Get the perfect Christmas gift for the football fan in your life at the National Football Museum

If you’re in Manchester this Christmas, you probably fall into one of two camps: football fans or people who need to buy presents for football fans.

Luckily for both groups, Manchester is home to the excellent National Football Museum, as much a part of the city’s festive experience as drinking gluhwein at the Christmas markets or wondering if you can make your way down Market Street in less than two hours on a Saturday afternoon.

The museum’s seasonal adverts feature their staff and volunteers highlighting the ways in which the museum can be part of your Christmas, from keeping kids entertained with skills sessions to getting the family together to share memories of ’66 at the excellent World Cup exhibition.

But for now the most important part is almost certainly the shop. For the football fan who already has the replica shirt, the official licensed lunchbox and couldn’t possibly watch another DVD packed with hilarious own goals, help is at hand.

There’s a great selection of gift ideas online or you could call into the museum in person to see the full range. Dive out of the crowds, get some gift inspiration and perhaps even have a nice warm brew in the café there, looking out onto the ice rink and the markets.

If you need a bit of help deciding what to get, they have even created a short online quiz to help you figure out what to buy for the football fan in your life, with ideas ranging from stocking-filling books to rare signed shirts. All ages, all clubs and all budgets are catered for. Take the quiz here.

But remember. The National Football Museum isn’t just for Christmas. It’s for life.

The museum shop (open 9am – 5.30pm until 23 December) and café (open 8am – 5.30pm, 9am – 5.30pm Sundays, until 23 December) are open daily. The museum is open 10am – 5pm daily. Admission is free, but donations are encouraged from museum visitors.