Burnley's football history to take centre stage in major Towneley Hall exhibition next summer
A major exhibition celebrating Burnley Football Club and the town's rich footballing heritage is set to open at Towneley Hall next summer as part of Burnley's Year of Culture 2027 celebrations.
The exhibition, which will run from mid-July until mid-September, will showcase the story of the Clarets alongside Burnley's long-standing identity as a football town, bringing together a collection of historic memorabilia and artefacts, many of which organisers say will be real "wow" pieces.
The project is being developed by Clarets Collected in partnership with Towneley Hall's curatorial and design teams, the National Football Museum, Burnley FC in the Community, Burnley FC historian Shaun Borman and football historian Dr Stephen Tate.
Gallery space has now been secured, with organisers promising one of the biggest exhibitions dedicated to Burnley's football heritage in recent years.
It is expected to form part of the wider programme of events taking place during Burnley 2027: A Year of Culture, Community and Creativity, which will celebrate the borough's history, culture and communities throughout the year.
More details about the exhibition, including featured items and opening events, are expected to be announced in the coming months.
The announcement comes as Clarets Collected continues to expand its work preserving the club's history. More than 300 pupils and staff took part in the group's schools programme over the past year, learning about Burnley FC's history before enjoying a guided tour of Turf Moor. Dates have already been confirmed for next season, with schools booking sessions before the summer holidays.
The group's current One of Our Own exhibition at Burnley Library has also proved popular since opening in May. Focusing on homegrown Burnley players from the club's earliest days through to the modern era, the exhibition attracted more than 70 people to its launch and has continued to welcome visitors throughout the summer.
Among those attending the opening was Burnley FC's International Fan of the Season, John Patrick Rosch, who travelled from Denver, Colorado. A Clarets season ticket holder, he attended 15 Burnley matches last season despite living thousands of miles away.
Clarets Collected has also recently added a rare souvenir programme from the 1914 FA Cup Final to its growing archive. The 30-page publication has been donated to the collection and features a wealth of historic photographs and memorabilia from one of the most significant matches in the club's history.
The organisation's catalogue is also now available online, allowing supporters and researchers to search thousands of items before viewing them at Burnley Library.