The season may be over, but our football trail should keep you entertained until August rolls around again...
In the North West of England the National Football Museum lies within Preston North End's Deepdale Stadium, split into two sections.
The National Football Museum at Deepdale
The First Half is a pitch-sized time capsule taking visitors from the game's humble past to the high-tech present. Football is placed in the wider social context from which it grew, looking at fans and historical events through film and sound.
A huge array of artefacts includes a shirt worn in the first-ever international match between England and Scotland
The Second Half looks through the minds of players and coaches at the way the game is played as well as examining the development of kit and equipment.
There is an interactive guide to the country's football grounds, while budding John Motsons can join Gary Lineker and Alan Hansen in a special edition of Match Of The Day.
A celebration of football, the museum has everything from images, photographs and paintings to more than 20,000 objects and artefacts including items from the FIFA collection.
North of the border, in a country synonymous with the beautiful game, football fans will find the Scottish Football Museum located within the national Hampden Park stadium.
Gissa Snog, Everton (2001). Picture © Stuart Clarke
Exhibits trace the history of football from the viewpoint of a nation which played an essential part in the game's development. Through interactive displays the museum looks at the social development of football, from its move into professionalism to its growth into a multi-million pound industry, examining the one thing that has never changed – the relationship between a fan and their team.
The museum contains artefacts from the history of the Scottish national team, including a ticket to the first ever international match against the "Auld Enemy" and shirts worn by legends including Denis Law and Kenny Dalglish.For those with an eye for the spirit of the game, The Homes of Football in Cumbria exhibits the work of one of the sport's most dedicated enthusiasts.
Stuart Clarke's archive of 60,000 photographs records the changes English football has undergone in the wake of the 1989 Hillsborough tragedy, when 96 Liverpool fans were crushed to death during an FA Cup semi-final.
Temptation of the Tea Girl, St. Mirren (1995). Picture © Stuart Clarke
These dramatic changes have seen English football grounds and attitudes completely overhauled, here to see in glorious detail.
The exhibition is open every day and there is even a Subbuteo table and some football related computer games to keep everyone amused.
Seven Up, Southampton (2001). Picture © Stuart Clarke
Liverpool is a city where fans of all ages will find a great tradition and feeling for football. Housed by the Anfield Stadium, The Liverpool FC Museum takes a tour through the history of England's most successful club.
All programme images from Ray Frank's Football Programme Virtual Museum
Liverpool FC made English football history when they won their fourth European Cup in 1984, and four full-size trophies can be seen in the museum as well as the spoils of the 2000-2001 season's success.
The boy wonder's boots – footwear worn by Michael Owen
A complete recreation of the legendary Bill Shankly's Liverpool dressing room circa 1965 shows a team on the verge of great things, while the on-site cinema shows what it takes to run a top football club from day to day and highlights of the team's achievements.
The stadium tour takes you behind the scenes and the Penalty Lounge will sort the Fowlers from the Southgates, but don't forget to pay your respects at the Hillsborough Memorial in honour of the 96 fans of Liverpool who died in the 1989 tragedy.
The Manchester United Museum
Moving into another city that knows a thing or two about football, Manchester's Old Trafford Stadium not only gives Manchester United somewhere to play, but houses the Manchester United Museum.
Opened in 1998 by the legendary Pele, the museum traces the club's history from 1878 to the present day while the interactive Man-U-Net has information about every first team player to take the field for the team.
From Ray Frank's Football Programme Virtual Museum
A virtual reality tour of the stadium goes behind the scenes, and armchair commentators can see if they can do it better in a match commentary feature. Visitors can gasp in awe or be sick in the (packed) trophy room. Then the tour takes in displays about kit and equipment, fans and the tragic Munich Air Disaster.
Across town Manchester Metropolitan University Library houses a collection of fans' tributes to the game in the form of that colourful tradition, the fanzine.
The collection dates back to 1963 following the history of the fanzine through the 1980s to the present day. The collection mainly represents teams from the UK, but does contain some overseas items.
To view the collection in the University's All Saints Library it is essential to apply in writing, stating your reason for visiting. A pass will be issued, but the University authorities reserve the right to refuse admission. The collection is very delicate and is only for serious enthusiasts and researchers.
Down in London the Football Association Librarywith its collection of 2,000 football publications, will satisfy the most enquiring football minds.
