New exhibition exploring historic football toys and games launches at Manchester’s National Football Museum

If you happen to be a football fan and a fan of football themed games, then a Manchester museum has a perfect new exhibition for you. A brand new exhibition exploring the history of football games and toys has launched at Manchester’s National Football Museum. The exhibition is called ‘Batteries Not Included’ and is an immersive journey through time. 

Visitors will be taken on a journey through the decades, from way back in the Victorian era all the way through to the latest technology including Virtual Reality.  The cultural differences across history will also be explored in the exhibition. 

Perhaps the best part of many people is that these toys will be available to visitors to engage with hands on. There are 17 interactive games and exhibits including Subbuteo available to play with. 

Batteries Not Included has been co-created with the community and football fans, featuring personal stories and a special, separate children’s interpretation trail. It is also the National Football Museum’s most environmentally sustainable exhibition to date, making extensive use of re-purposed materials and recycled components. 

This exhibition is the museum’s first as a new National Portfolio Organisation (NPO), which centres around ‘Football Creates’ – an inclusive, three-year cultural programme using the unrivalled appeal of football to engage people and communities in creativity.  

Tim Desmond, CEO of the National Football Museum said: “We are really excited to showcase our new exhibition to all our visitors this summer. Whilst there is certainly an element of nostalgia, Batteries Not Included also explores the future of football toys and games and importantly with many opportunities for people of all ages to engage with Football Creates through the exhibition and events programme.”  

If you can’t get to the exhibition anytime soon, have no fear. It is a relatively long term exhibition at the museum- and will run until February 25 2024.