Sky Bet murals pop up for finalists at Wembley

The Sky Bet Championship Play-Off Finalists have been given an artistic treatment around Wembley this weekend.

Two giant murals have been unveiled outside Wembley Stadium, telling the story of Coventry City and Luton Town’s journey to the Sky Bet Championship Play-Off final – with a remaining section ready to be filled in with the winning moment for the victor.

Ahead of one of the biggest games in the domestic calendar, Sky Bet has commissioned artist John Culshaw – famed for a range of sporting murals, including Roberto Firmino’s farewell design – to create bespoke paintings for each finalist.

The 3x2m creations will be stationed pre-match within the respective fan zones outside Wembley Stadium, with a third of each design left ‘unfinished’ until after the final whistle.

Culshaw will then have a matter of minutes to complete the mural for the winning team as it is brought outside the national stadium to greet fans of the Premier League-bound club as they make their way home.

The artist, who first got into painting murals in 2018 through his work as a decorator, has created over 100 commissions, including 20 large public murals, with these being his first work with Sky Bet.

Former Coventry midfielder George Boateng and ex-Luton midfielder Olly Lee were on hand to admire the handiwork, before fans get to admire them at close quarters.

Commenting on his designs, Culshaw said: “It has been an honour to create these two murals for two fantastic football clubs, and finding a way to capture their incredible seasons in just a 3x2m space has been a real challenge.

“For one of these two teams, I’m really looking forward to capturing their winning moment from the final, and I can’t wait to witness the faces of the winning fans as they leave the stadium to see the final version.”

Leigh Peacock-Goodwin, Head of Brand and Sponsorship at Sky Bet, added: “John is a fantastic artist, and it’s great to have him create these bespoke designs for both sets of fans to enjoy on their big day. It’s a shame that only one of the murals can be finished off with the winning moment, but for one of the teams, there’s always a chance of doing it all again next year!”