Links With The Past: Kate Street Mural Model

When Leicester City won the Premier League title in 2016, several murals appeared around the city recording this remarkable achievement.

The most popular was in Kate Street, just off King Richards Road. It was created by Rich Wilson, a van driver from north London who had no connection whatsoever with Leicester. 

Prompted by the Foxes’ 4-0 defeat of Swansea City four games before the end of the title-winning season and convinced that Leicester City were about to become Premier League champions, he decided to drive to Leicester, find a suitable site and then create a mural of Claudio Ranieri in front of a Leicester City flag.

Rich drove around the city and found a long wall painted black in Kate Street. Receiving permission from Mark Smithson, the wall’s owner who happened to be a Leicester City fan, he carefully completed his 12 foot high mural of the Italian manager.

This was so well received by the Leicester City public that he decided to expand his mural along the complete length of the wall, which extended round a corner, by adding portraits of the title-winning players.

Rich’s masterpiece, completed in June 2016, became an instant tourist attraction. It was also used by film crews from around the world as a backdrop for their news reports.

Unfortunately, the mural no longer exists as 11 of the 13 pictures were painted over in 2019 prior to a redevelopment of the site. Only the pictures Jamie Vardy and Andy King remain. These are on the section of the wall round the corner from the main mural.

Leicester City fan Mick Bates, who created the model of Filbert Street which has been in the reception area of King Power Stadium for over 10 years, has now created this model of the Kate Street mural as a permanent reminder of Rich Wilson’s masterpiece. It is now in the Club’s heritage collection together with his impressive model of Filbert Street’s Carling Stand, which the Club has also acquired.