The Scottish Football Museum

It seems difficult – actually, make that impossible – to believe there’s a museum dedicated to Scottish football, going on the basis of the country’s past performances on the pitch. But this is a country with an extremely proud history in the beautiful game. After all, evidence suggests Scots actually invented football in its modern form, perhaps as early as the 15th century.

Since opening in May 2001 within the (at that time) newly redeveloped Hampden Park stadium, the Scottish Football Museum has existed to promote the country’s long football heritage, and build and maintain a national football collection to inspire future generations. (Some of whom we can only hope grow up to be handy players one day.)

Among the more than 2,500 objects on display – which make this one of the world’s most impressive national collections of football-related memorabilia and ephemera – are strips, sticker collections, gloves and programmes, as well as the world’s oldest cap and match ticket dating from the first official international match of 1872. It even holds the world’s oldest national football trophy, the Scottish Cup, which was made in 1873 (the English FA Cup competition is older by one season, but its original trophy has been lost). Oh, and one or two balls as well, naturally.

Special exhibitions in recent years have included homages to great goalscorers such as Shevchenko and Ronaldinho, Denis Law and Maradona, displays of 1970s Stirling Albion fanzines by comedian Frankie Boyle, and anniversary celebrations of the famous Hampden Park. A visit to the Scottish Football Museum can, and in all possible instances should, be combined with a tour of Hampden itself. Experience the hallowed stadium as the players do on match day, from the underground roadway entrance to the team changing rooms, and – as you walk down the tunnel – the sound of the famous ‘Hampden Roar’.