Fans Museum

About the museum

The Fans Museum grew out of the personal collection of football memorabilia that Michael Ganley had built up over about thirty years. In 2014, when Sunderland AFC reached the League Cup Final at Wembley, he began to put the collection on display, with shirts, tickets, balls, medals and cups. In the following years it was shown in places such as The Bridges shopping centre in Sunderland, a customs house theatre in South Shields and the fan zone at the Stadium of Light on match days.

The museum now has a permanent home in Sunderland, in the Northern Gateway area. A regional tourism listing describes it as housed in the former Monkwearmouth Station museum. The collection covers Sunderland and clubs from all over the world, and includes match-worn shirts of famous players and the boardroom table from Roker Park. A virtual tour of the museum is available online.

The museum also acts as a community hub. It hosts groups such as the Fans Hub, which supports mental health through football, Andy's Man Club and Laura's Ladies Club, and it visits schools, care homes and community centres across the region.

Highlights

• Football memorabilia from Sunderland and clubs around the world
• Match-worn shirts of famous players and the Roker Park boardroom table
• Free general admission, with donations welcome
• Online virtual tour of the collection
• Community groups and outreach to schools and care homes

Permanent exhibition

• Football memorabilia collection – Shirts, medals, tickets and keepsakes donated by supporters, from Sunderland AFC and from clubs in other countries.

Founded

2018

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

General admission is free; donations of any amount are welcome.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The museum states that it is fully wheelchair accessible.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

Amenities & dining

A staffed bar is part of the venue-hire package.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events
• Weddings / ceremonies

The whole venue can be hired for birthdays, corporate events, weddings and private parties from £299 plus VAT, including a staffed bar and free on-site parking; catering and a buffet menu are available.

Plan your visit