Leeds Rhinos fans invited to contribute to huge Headingley Kevin Sinfield mural in donation plea

Dan Whiteley, who is admin of the two main Leeds Rhinos supporter Facebook groups, has launched a 'final push' appeal to secure funds from fans for 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 in the process of confirming part sponsorship for the mural with a number of Leeds businesses, but want the 'majority of the project to come from the fans'.

Dan, aged 25, said this stage is 'make or break' for the project and is encouraging Leeds Rhinos fans to contribute to a 'fantastic piece of work that will stand tall for years to come'.

The businesses who are part-sponsoring the mural will get an advertisement alongside the mural in return.

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!"

Dan's fan-fundraising appeal said: "KEVIN SINFIELD MURAL - FUNDRAISING.

"Guys this is it, the final push.

"Before work can begin we now need to secure funds, we have had some fantastic help from a few sponsors at the moment but the majority of this project is going to come from the fans.

"Please donate via the link below! ANY amount counts, but if you’d like a suggested donation £10 would be fantastic - however, I know times are tough and people are stretched for funds, so no matter how much you donate, YOU have contributed to this fantastic piece of work that will stand tall for years to come.

"Also PLEASE share far and wide. Thanks for all your help so far, this is going to happen and it’ll look amazing!"

Donations to support the mural can be made here.

Dan's previous appeal to businesses which includes the planned stages of the mural painting 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!!!"

--> READ MORE: Huge Leeds Rhinos' Kevin Sinfield mural set for Headingley Skyrack beer garden wall prompts search for business sponsors