Football Fairytales at the National Football Museum

Shekina Rose, Families Editor

Book now

Football Fairytales

17-27 August 2024
Date
Time
Session Features
17 Aug 2024
11:00 am-3:00 pm
27 Aug 2024
11:00 am-3:00 pm

Always double check opening hours with the venue before making a special visit.

A photograph of Sophia Hatfield holding a box of props. Football Fairytales
Sophia Hatfield
Book now

This summer explore a magical football fairytale forest with artist, Sophia Hatfield at Football Fairytales at the National Football Museum on 17 and 27 August.

Sophia is just about to sort out her laundry when she realises that her freshly washed clothes have been turned into goalposts, and now they’re all muddy! But, as every family knows, getting a little dirty is just part of the fun when you’re playing football, or playing anything for that matter. Now, Sophia needs your help. Join her in sorting out the laundry and at at the same time sharing some football-themed fairy tales to create a magical Football Fairytale Forest and having some fantastical football fun!

Families are invited to contribute their football-inspired stories to this magical forest using washing lines, pegs, and socks. What could the story be? A magic boot that helped you score? A quiet, humble player with an extraordinary talent? A team that always loses showing what they can really do?

Just a few story ideas, but there will be thousands more! And with the amazing Sophia leading these creative workshops, you’ll have the best time bringing your stories and the magical football forest to life.

Following on from the Football Fairytales workshop, take some time to explore the museum, packed with football history, football facts, football memorabilia, football games, just a whole world of football across several floors of changing and interactive exhibitions that will immerse you and your family in a whole world of football delight.

Kids will particularly love the ‘Play Gallery’, which hosts (among other things) a Penalty Shootout, Pass Master, Shot Stopper, shirts worn by famous footballers, history of footballs and the Discovery Zone, which is ideal for the littlest football fans!

 

Where to go near Football Fairytales at the National Football Museum

Manchester
Event venue
Festa Italiana

The 2022 Festa Italiana was a roaring success, with great food options and captivating live music performances throughout the weekend.

Cathedral Gardens
Cathedral Quarter
Park
Cathedral Gardens

Cathedral Gardens is a partially lawned public space in Manchester city centre, located between Manchester Cathedral and the National Football Museum.

Cathedral Quarter
Restaurant
Mamucium

High-class restaurant next to Victoria Station in Manchester, and attached to Hotel Indigo. Famed for steaks.

Cathedral Quarter
Restaurant
Salvi’s Mozzarella Bar

Head to this tiny Italian eatery for an authentic slice of Naples. It majors in mozzarella and the stuff here is a revelation: light, flavoursome, with oily, oozing pesto.

Chetham’s Library in Long Millgate in Manchester
Manchester
Library
Chetham’s Library

Chetham’s Library is one of the must-sees of any visit to Manchester. The library was founded in 1653, and is the oldest public library in the world – but the building dates back even further, to 1421.

Manchester
Restaurant
Döner Haus

This authentic Berlin kebab and bier haus is the latest addition to the ever-growing Corn Exchange food family.

What's on: Activity

Manchester Jewish Museum
TourManchester
Strangeways & Cheetham Hill

A real city centre hinterland, Cheetham Hill comes loaded with incredible stories and heritage. This tour places you at the heart of it all.

From £20.00
Until
ActivityManchester
Floating Art Workshops

Join expert teacher Ula for relaxed painting workshops that will have you creating work you can be proud of, no matter your level of artistic experience.

From £24.30
Saltaire Brewery - 58
Until
TourSaltaire
Saltaire Brewery Tour

The guided tour offers a behind-the-scenes look at the brewhouse and state-of-the-art packaging plant, giving visitors a full sense of what “real Yorkshire beer” means today.

From £15.00

Culture Guides

a beach. red bricks are laid out in a spiral shape on the sand.
Exhibitions

We’ve got five new Manchester exhibitions this month, from thought-provoking photography to environmental art and community-led projects.

Theatre

Closer, riskier, more immediate. Our small-scale theatre picks stretch from unsettling fables about nationhood to the inner workings of a mind trying to hold itself together.

SILVERWINGKILLER - Press Image
Music

Our latest music picks spotlight a new underground Manchester scene gaining national attention, alongside jazz, contemporary classical and more.

Food and Drink in the North

Spring is here, so sign yourself up for some much-missed al fresco dining at these highly recommended (and mostly new) Manchester restaurants.

Emily Lloyd-Saini as Grace in Space and Harrie Hayes as Lieutenant Strong in Horrible Science
Family things to do in the North

Whether you’re after storybook theatre, museum wanderings or illusion-bending play spaces, there’s plenty to keep curiosity ticking through winter and beyond.

A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night
Cinema in the North

There's no shortage of great films out at the moment, whether you're looking for the latest blockbuster, that hot arthouse flick fresh from Cannes or a cosy classic.