An immersive new exhibition celebrating 60 years of Match of the Day – the nation’s favourite footballing show – is to be launched at the National Football Museum in Manchester.
Running from 4th April – 27th July 2025, Match of the Day @ 60 will explore the show’s rich history and heritage, while celebrating this significant milestone for the programme.
Beginning in the 1960s with the origins of Match of the Day, the exhibition will showcase archival material, explore why and how the show began, and delve into its the early years in black and white.
It will also look at what the long-standing programme means to football fans, spotlighting iconic presenters who have shaped its legacy over the decades, as well as providing behind-the-scenes insight into how the acclaimed show is made.
Visitors can also discover how the game has changed over the years; from slow motion to VAR, it will explore how Match of the Day has trailblazed and pioneered new technologies that has kept their analysis best in class.
The exhibition will peer into the future too, with special teasers for National Football Museum visitors. With the show about to undergo a period of change as presenter Gary Lineker steps down after 26 years, the exhibition seems ever more pertinent. For the first time, the role of lead presenter will be shared by three presenters in Kelly Cates, Mark Chapman and Gabby Logan. Along with Cates, Logan will become the first woman to hold the Match of the Day presenting job permanently.
Tim Desmond, CEO at the National Football Museum, said: “Match of the Day is – and has been for 60 years – an integral part of football broadcasting, and a national institution. We are honoured to be able to host this exhibition, showcasing its brilliance over the past six decades.
We know that football matters to so many people and brings a sense of community and wellbeing and there are few better examples of football being made accessible than a programme that has been broadcast in our living rooms for so long. This exhibition pays homage to that legacy and will give old and new audiences the opportunity to learn more about this iconic piece of national heritage.”
Steve Lyle, Head of Football at BBC Sport, said: “Match of the Day has been bringing people together for over 60 years and it’s still just as treasured by audiences today as it was when it first aired. The programme has such a rich history, as well as a bright future ahead of it with three new world-class presenters, it’s wonderful that the key milestones have all brought together in this exhibition for visitors to relive.”
Admission to Match of the Day @ 60 is included in the museum ticket; there is no extra charge to visit the exhibition.
