Wrexham Heritage

Wrexham’s ‘Museum of Two Halves Project’ Unveils New Name and Logo at Official Brand Reveal Event

Minister for Culture, Skills and Social Partnership – Jack Sargeant

Wrexham unveiled a defining moment in its cultural journey today, with the official brand reveal of the museum’s new name and logo, a fresh identity deeply-rooted in the region’s proud footballing heritage celebrating community spirit within a county steeped in rich cultural and industrial history.

The preview event, held at the newly named ‘Football Museum of Wales and Wrexham Museum’, brought together Welsh Government with Wrexham County Borough Council and the museum.

This formal nod to the sport’s deep cultural contribution within a space dedicated to linking past heroes with future generations, signals an important step forward for the long-awaited museum, the transition from construction to curation and storytelling as it moves closer to opening.

“Today’s visit represents a defining moment for Wales’ newest museum. It brings together our mission for a Football Museum of Wales, a fitting home for our National football collection and ambition to deliver a destination that will inspire visitors for generations to come.” Jack Sargeant – Minister for Culture, Skills and Social Partnership commented. “This new identity captures the pride we all feel for our football heritage and the role this museum will play in celebrating the game that unites our communities.”

This re-brand is not just an aesthetic change, but a vision for how the museum will honour the stories, triumphs, and memories of football fans and players alike. Thanks to essential funding from Welsh Government alongside other funding partners, the museum project team have delivered an exceptional visitor attraction, celebrating football’s role in Welsh culture and community – demonstrating how sport heritage and local history continue to connect people across generations.

Paul Roberts, Lead Member for Partnerships and Community Safety WCBC said: “Sport inspires generations – and this brand reveal marks a massive step toward honouring that legacy in a way that everyone can be proud of. We are all looking forward to the opening of this museum with great anticipation and pride.”

This new brand forms part of an extensive creative project which will be rolled out across the Museum’s digital platforms in the coming weeks.

Added Alwyn Jones, Chief Executive WCBC. “Today’s event is an exciting reminder that this building will soon be alive with visitors, stories and shared experiences.”

Work continues behind the scenes, with interior fitting and gallery preparation well underway. Project teams are currently focused on installing state-of-the-art displays, interactive elements and visitor amenities, as the galleries takes shape.

Opening date announcements and details of upcoming exhibitions will be shared as soon as they are confirmed.

150 years ago today saw the search for players for the first ever Cymru team come to an end as they prepared to face Scotland NT in Glasgow on 25/03/1876.

#WrexhamMuseum #StDavidsDayWrexham #FootballMuseumWales #AmgueddfaBelDroedCymru #AmgueddfeyddWrecsam

The team from the highly anticipated, football museum for Wales, held special workshops today at the Wynnstay Arms in Wrexham, to mark the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the FAW’s formation.

Each school session focussed on how and why the FAW was formed and was set within the room used for that first meeting, 150 years ago.

They also learned who attended the first FAW meeting and were encouraged to explore who was missing and why, which lead to discussions around the women’s game and global majority histories.

The sessions followed a similar style to a successful pilot project undertaken with Carmarthenshire Libraries at the end of 2025, where pupils explored various stories around Welsh football including the women’s game.

Today’s event commemorated an important, anniversary in Welsh football’s story, engaging schools with local and national history supporting the curriculum for Wales.

Paul Roberts, Wrexham County Borough Council’s lead member for partnerships and community safety, said: “The school groups at The Wynnstay have enjoyed a taste of the engaging, innovative new ways they will explore and learn about our diverse local and football history. This experience offers an exciting glimpse into how future visits will bring the past to life through interactive storytelling and hands-on discovery, at Wrexham’s new museum.”

“What a fantastic photo opportunity and a special chance for children to meet their football heroes on such a momentous day in Wales’ football history. We’ve enjoyed a full and inspiring schedule in Wrexham, beginning with the museum team, who showcased remarkable objects from the collection to our council members at this historic venue—an integral part of the Welsh football story.”

