Saddlers join forces with Black Country Living Museum

Black Country Living Museum and Walsall Football Club are proud to announce a new partnership that celebrates the shared identity, history, and community spirit of the Black Country.

The collaboration will see Walsall’s scholars making use of the Museum’s learning centre, while the Club will also have access to the Museum’s unique business facilities. In turn, the partnership offers new opportunities to highlight the region’s sporting and cultural heritage side by side.

As the UK’s Large Visitor Attraction of the Year 2025, Black Country Living Museum brings to life the sights, sounds and stories of the region’s industrial past. Walsall Football Club, with its deep roots in the community and passionate support, represents another strand of that same history. Together, the two organisations aim to connect with people across the Black Country by creating opportunities that honour the area’s heritage, it’s proud sporting traditions and rich diversity.

This partnership also forms part of a wider initiative to strengthen ties between the Museum and sports clubs across the region, building bridges between heritage and sport while celebrating the communities at their heart.

David Middlemiss, Deputy Chief Executive (Business Development) at Black Country Living Museum, said:
“We’re thrilled to welcome Walsall Football Club as a partner. The Saddlers are a proud part of the Black Country’s sporting identity, and this partnership reflects our ambition to connect with clubs across the region. Just as the Museum celebrates the stories of working people, Walsall FC has long been at the heart of its community. Together we can continue to inspire pride in our shared history and support the next generation.”

Keira Webb, Partnerships Manager at Walsall Football Club, said:
“We are delighted to partner with the Black Country Living Museum. With a shared pride in the Black Country’s identity, it is a partnership that I am looking forward to see blossom over the season whilst we continue to celebrate the people and the community.”

Looking ahead, the Museum and the Club will explore ways of working together on joint events and community activities, from educational programmes to family engagement days. Both organisations are committed to making the most of this partnership by creating experiences that bring history, sport and local pride together in exciting new ways.