SIR BOBBY Charlton has backed Preston as home for the
National Football Museum.
The Old Trafford legend, who is the museum's president, says he likes its current home in Preston.
As revealed in Tuesday's M.E.N,
the attraction is to move from Preston North End's Deepdale home to Urbis in Manchester city centre.
The move has been hailed as a `coup' for Manchester.
But Sir Bobby, who was given the freedom of Manchester in March, said: "I have always thought Preston was a good site for it.
"It was a bit more independent than most. I know it's away from the main population centres of London, Manchester and Birmingham but it's a marvellous museum. I go there sometimes and stay for hours.
"I thought Preston was a good place. It's near the motorway and quite easy to get to."
Sir Bobby, 71, who played for and managed Preston, believes money has dictated the switch.
"If it's moving there must be a good reason," he said. "In these financial times everyone is having to change."
And he dismissed claims that the museum was relocating to the home of football.
"England is the home of football and the rules of the game were started in London," he said.
Fantastic
But others from Manchester's football fraternity believe it is the right move.
City hero Mike Summerbee, himself a proud Prestonian, said: "It's a fantastic museum and it's great that it is coming to Manchester - but you have to feel sorry for Preston.
"They did a fantastic job setting it up and this will be a really big loss to the place.
"However, Manchester benefits because it is in a more central position. It has better motorways and an airport. There is no better place and it's a wonderful idea from Sir Howard Bernstein."
Former United favourite Pat Crerand believes Manchester is `the only place' for the museum, described as a `jewel' by Fifa president Sepp Blatter.
He said: "I'm absolutely delighted about this. The amount of people that come to the city for football means it is the only place. It will be a big success I'm sure.
"I'll be going and might even see myself if they've got an oldies section."
And former Blues winger Dennis Tueart agreed.
He said: "It's perfect. There is no bigger footballing centre in the world than Manchester.
"A museum must be as accessible to as many people as possible. The reasons for having it in Preston were honourable but I think this will raise its profile. It's a sensible decision."
The move has not gone down well in Preston, where the city's MP Mark Hendrick had campaigned to keep it.
He said: "It's not a done deal but it is looking that way. It's a major blow to Preston, which is the home of football. We have the oldest ground and Preston North End was a founder member of the game.
"I must say, though, that if it has to move, Manchester is the lesser of many other evils. There was talk of it going to Liverpool or even London. Manchester is not too far away and has a fantastic footballing history."
Soccer museum set for city transfer
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400 people a week visiting in Preston...
It will be 400+ people a day and more on match days with all the day trippers coming to OT.
Nuff said really...
just goes to show how out of touch he is maybe he needs to retire some where warm and quiet!!!
Well said Sir Bobby. London IS the real home of football and where, like most sports, the rules of the game were actually invented.
But this is Preston's museum and shame on "greedy" Manchester for trying to "poach" it away. Imagine the local uproar if London did the same to Manchester??
Instead of clogging up The Trafford Centre on a United match day, the tourists might have something that actually attracts them into Manchester for the first time in thier lives!
You can't argue with the figures. If Preston was the right place then it would be making money and having a large number of visitors - this clearly isn't the case so there's no room for sentimentality. Preston, Manchester, Sheffield, London all played their parts along with many other towns and cities in footballs development so I don't think there's much of an arguement to have when it comes to where such a museum should be. If it isn't a success in Manchester then the same will happen in the future with it probably ending up in London.
Shame on greedy Manchester? Although I don't agree with it replacing Urbis its hardly as though Manchester has 'robbed' Preston of it. Preston can't afford to keep it running; its as simple as that. They are also looking at Liverpool but that hasn't been mentioned for some reason?
The harsh but reality of it is due to it's Preston location it never really had enough visitors to support the investment. Manchester will be able to attract at least a further 1.5mill through the gates ?.
I think Manchester is the right place as it is more readily accessible to the majority of the population than Preston.