Ian Gwyn Hughes, Head of Public Relations & Culture, Football Association of Wales

Redevelopment works at Wrexham’s ‘Museum of Two Halves’ are progressing at pace, with galleries taking shape revealing the extensive new layout. The historic building is emerging from refurbishment and the brand new, world-class, national attraction is set to open later this year.

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Main Photo:
St Marys RC School – Wrexham
Wrexham Museum: Eleri Farley – Learning Officer; Shon Lewis – Football Engagement Officer
FAW: Mike Jones – FAW President; Nia Davies – Head Coach Wales Women’s U-19; Chris Gunter-  Cymry U-19 Head Coach; Craig Bellamy – Head Coach Wales Men’s Team; Dave Adams – FAW Technical Director, Delwyn Derrick – Football Engagement Officer, Wrexham Museum.
Noel Mooney – FAW CEO talking to Ian Gwyn Hughes

Redevelopment works at the Museum of Two Halves are progressing at pace, with galleries really taking shape now. The historic building is emerging from its refurbishment chrysalis and Wrexham’s new, world-class national attraction is on-track for opening later this year. 

On the 29^th January 1876, once again in the pages of the Field, and following the deluge of supportive letters the publication had received over the past three weeks in response to his suggestion about creating a Welsh national football team, George Clay-Thomas writes once more…and he’s not happy!

George had stated quite clearly in his original letter on the 8^th January that he was merely suggesting the creation of a Wales team. However, he seemed to be quite upset that the numerous respondents had gotten the wrong end of the stick and were seemingly expecting him to be arranging this London-based match.

He was particularly unhappy with ‘A Highlander’, from a fortnight earlier, who had suggested that this shouldn’t be considered a true Wales side as the players would be Anglo Welsh, but was nonetheless supportive of a match taking place. George seemed particularly aggrieved with Highlander’s suggestions on how he felt George should be proceeding to arrange this match.

With time quickly running out however, George seemed to realize that the only way this match would ever become a reality was if he accepted his fate and, as suggested, stepped in to arrange things. Finishing his letter with a swipe at Highlander he basically said:

“Fine, I’ll make the arrangements for a London-based Welsh team, but you step up and either arrange the Scottish side yourself or find someone else to do it!”

By now, it is evidently clear from his correspondence that Clay-Thomas only had eyes for a match played under rugby rules, despite mentioning Association matches (albeit fleetingly) in his original letter. It’s at this point where the story of Welsh football’s early days veers away from George Clay-Thomas.

Back in Wrexham, even prior to his letter in the Field, Llewelyn Kenrick had been busily engaged in corresponding with players in various parts of Wales, assisted by George and David Thompson, urging them to form football clubs. He was also the main inspiration behind the movement to create the famous Black Park club in Chirk, for whom one of Wales’s most famous sons would decades later begin his career, one Mr. William Henry Meredith!

On the Wednesday following the publication of Llewelyn’s letter, Kenrick chaired a meeting at the Wynnstay Arms Hotel, its sole purpose…to appoint a committee that would arrange a game. As the Field would report later that week on the 29^th January:

“A meeting to discuss the project of playing an International football match with Wales according to Association rules was held at the Wynnstay Arms Hotel, Wrexham, North Wales, on Wednesday last, when a committee was appointed to make preliminary arrangements. As soon as the match is definitely fixed, trial matches will take place on the ground of the Denbighshire County Cricket Club at Wrexham, for the purpose of choosing the Cambrian eleven. Gentlemen desirous of playing in these matches are requested to send in their names and addresses to the Chairman of the Cambrian Football Association, Ruabon, as early as possible.”

We didn’t know who the opposition would be, or where we’d play, but we had a plan on how to create a squad. Trials would be held and the callout for potential players had been made…we were up and running.

But the Cambrian Football Association? Really?

Surely there’s a better name than that out there!