Football club 'saddened' after mural vandalised

The world's oldest football club said it was "deeply saddened" after a mural it commissioned about Sheffield was vandalised with graffiti.

Artist Luke Horton painted images depicting Sheffield FC and the wider city on a wall off Ecclesall Road, including club badges, a bottle of Henderson's Relish and a 20ft (6m) footballer.

Mr Horton said it was "ultra disappointing" to see the damage across the width of the painting, adding: "Sometimes it's difficult to not take it to heart."

He said he hoped to repaint affected parts, but admitted "it's not an easy fix".

The blue graffiti which says "M1" three times alongside the letters "AR" appeared recently, although it is not clear exactly when.

Mr Horton was commissioned by the football club, creating the artwork on Snuff Mill Lane in 2023.

Celebrating the region being the home of football, it is a tribute to the club as well as the wider city, with icons such as the Leadmill, the Women of Steel statue and the city's area code of 0114 featuring.

Mr Horton said the damage was "quite frustrating", and he hoped he would get time to touch up the affected areas.

Sheffield FC wrote on social media site X saying it was "deeply saddened" by the damage, adding "#ShameOnYou#".

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