A massive new mural celebrating Sunderland AFC's historic qualification for the Europa League is taking shape in the city centre. The 11-metre by 5-metre artwork, commissioned by TNT Sports, is being painted by local fan artist Kathryn Robertson on the back wall of Victoria's Loft and Street Bar and is due for completion later this week. This artistic tribute arrives as the club sits 12th in the Premier League with 4 points from their opening three games, preparing for a home match against Arsenal this Saturday.
The mural captures the key moments from Sunderland's remarkable season that ended a 50-year wait for European football. It features Dan Ballard scoring a headed goal in the play-off semi-final and Enzo Le Fee kissing the ball before taking a corner. Another scene shows Luke O'Nien with his hands behind his head in disbelief after the team secured European qualification against Chelsea. The artwork also includes Brian Brobbey after scoring the equaliser against Arsenal and academy graduate Chris Rigg. A depiction of the Europa League trophy sits on a bed of white clouds, while manager Regis Le Bris and an image of supporters walking over Keel Crossing are also part of the composition. The words 'this is only the beginning' from Granit Xhaka's speech are included, framing the entire project.
Kathryn Robertson, a 32-year-old artist from Silksworth and a lifelong Sunderland fan, was specifically chosen by TNT Sports to create the piece from a supporter's perspective. "We already have a mural in the city of when Dan Ballard scored the headed goal in the play-off semi final," Robertson said. She described the new work as representing the dream of European success. "It represents the dream that hopefully we could maybe go on and lift the trophy - you just never know." The broadcaster wanted a local artist to authentically capture the emotion of the club's promotion and subsequent European qualification.
The artwork is scheduled for completion ahead of Sunderland's Premier League fixture against Arsenal on Saturday, September 12. The club's European campaign then begins in earnest with their first Europa League group stage match against AZ Alkmaar on Wednesday, September 16. Both of these upcoming games, along with all of Sunderland's Europa League fixtures this season, will be broadcast live on TNT Sports. The team's current form shows one win, one draw, and one loss from their first three league matches, scoring and conceding three goals each. They are five points behind leaders Manchester City and will be without the sidelined Habib Diarra for the immediate future. Fans can track the team's progress and upcoming challenges, including the full European schedule, on the club's fixtures page and check the latest standings.
This permanent celebration of last season's success comes as the club handle the early stages of a new Premier League campaign and prepares for its first European adventure in over half a century. The mural serves as a daily reminder of the achievement for fans in the city centre. With the team aiming to build on a solid start and improve their goal difference from the current zero, the artwork symbolises the renewed ambition at the Stadium of Light. Supporters can also view the first-team squad list and player details on the official squad page. Sunderland's next challenge is a home match against second-placed Arsenal this weekend.
