The Scottish Football Museum is the Scottish Football League's National Museum of football, located in Hampden Park in Glasgow. The Scottish Football Museum exists to promote the unique football heritage of Scotland, to build and maintain a national football collection, and to educate and inspire future generations. The museum houses over 2000 objects of football memorabilia, including the world's oldest cap and match ticket, from the first official international match of 1872; and the world's oldest national trophy, the Scottish Cup, which was made in 1873. Although the FA Cup competition is older (established during the 1871–72 season), its original cup has been lost. Visitors can also see The Championship of the World Trophy: in 1888 Renton of Dunbartonshire, the Scottish Cup holders, beat West Bromwich Albion, the FA Cup winners, in a match dubbed as the ‘Championship of the United Kingdom and the World'. In appalling weather Renton won 4–1.
IF you think you know the history….then think again. The Scottish Football Museum at Hampden will take you on a football journey the like of which you have never been on before. Based within Hampden Park, the Museum provides a wonderful day out for fans of the great game. There are thousands of objects on display, tracing the history of football in Scotland and there is film footage highlighting some of the most memorable games and some of the great players. Sit in what was the original dressing room from the old Hampden and listen to Craig Brown addressing his Scotland team. Enter through one of the old turnstiles and watch Archie Gemmill score one of the top ten World Cup goals of all time against Holland. Marvel at the original Scottish Cup, the world’s oldest national trophy. Learn about the history of Scottish football from the 19th century right up until today. Youcan also visit the Scottish Football Hall of Fame which features the greatest players this country has ever produced. Denis Law, Jim Baxter, Kenny Dalglish and even catch some of the great foreign players to have graced the Game. Watch Henrik Larsson terrorise defences. Witness Brain Laudrup drift past defenders almost effortlessly. The Scottish Football Museum has something for all ages and, more importantly, the ability to educate and inspire future generations.
Collections. Kilmarnock Exhibition. The museum has an extensive collection of Kilmarnock Football Club memorabilia, dating back to as early 26 August 1899 with a picture of the opening of Rugby Park, Kilmarnock’s home ground, containing Kilmarnock and Celtic F.C. players who took part in the first match ever played at the ground. Medals and trophies from that time are also on display as well as Kilmarnock F.C. football shirt from 1929, when it was worn by the grandfather of former SFA chief executive and Kilmarnock player, Gordon Smith. There is also another Kilmarnock shirt which was worn in the 1960s by legendary Kilmarnock player, Frank Beattie. World of Football. Saturday, 30 November 1872, for the first time ever two national countries took to the field, Scotland and England. Both bordering nations are renowned for being the oldest international football teams in the world. A crowd of only 4,000 arrived that day to watch the historic event. 140 years on and football has become the most popular sport in the world where the 2010 World cup reached more than 3.2 billion people worldwide. This exhibition celebrates the unimaginable growth for the world of football from where we once were, where we are today, and how Scotland has its place in the start of football history.
The Scottish FA Collection. Founded in 1873, the Scottish FA is the second oldest Football Association in the world and is a founder member if the International Football Association Board (responsible for worldwide control of football’s ‘Laws of the Game’). Many items in the Scottish FA’s collection rate amongst the oldest in world football. The Scottish FA is responsible for the Scotland national team which along with the England national team is the oldest in the world, both having played in the world’s first official international match of 1872. The Hampden Park Collection. Hampden Park is Scotland’s national football stadium. The present stadium is the third to be called Hampden Park and first opened in 1903. Up until 1950 Hampden was the largest football stadium in the world and to this day holds every major attendance record within European football. It is one of the most famous stadiums in the world.
Alongside the permanent exhibits the Scottish Football Museum runs an exciting programme of special exhibitions. These themed exhibitions are inspired by the museum’s collections but often include objects from all over Scotland and beyond, offering unique chances to see some incredible items. The exhibitions are designed to draw attention to specific subjects, events, people or places; such as the Scottish Cup and Women’s Football, and help tell Scotland’s footballing story. More Than a Game Exhibition. In the Scottish Football Museum, their new exhibition ‘More Than a Game’ is now on display which explores different societies and diversities through football rivalries. Success on the football field can put towns, even countries, on the map, enhancing civic and national prestige. This can have a significant impact on people’s lives; for example, during the Great Depression of the 1930’s football acted as a form of escapism for individuals and communities in Scotland who were otherwise marginalised within society. Football supporters identify with the clubs and national team that they follow and can even view them as a symbol of their own identify. In different parts of the world today where tensions within communities have led to intolerance and hostility, violence and racism and sectarianism have often manifested within the game itself. Football, however, can also represent positive aspects of society and culture. At its very best, the global game is a celebration of humanity, community, and diversity.
Hampden Park and the Scottish Football Museum are fully wheelchair accessible. There are toilet facilities for the disabled at the site. Assistance dogs are welcome. There is a very nice cafe attached to the museum.
Location : Scottish Football Museum, Hampden Park, Glasgow G42 9BA
Transport: Mount Florida Station OR King’s Park Station (National Rail) then 5 minutes. Bus Routes : 5, 7, 12, 31, 66 and 75 stop outside.
Opening Times : Daily, 10:00 to 17:00; Sundays opens at 11:00
Tickets Museum: Adults £8.00; Concessions / Children (5 - 15) £3.00
Tickets Stadium Tour: Adults £8.00; Concessions / Children (5 - 15) £3.50
Tickets Stadium + Museum: Adults £12.00; Concessions / Children (5 - 15) £5.00
Tel. : 0141 616 6139
