THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL MUSEUM
CARE AND INTERPRETATION OF THE WORLD'S BEST FOOTBALL MEMORABILIA COLLECTION, EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES, EXHIBITIONS AND EVENTS, PARTICULARLY FOR YOUNG PEOPLE AND SOCIALLY EXCLUDED GROUPS. OUTREACH PROGRAMMES NATIONWIDE.
Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts
The accounts state that the charity generated total income of £4,810,339 and reported a net surplus of £432,846 for the year ended 31 March 2025. Per the trustees' report, unrestricted general reserves stood at £2,412,227, which is above the stated policy target of six months' running costs. The charity remains dependent on grant funding from Manchester City Council but has secured a 12-year extension to this support.
What the accounts disclose
“In the band £110,001 - £120,000 2”
“The Museum is striving to achieve general reserves equivalent to at least six months running costs in order to effectively manage unforeseen circumstances.” — page 11
“Mr Pilkington was an employee of Street Games during the year. The museum received venue hire income from Street Games of £777 in the period (2024: £677).” — page 43
In the news
Property (HM Land Registry)
Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 31/03/2025)
Trustees
- Catherine Forshaw
- Dr Wanda Wyporska
- Jane Elizabeth Bateman
- Karan Singh Rai
- Laura Pye
- Leigh Sophie Gell
- Matthew Pilkington
- Neil Christopher Fairlamb
- Professor John Brewer
- Ritchie Humphreys
- Samantha Patterson
- Stephen Grace
- Stephen Wilson
- Thomas Watt
- Virginia Khoo
Income and spending
| Financial year end | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
| 31/03/2025 | £4.8m | £4.4m |
| 31/03/2024 | £4.6m | £3.8m |
| 31/03/2023 | £3.5m | £3.3m |
| 31/03/2022 | £2.9m | £2.5m |
| 31/03/2021 | £2.6m | £2.2m |
Common questions
Is THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL MUSEUM financially healthy?
Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that the charity generated total income of £4,810,339 and reported a net surplus of £432,846 for the year ended 31 March 2025. Per the trustees' report, unrestricted general reserves stood at £2,412,227, which is above the stated policy target of six months' running costs. The charity remains dependent on grant funding from Manchester City Council but has secured a 12-year extension to this support. Its FY2025 accounts were audited by Hurst Accountants Limited.
What does the highest-paid employee of THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL MUSEUM earn?
Per its FY2025 accounts, the highest-paid employee was in the £110,001 - £120,000 band.
Who funds THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL MUSEUM?
Funders whose own accounts filings name THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL MUSEUM as a grant recipient include THE PLAYERS FOUNDATION.
Known funders
| Funder | Year | Amount | Purpose (as stated by the funder) |
|---|---|---|---|
| THE PLAYERS FOUNDATION | FY2025 | £182k | Grant funding activities |
| THE PLAYERS FOUNDATION | FY2024 | £50k | Grant funding activities |
| THE PLAYERS FOUNDATION | FY2023 | £10k | Not explicitly stated in grant list, but mentioned in context of loan materials and review |
Government & lottery funding
| Funder | Date | Amount | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| The National Lottery Heritage Fund | 12/12/2023 | £149k | "Legacy: Football and the Black Experience" |
| The National Lottery Heritage Fund | 02/06/2015 | £190k | "History of Women's Football Collection" |
| The National Lottery Heritage Fund | 03/03/2015 | £306k | "Memories of '66" |
| The National Lottery Heritage Fund | 30/09/2014 | £200k | "The Art of Football" |
| The National Lottery Heritage Fund | 26/02/2014 | £89k | "'The Greater Game' - National Football Museum World War One (WW1) exhibition and activities" |
| The National Lottery Heritage Fund | 08/09/2005 | £48k | "Saved for the Nation - The Story of the FA Cup" |
| The National Lottery Heritage Fund | 24/08/2005 | £21k | "England - A Nation of Football Fans?" |
| The National Lottery Heritage Fund | 10/03/2005 | £270k | "Purchase of the Oldest Surviving FA Cup" |
| The National Lottery Heritage Fund | 10/01/2001 | £23k | "Sir Stanley Matthews Collection" |
| The National Lottery Heritage Fund | 27/01/2000 | £48k | "Harry Langton Collection - Acquisition" |
| The National Lottery Heritage Fund | 21/11/1997 | £9.4m | "Football Museum Development" |
Funders of similar charities
| Funder | Similar charities funded | Amount to them |
|---|---|---|
| THE FOOTBALL FOUNDATION | 1 | £1.1m |
| LONDON TRANSPORT MUSEUM FRIENDS | 1 | £639k |
| STREETGAMES UK | 1 | £500k |
| MICHAEL CARRICK FOUNDATION | 1 | £157k |
| KUSUMA TRUST UK | 1 | £130k |
| MISSION INDIA | 1 | £75k |
| THE CHILDHOOD TRUST | 1 | £58k |
| BOLTON COMMUNITY AND VOLUNTARY SERVICES | 1 | £12k |
Charities like this
- MANCHESTER UNITED FOUNDATION
- MIDDLESEX COUNTY FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION LIMITED
- MANCHESTER CITY F.C. CITY IN THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
- The National Football Trust
- SOUTH MANCHESTER SPORTS CLUB LIMITED
- THE FOOTBALL FOUNDATION
Side by side with its peers
| Charity | Income | Top pay band | Staff >£60k | Reserves vs policy | Fundraising cost | Going concern |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL MUSEUM | £4.8m | £110,001 - £120,000 | — | unclear | — | no doubt |
| MANCHESTER UNITED FOUNDATION | £8.7m | — | — | above | — | no doubt |
| MIDDLESEX COUNTY FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION LIMITED | £1.6m | — | — | unclear | — | no doubt |
| MANCHESTER CITY F.C. CITY IN THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | £4.3m | — | 3 | above | — | noted |
| The National Football Trust | £12.0m | — | — | unclear | — | no doubt |
| SOUTH MANCHESTER SPORTS CLUB LIMITED | £113k | — | 0 | within | — | no doubt |