Older fans can reminisce with FA records that go back to when Bobby Charlton had hair, while younger followers of football can learn about the history of the game from the lofty heights of the World Cup to the grass roots non-league.
Anyone researching or interested in the history and origins of the world's first football association will find it fascinating.
The library is part of the administrative centre of English football and therefore it is essential to phone ahead and book.
At the British Library's Newspaper Library there is a celebration of one of football's greatest traditions, the official programme.
Enthusiasts of the game and anyone with an interest in sports publications will find this collection of programmes, newspapers and publications dating back to the 19th century fascinating.
The Arsenal FC Museum
Entrance is provisionally for over-18s, but as football crosses age gaps so does the library. Under-18s are admitted if they apply in writing to the Head of Services and Collections giving their age, the subject of their research and the newspapers or periodicals they wish to see.
Admittance is granted on production of an identity document bearing a signature and anyone with a British Library photographic reader's pass can automatically enter.
The Arsenal Football Club Museum has been open since 1993 and features the largest collection of any single club's memorabilia.
Tracing 115 years of Gunners history, from the club's origins as Woolwich Arsenal through the Herbert Chapman years to the double successes of 1971 and 1998, the museum also displays artefacts and items worn by Arsenal's biggest stars.
Gunners legend Bob Wilson narrates a cinematic tribute to the club, while the actual bus used to carry victorious teams through London is here for all to see.
A short trip eastwards into London, where pie is pie and mash is mash, football fans will find West Ham United and the newly built Hammers' Museum.
West Ham Chairman Terence Brown with the Bobby Moore collection
It is an essential pilgrimage for all football fans, holding the World Cup Winners' medals awarded to West Ham United and England legends Bobby Moore, Sir Geoff Hurst and Martin Peters.
The museum also examines the club's history from shipbuilding roots to battling it out in the Premier League, exploring the close relationship with its East London community.
Some interesting links...
The Football Association online
The official web site of the English Football Association contains everything an English football fan would need to know about the domestic game, from information on the England team right down to the Non-League game.
There is background to the formation of the world's first football governing body and a history of the game in general as well as a list of links to the world of English football.
The official website of the game's governing body provides up-to-date news, a guide to the updated laws of the game, a comprehensive history of the game and links to every national association in existence. It is a huge site, bursting with football information, including a great history section.
The official web site of European football's governing body carries news of all the top competitions and the issues that matter.
There are great features including the Training Ground, offering advice on nurturing young talent, people management in the age of the millionaire footballer and learning to be a referee.
There is also Trick of the Week, offering a guide to some of the most audacious skills ever seen – remember Paul Gascoigne against Scotland at the European Championship in 1996?
The Football League
4 The Game
These are the official web sites of the Football League and the Premiership, where all of the latest stats and facts are held on the world's oldest football league set-up.
The Association of Football Statisticians has produced invaluable work researching and recording an extraordinary amount of statistics on football past and present.
An extremely well laid-out site with easily accessible information and a thoroughly comprehensive database of all the clubs in Great Britain, this is a must for any serious football fan who thinks they know their stuff.
A pictorial guide to the country's football grounds, this site provides comprehensive information on what they look like, how to get there, what songs to sing and what you can eat.
There is a guide to grounds and stands long gone such as the Clock End at Highbury and the Goldstone Ground in Brighton, as well as a tribute to all those who have done the 92 (visited all of the grounds in the English League).
An absolutely huge statistics archive containing information about football games and competitions you had no idea existed – every scorer, attendance figure, ground and result is here. Fascinating, great for settling arguments and invaluable for research.
Supporters Direct is a government-backed initiative that aims to help football supporters play a responsible part in the life of the clubs they support. This website has lots of information and links for supporters considering setting up a Supporters' Trust.
An archive of the most unlikely relationship known to humankind. Ever since the first ball was kicked deep-rooted feelings have followed and this site explores the expression of the emotions that make or break our Saturday nights.
Famous names such as Brighton and Hove Albion resident poet Atilla the Stockbroker are included, but budding bards can submit their own poetry as well as organise workshops for the young and in schools.
Special thanks to all the museums and clubs who sent us images for this trail. Particular thanks to Ray Franks.
Also thanks to Stuart Clarke from the Homes Of Football, Ambleside, for his excellent shots.
