Goal achieved for artist
MURAL THAT CELEBRATES NUFC STARS OF PAST IS UNVEILED
HAVE you spotted the latest celebration of Newcastle United legends that sits metres from a busy city centre street?
A new mural featuring Toon Army legends such as Bobby Robson, Kevin Keegan, and Alan Shearer has emerged just off the south end of Northumberland Street.
The sizeable artwork shows Faustino Asprilla celebrating a goal, with Peter Beardsley dancing his way through another defence. Others from the ‘Entertainers’ era to be recreated include David Ginola and Phillipe Albert, while the late Pavel Srnicek is also honoured.
Artist Marcus Reed said he wanted to showcase Newcastle United’s golden years with the Tyne Bridge and the Angel of the North also included in the background.
The mural sits on the side of menswear shop Scotts, and marketing manager Paul Ramsdale says the design was commissioned to create an “interesting talking point”.
He added: “Newcastle is a rare one club city with passionate fans and Scotts wanted to do something special unique to our Newcastle store just for them.
“Football and fashion has a real affinity with many trends and styles starting on the terraces.
“We took guidance from Marcus on who to feature as he is a big Geordie fan, but some of the players featured definitely picked themselves.
“The reaction has been really positive with people often stopping to name each of the Newcastle legends.”
Freelance illustrator Marcus, from Newcastle, said he hopes the mural will become a talking point as people pass by. The Newcastle United fan said: “It was nice to do, it’s quite rare to work on something that’s done on quite a big space.
“Scotts wanted something predominately Newcastle and take it back to the good times.
“Some people will like it and some people might not, but the reaction has been pretty good.”
He added that due to the size of the mural there was some “trial and error” but he was pleased with the end result.
Marcus worked on the mural for around two weeks before it was unveiled.