Huge Leeds Rhinos' Kevin Sinfield mural set for Headingley Skyrack beer garden wall prompts search for business sponsors

Dan Whiteley, who is admin of the two main Leeds Rhinos supporter Facebook groups, has launched an appeal on social media to find someone who would like to help sponsor part of the project.

The mural will be painted on the wall overlooking the Skyrack beer garden in Headingley which is one of the area's most popular social hotspots - seen by 'thousands each week' according to Dan.

The group of 10 mural-planners are offering Leeds businesses the chance to part sponsor the project, in return for an advertisement that will be up 'indefinitely for as long as the mural is around'.

Dan, aged 25, added that he is hopeful the mural will outlive him in a bid to persuade a company to take on the sponsorship.

The group is planning on fundraising the remainder of the cost from 'fantastic' Rhinos fans - as according to Dan, they 'want their own claim to this too'.

Dan assured businesses that their support 'will not go unnoticed' amid a 'complex' time of 'tight budgets'.

He also outlined the process planned for the mural, which includes assurance that the group has got the final costs for rendering the wall and final piece.

Dan added that a 'local Leeds company' will be rendering the wall to ensure it is in the best condition for painting, and separately thanked Craig Hetherington for offering to survey the wall and provide scissor lifts completely free of charge.

Artist "Akse" - who painted the Kalvin Phillips, Rob Burrow and Josh Warrington murals - will be painting the mural.

Dan said that while he does not have a timescale of when the mural will be finished, he is hoping it will be ready for completion when lockdown restrictions are lifted in the summer.

He added: "We're looking really forward to making this happen and it's very much a show of appreciation from us the fans to the man who has been selfless to our club and community since he was a teenager!"

Any businesses interested in being involved in sponsorship are invited to message Dan directly on Facebook within the next two weeks.

Dan's full appeal on social media said: "KEVIN SINFIELD MURAL UPDATE

"ATTENTION BUSINESS OWNERS / DIRECTORS / THOSE WITH LINKS TO BUSINESS

"Me and a group of others have now finalised all the details for the Sir Kev Mural that will be placed on the wall overlooking the Skyrack beer garden in the HQ, Headingley.

"We now have final costs for rendering the wall and the final piece, before we start to fundraise with the fans, we really wanted to see if there were any business/companies that would like to help sponsor part of the project, for you this would include an advertisement that will be up indefinitely for as long as the mural is around (I'm 25 and I'm hopeful it should outlive me!).

"This will be located in the one of the busiest locations in the city, seen by thousands of people each week. The mural will also attract media and I'm sure it will be used in publications for many years to come. I have attached a photo and video of the location if you're not too familiar with Headingley.

"This now opens a 2 week window where we will be open to speak to any business' that would like to get involved. We completely appreciate the complexity of the situation at the moment and how a lot of budgets are tight, your support will not go unnoticed.

"Here is our current layout of stages:

"1) Find any appropriate sponsors and then raise funds through our fantastic fanbase. (Final cost to be confirmed after sponsorships)

"2) Wall will be rendered by a local Leeds company who will ensure the wall is in the best condition for painting. This will also include surveying and scissor lifts provided by a separate local company FREE of charge (we cannot thank them enough for this) Craig Hetherington

"3) Artist "Akse" who painted the Kalvin Phillips, Rob Burrow and Josh Warrington Murals will begin work on the mural. You can find him on Instagram @akse_p19 if you'd like to take a look at his work.

"4) We don't have a timescale of when this will be finished, as it all depends on funds etc first, but we are hoping we can have this ready and in place for complete lockdown restrictions lifted in summer

"If you would like to consider a business for sponsorship or are interested in being involved, please direct message me via Facebook.

"We're looking really forward to making this happen and it's very much a show of appreciation from us the fans to the man who has been selfless to our club and community since he was a teenager!!!"