New mural unveiled In Accrington celebrating football club and town heritage

A stunning new mural celebrating Accrington Stanley’s proud history and the town’s rich heritage has been officially unveiled by the Official Accrington Stanley Supporters’ Trust (OASST).

 Installed on the exterior wall of The Crown Pub, next to the Wham Stadium, the vibrant artwork is already turning heads and is set to become a must-visit destination for supporters, residents and visitors alike. 

 Project leaders at OASST are hopeful the mural will attract tourists to the area, providing a striking backdrop for photos while telling the story of both the football club and the town it represents.

 The mural weaves together iconic elements of Accrington Stanley and the wider community. Among the many features are recognition of Accrington as a founding member of the Football League; a chimney symbolising Accrington’s industrial heritage, complete with a blue plaque marking its Football League founding status and a list of the 12 founding members; a milk bottle, a nod to the club’s famous television advert; the Accrington Pals; and the town’s distinctive NORI brick.

 The artwork also includes the outline of the Coppice, a celebration of the club’s promotion to League One in 2018, the Stanley Ultras’ drum, and many more carefully chosen references that reflect the pride and identity of the town. QR codes have also been included to help those visiting the mural to find out more, such as a history timeline.

 The project has been over two years in the making, with fans and the local community playing a central role throughout. 

 Over the past 12 months, the OASST in conjunction with #AmazingAccrington, carried out extensive consultation including special workshops, drop-in suggestion boxes at the Wham Stadium and matchday questionnaires.

In total, 832 individual contributions were received during the consultation process, including one from Emmerdale star and Accringtonian Dominic Brunt, ensuring the mural truly reflects the voices, memories and passion of the local community. All of the contributions were grouped into different sections, which are reflected in the creation i.e. trophies, the landscape, the club’s badge, industrial heritage and more.

In December 2024, the project successfully reached its fundraising target following an 11th-hour rally from #AmazingAccrington business leaders, who collectively pledged more than £4,000 to push the total beyond the original £18,021 goal. 

 Alongside this, the OASST contributed £2,150, with public pledges totalling £4,568, including a generous anonymous donation of £2,150 from an Accrington Stanley-supporting couple. A further £7,415 was secured from Lancashire County Council’s Lancashire Culture & Sport Fund following a funding application submitted by #AmazingAccrington.

 A full list of the contributors were: Lancashire County Council, the OASST and the fans of Accrington Stanley, a large anonymous donation from keen supporters, Murray Dawson (Scott Dawson Advertising and #AmazingAccrington), Mayes Accountants, Hyndburn Borough Council, Sean Keenan, Mike Berry, Stuart Rogan (HML Recycling), Stuart Nevison (Globe Enterprises), John McGregor (Haworths Financial Services), Jason Rawson (Trevor Dawson), Jonathan Wolstenholme (Whiteacres Property) and the residents of Hyndburn.

 The mural was installed by internationally renowned Liverpool artist Paul Curtis, who specialises in large-scale street art. 

 His impressive portfolio includes football-themed murals for clubs such as Liverpool FC, Everton FC and Tranmere Rovers, while last year he installed a mural commemorating Diogo Jota and his brother André Silvia. 

 Paul came to public attention with his very first piece of street art – For All Liverpool’s Liver Birds (also known as The Liver Bird Wings), which became a massive hit with locals, tourists and many famous faces too. His latest work now stands proudly in the heart of Accrington.

Peter Leatham, OASST chair, said: “It’s fantastic to finally see the finished mural in place. This has been a long process and there have been so many people involved along the way, so we would like to thank everyone for their support including Will and Emma from The Crown Pub and Punch Pubs.

 “The mural showcases some really key elements of the club and the town’s history, and we’re incredibly proud of what has been created. We hope everyone enjoys it and feels a real sense of pride when they see it.”

 Warren Eastham, Accrington Stanley chief executive, added: “It’s brilliant to have such a significant piece of cultural artwork signposting people to the ‘world’s largest small club.’ It’s an exciting addition for us as a club and for our fans. It really captures the spirit of Accrington Stanley and the town, and we’re looking forward to seeing supporters and visitors coming to admire it.”

 The mural now stands as a lasting tribute to Accrington Stanley and the community that continues to support it, a powerful visual celebration of history, heritage and football pride.