The Last Game At Wilderspool Mural
On April 14th, 2023, I had my first match day experience at the Kings Head Hotel during the Wolves v Wigan match. The lively crowd outside, fully immersed in the pre-game excitement, immediately grabbed my attention.
Amidst the buzz, the large cable end of the building caught my eye as the perfect canvas for a Warrington Wolves mural, I asked myself why isn’t there a mural on there?
The image of Paul Cullen, saluting the Wolves faithful, sprang to mind. With the last game at Wilderspool marking 120 years of history, finding a single image to capture it would be difficult. However, Paul, a true Warringtonian, felt like the perfect choice. When I shared my idea with friends, they agreed that Paul’s image was perfect, he played for the club and managed, saved the from relegation on the final day.
I was impressed by the fantastic venue that is the Kings Head, a true gathering place for fans on match days. As a listed grade 2 building, careful planning was needed for the mural. I began painting the mural a year later.
Public spaces are an essential part of our towns and communities, and they play a vital role in shaping our lives. Whether it’s a park, a street corner, or a community center, public spaces bring people together and provide a sense of place. However, many public spaces often lack character and vitality. This is where mural art comes in, offering a unique and dynamic way to transform these spaces into vibrant, engaging, and beautiful places.
The butterfly on the very top symbolises the butterfly effect, the mural is a small thing in comparison to the surroundings but as a big impact and hopefully create a sense of identity and reflect the towns culture and a scene of pride.
I would like to thank Andy and Paul from the Kings Head Hotel for their full cooperation through out. Dave and Ivor from Rocking Chair for letting me try out the colours on their wall and use some equipment.
The mural was funded by Warrington Arts Council, who are planning more projects around Warrington in the coming months. Chloe from Crown paints provided the paint for free. Jason from United Powered Access provided the Cherry Picker for free. Dave from Touchline gave me T shirts to wear for free. Everyone played there part to make this mural a reality, i thank you all.