Wolves mural vandalised on derby day now restored

An artist is hoping Wolverhampton Wanderers fans will now be able to enjoy his restored mural of past and present players after it was vandalised before last month's Black Country derby.

Joe Miles said he had just finished his artwork at the entrance of Molineux Subway days before Wolves played West Brom at home on 20 September, only for blue paint to be thrown at it.

The 39-year-old has now brought it back to its former glory and is hoping fans and players "get hyped" by it, ahead of their next game at Molineux.

An 18-year-old man arrested by West Midlands Police investigating the damage has since been released on bail, the force said.

Miles was commissioned to paint the mural, featuring former players Billy Wright, Steve Bull and returning striker, Raul Jimenez, in conjunction with the club and a sponsor to help celebrate 150 years of Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux.

After the city council gave permission for the subway wall to be used, he completed it a day or two before the derby game, which Wolves won 1-0.

But fans using the walkway on matchday saw blue emulsion paint daubed some of the players' faces, he said.

"It probably wasn't the wisest to paint it on those dates, but it is what it is, and I think it definitely riled [them] up, and got the Wolves fans a bit more hyped up," he said.

He said he has now removed the paint and repaired the damage so fans can enjoy fully enjoy the artwork.

"I'm a Wolves fan myself so, being a young lad, I never really thought I'd be painting something for the club right next to Molineux," he said.

"I'm pretty lucky that I've been able to do that, and it's all been positive feedback."

He said fans have been congratulating him on his work and he is proud that they could now see it as it was meant to be.

"Because everybody that went to the West Brom match, it had already been trashed, so no-one got to see it in its full glory. But I still had lots of people coming up and saying hello and how happy they were with it and everything."

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