A NEW touring exhibition exploring the connection between football and the army has been launched at Cumbria’s Museum of Military Life.  

The exhibition, which will go on tour around other North-West museums came to the museum, located at Carlisle Castle, on September 28. 

As part of a wider nationwide project, the exhibition is a collaborative venture between North-West partners Cumbria's Museum of Military Life, Lancashire Infantry Museum in Preston, and the Fusilier Museum in Bury, with support from the National Football Museum and Cumbria Archive Service.

The exhibition has been funded by Army Museums Ogilby Trust (AMOT), in partnership with Sporting Heritage CIC. The nationwide project was to develop a greater understanding of the relationship between sport and the armed forces. 

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The exhibition uses many fascinating images and archival material from the collections of the partner Museums illustrating the popularity of football in the Army. It shows how football helps keep soldiers fit and morale high, how it prepares for combat, with a focus on both the First World War and the Second World War.

Jules Wooding, Museum Manager said: "It has been great to work with colleagues from Carlisle Archives, Lancashire Infantry Museum, The Fusilier Museum and The National Football Museum on this project. With the amazing success of the England Women’s Football team, and the forthcoming Men’s World Cup in November, it is a brilliant time to focus on football and explore our collection here at the museum."

The exhibition will run at the museum until November 20. 

An accompanying holiday workshop with a football theme will run at the Museum on Wednesday 26th October 11-3pm at Cumbria’s Museum of Military Life.

Visit www.CumbriasMuseumOfMilitaryLife.org or call 01228 532774 for opening times. 

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