Football memories find new home

A new cultural attraction has opened in Durham City, giving residents and visitors the chance to explore a unique collection of sporting history.

Fans Museum CIC, already known for its popular Sunderland venue, has launched a smaller football museum inside Prince Bishops Place Shopping Centre. 

The space, located in Units 41 and 42, showcases an extensive range of memorabilia, with visitors encouraged to handle and even try on shirts and artefacts from across the game.

Beyond celebrating football heritage, the museum plans to play an active role in the community through its ambassador team. 

A key focus will be the creation of memory boxes for care homes, designed to support wellbeing for older residents, particularly those living with dementia or Alzheimer’s.

Michael Ganley, founder of Fans Museum, said: “I’d like to say a huge thank you to Durham County Council and the team at Prince Bishops Shopping Centre for the opportunity to set up in the amazing city of Durham, allowing the Fans Museum’s vision to expand.

“Their support in this has been truly remarkable.

“Durham is visited daily from international visitors, who will now embrace the real passion of the Fans Museum’s connection with the community and football fans.

“We will also welcome students from Durham University, who will have an opportunity to not only engage with the collection but also participate with outreach projects.

“We see the dementia delivery project being a huge success and one that will benefit not only the city of Durham, but all those in the North East suffering with the disease.

“I’m extremely excited, immensely proud, and personally, I can’t wait to meet all the amazing visitors we will attract.

“If you have a loved one or know someone suffering with Cognitive Dissonance or Dementia, why don’t you get involved and help us build our memory boxes, that way you will have a greater impact supporting so many.”

The opening has been made possible through a grant from Durham County Council and the North East Combined Authority, delivered via the council’s meanwhile funding scheme, which helps bring vacant units back into temporary use to boost footfall and vibrancy while longer-term tenants are sought. 

This latest addition marks the fourth business supported through the scheme at Prince Bishops Place.

Councillor Karen Allison, Durham County Council’s cabinet member for leisure, tourism, regeneration and high street, added: “This football pop-up museum will be a fantastic addition to Durham City and provide a unique experience for shoppers.

“It also demonstrates why the meanwhile use scheme is a great way of bringing long-term vacant buildings back into use.

“Our Towns and Villages programme is a vital asset towards our ambitions for regeneration and helps to provide targeted support, training and grants for retail and hospitality businesses.

“Meanwhile, the Property Reuse Fund is helping individuals and business owners bring vacant units and unused spaces back into use across the county, much like this one in the city.”

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