It would probably be better sited near COMS than Urbis as parking would be a lot easier there than right in the city centre.
He isn't from Manchester, has never worked in Manchester and doesn't live in Manchester and therefore has no affiliation to Manchester. So why would he want it to be housed in Manchester?
You have to ask yourself if you asked a american who are the only football teams they know about in britain and they will say (Manchester United/Manchester City) These are facts that most people on the planet have heard of manchesters teams .ask the same question to anybody on the planet name the football team from preston? I bet most people would say "WHERE IS PRESTON" Never mind know the football teams name.
I think Manchester is the right place as it is more readily accessible to the majority of the population than Preston.
It would probably be better sited near COMS than Urbis as parking would be a lot easier there than right in the city centre.
Maxie Fergie,
9/09/2009 at 10:51
Yes I am sure you are correct on the parking issue even on match days (apart from the derby of course).
Blue Dude Its 2000 a week in Preston. I agree that Urbis will get 400 a day = 145000 a year. If you honestly think visitor numbers to Urbis will double to 400,000 as the city council say then you are deluded. The only reason NFM is moving is funding. The city council need more exhibits to fill URBIS, to ensure return visits and so are chucking money at it. If the Football Stadium Improvements Fund hadnt withdrawn its £300K a year the NFM would stay in Preston.
United fans will still just go to the United museum which draws 200,000pa. To put visitor numbers in perspective the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown draws 350,000pa.
Keep it on the move..give it a home in Manchester for 10 years,then move it to Liverpool,so on so forth...Just keep it away from the South.
mustn't be any free tickets on offer then
Yes I am sure you are correct on the parking issue even on match days (apart from the derby of course).
steve wilson
9/09/2009 at 11:15
Yes Steve the biggie against the 'Pool could be difficult to park but that's only one day.
Seventeen to twenty million people a week watch Coronation Street. Yet how is Granada Studio Tours doing lately? Hmmmm, anyone?
as a city fan of 40 years plus i have the utmost respect for bobby and agree with him on this point - i suspect most of the posters have never been to the museaum in preston , well i have (twice) and it is a superb day out - the location is excellent , there is even a part of the tour that has a viewing tower overlooking deepdale which is also now a very impressive stadium . preston north end were one of the original football super powers - if you are real football fans you would not begrudge a trip up the m6 - manchester has more than enough museums already ?
The start arrow on Bobby's face, on the video link makes him look like a giant crow.
Please accept my apologies Mr Haughey - 2000 visitors / week in Preston.
The simple economics of this (same argument for the ill fated casino) is that Seven (7) million people live within 1 hours drive of the MEN arena (according to their figures) and so is able to sell out concerts and attract big names you and I may not like all the names; West Life, Elton John, Girls Aloud etc) but they are big names nonetheless. I dont know what the population figure is for 1 hour drive time for Preston, it is a shame but money talks.
Bobby are you still selling FA Cup tickets on the black market, i will keep it all hush hush.
You cannot compare granada studios to urbis, the granada tour was well over £10.00 in the 90's, urbis is free.
maxie fergie only in the mind of a citeh fan would the match against liverpool be the biggie,any liverpool fan knows that the match against utd is the one to win!
"He isn't from Manchester, has never worked in Manchester and doesn't live in Manchester and therefore has no affiliation to Manchester. So why would he want it to be housed in Manchester?"
The Devil's Advocate, M11 born and bred, East Stand Lower 104
You could say that about any of City's current players, apart from the fact that they work in Manchester for about 90 minutes a fortnight to entertain the good people of Stockport.
maxie fergie only in the mind of a citeh fan would the match against liverpool be the biggie,any liverpool fan knows that the match against utd is the one to win!
steve wilson
9/09/2009 at 14:14
Steve, I think you mean was.
In fairness to Bobby he did manage Preston at one time.
I think he was there marginally longer than Steve Coppell was at City.