The new home of the English Football League - EFL House - was officially opened on Wednesday with a host of Clubs, managers and former players in attendance.
The EFL moved into their new Operations Centre last November but with the assistance of Lord Shuttleworth, Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Lancashire, EFL Chairman Ian Lenagan conducted the ceremony in front of 100 guests.
Former Manchester United player and assistant manager Mike Phelan, League Cup winning manager Alex McLeish and, Nigel Adkins, who won back to back EFL promotions with Southampton were all in attendance alongside representatives from the some of the league’s founder member clubs.
Adkins said: “The building is modern and impressive and in keeping with the present day, which represents the worldwide stage that the EFL is on. It’s a fantastic league, the history of the EFL was shown on a video before and it was brilliant to see the players and supporters who have graced the competition over the years.”
Former Manchester United assistant and more recently Hull City manager Mike Phelan said: “It’s great to be here, I didn’t realise how far back the League’s association with the North West goes and that Preston North End were the first team to win the league and the cup.”
He added: “There are some seriously good teams in the lower leagues and they’re all vying to be successful, which makes the EFL across all three divisions such a strong competition again this season.”
The English Football League was founded at the Royal Hotel in Manchester, becoming the first national football league in the world. Twelve teams started into the first season on September 8 1888, which would produce Preston North End as their very first champions.
EFL Chairman Ian Lenagan said: “The EFL is proud to be the world’s original league football competition, with a unique history and heritage but innovation sits at the heart of the EFL and it is therefore fitting that our new home, EFL House, matches and supports a bright future for the organisation at a hugely exciting and significant time.”
Football memorabilia from throughout the ages was on show and a short film about the EFL was premiered.
