Preston's National Football Museum has confirmed it will close for good at the end of this month.
Although the move to Manchester's Urbis centre has been in the pipeline for months, it had been hoped that the centre at Preston North End's Deepdale would remain open in some capacity. However, funding could not be agreed and it will now shut completely on April 30th.
Lancashire County Council leader Geoff Driver claimed the museum's trustees are "clearly set" on the switch to Manchester, telling the Lancashire Evening Post: "The trust has been unable to make the changes in how the museum would be run that we need to justify the significant investment we are offering."
The new centre is expected to open next year, but the future of the Preston site is yet to be confirmed.
Current exhibits at the museum include the oldest surviving FA Cup trophy and the beach ball which infamously diverted Sunderland striker Darren Bent's shot past Liverpool keeper Pepe Reina at the Stadium of Light earlier this season.
Written by Tom Jenkins
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21 October 2010
21 October 2010
21 October 2010
20 October 2010
20 October 2010
