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Only A Game? Major UEFA Football Show Comes To Liverpool

By 24 Hour Museum staff

18/07/2008

Image: photo shows a group of liverpool players with the UEFA cup in 1976

Liverpool's 1976 LP celebrating the European Cup win

Europe’s love affair with the beautiful game is explored in an entertaining new exhibition opening this October at World Museum Liverpool. Opening October 11 2008 and running through till March 1 2009, Only a Game? looks at the human face of football in Europe from the classic era of the 1950’s to the modern age of global superstars.

The exhibition features rare objects from legendary matches, top European trophies and memorabilia from star players.

"There is no city in Europe where football means more than it does to the people of Liverpool - so I think it is great that we are having a European football exhibition as part of Liverpool 08," said Liverpool star Steven Gerrard.

Image: photo shows a neck brace worn by Bert Trautmann

Bert Trautmann's neckbrace worn after his famous injury in the 1956 FA Cup Final

"I am delighted that UEFA is bringing this exciting exhibition to Liverpool during its Capital of Culture celebrations, a city that loves its football and plays such a big role in Europe’s fascination with the game,” said Michel Platini, President of UEFA and three times European Footballer of the Year.

Looking at European culture through the lens of football, Only a Game? highlights the parallels, positive and negative, between the two. Solidarity, success, participation, celebration, racism and integration will all be examined in this thought-provoking exhibition. The city of Liverpool has played a central role in this story.

Image: photo shows the European footballer of the year trophy won by George Best in 1968

George Best's European Player of the Year Award trophy from 1968

Lilian Thuram, official patron of the exhibition and winner of both the World Cup and European Championship with France, said: “Football brings people together across Europe. It speaks a simple language that everyone understands. Only a Game? shines a light on all the actors that play a role: fans, school kids, amateurs, as well as the professional players.”

Highlights of the exhibition will include:

  • Player memorabilia from the National Football Museum - shirts, medals and trophies of great European players such as Phil Neal, George Best, Ferenc Puskas, Franz Beckenbauer, Bobby Moore, Stanley Matthews and Petr Cech
  • A display of UEFA trophies, including the Champions League trophy and UEFA Cup
  • A set of giant football figures telling the evocative personal stories of players, including Kevin Keegan, Bernd ('Bert') Trautmann and Johann Cruyff
  • Key items from the Everton Collection and from Liverpool FC Museum
  • Memory Zone where visitors can mix their own football highlights into a video clip and set it to a soundtrack
  • Interactive multimedia football quiz
  • Portrait gallery of grassroots footballers from Liverpool and across Europe
  • Image: photo shows a glass case with historic football shirts in it

    Display case containing the shirts and boots of Europe's greatest players

    “Sport is part of Liverpool’s heritage and football has helped to shape this city of culture, so it should be no surprise to see it feature so prominently in the Capital of Culture programme,” said Bryan Gray, Chair of the Liverpool Culture Company.

    “We are delighted to welcome Only a Game? to the European Capital of Culture; I can think of nowhere more fitting for this thought-provoking exhibition.”

    World Museum Liverpool
    William Brown Street, Liverpool, L3 8EN, Merseyside, England

    T: 0151 478 4399
    Open: Mon-Sat 1000-1700 Sun 1200-1700 Call first to avoid temporary closures
    Closed: 24 December, from 2pm. 25, 26 December 1 January

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