FULL time has been blown for Ambleside’s iconic Homes of Football museum as it closed its doors for the final time at the weekend.

The exhibits will move to the new National Football Museum at the Urbis building in Manchester after spending 14 years in Ambleside.

The exhibits are the work of photographer Stuart Clarke, who has spent his life taking pictures for the gallery, from World and European Cup matches in Japan, Portugal and Germany, to grassroots football in the Lake District.

From Inverness Caledonian Thistle to Plymouth Argyle, Mr Clarke has captured some iconic moments of the beautiful game and now his work will be shown alongside other great pieces of football history at Manchester’s new National Football Museum.

Former Burnley manager Brian Laws and ex-Carlisle United manager John Ward are two of the names who have visited the gallery, which attracts 60,000 people every year.

“It’s sad to be closing the doors, but I suppose I am looking forward to having my work in the new Football Museum,” said Mr Clarke.

“If it was going to nothing then I would be incredibly upset because I’ve put a lot of effort in here and we’ve had some great feedback over the years.

“The only bad comments I’ve really had are: ‘Why aren’t there more pictures of my team?’”

"We’ve covered just about everybody now and had some wonderful comments from people who’ve visited – not just about the work but about the place as well.”

The MP for Westmorland and Lonsdale, and life-long Blackburn Rovers fan, Tim Farron, said that it will be a big loss to the town, but hopes it can be replaced with something similar.

“It is a shame, but at least Stuart’s work will be shown elsewhere,” he said.

“It offered a lot to Ambleside and was extremely popular.

“I have been a regular visitor and bought a blown up photo of Ewood Park. It was a must for all football fans.

“Hopefully the building can be used for something similar, in terms of it being a cultural hub which will help attract people to the town.

"Ambleside is so much more than just a walkers hotspot and the building is lovely. I’d like to see it used again.”

It is unclear, as yet, what will happen to the museum building, which is rented to Mr Clarke by Lakeland Properties.