Collier’s Park, the Wrexham FC Professional Training Centre at the Groves, and the Wrexham Gateway redevelopment of the Racecourse Ground.”

“Consultants Fourth Street were appointed in the summer to draw up a detailed business plan and case for investment. This work has now concluded and the recommendations are currently being considered by the steering group. The main focus of the work is to maximise space available in the current museum building and to relocate reserve collections.  A design tender is being advertised for the next stage of the work and the council is seeking two new staff members to support the project.”

“The 2018 feasibility study also recommended an expert panel for sporting heritage in Wales should be established. I have asked Sporting Heritage, a specialised charitable company, to lead this work and 16 sports and heritage organisations are currently represented on the panel which has met virtually to develop a framework for action.”

It is anticipated that visitor numbers could rise to a target of 80,000 footfalls a year to the new football specific museum.

Based on the last public proposals, the initial estimate of the capital cost for such a facility is around £4,400,000, and the additional running costs to support the proposed museum are estimated to be in the order of £144,500 per annum.

Fourth Street will be well known in Wrexham for their work with Ty Pawb, as we reported last year the council effectively ripped up the consultants business plan for Tŷ Pawb after it became operational.