Football, street art and Leeds United - how the Elland Road club has sparked a colourful revolution across the city

Supporters don't have to walk far to pass a telecommunications box painted in the club's famous colours or spot a mural in ode to a star past or present.

The outpouring of artwork in relation to the Elland Road outfit has been a fairly recent phenomenon - but is one that doesn't look like it is going to halt any time soon, grabbing the imagination of not only fans but the wider population.

Leeds themselves embraced the new clamour by commissioning a huge mural by The Calls in the city centre, with England star Kalvin Phillips front and centre to celebrate a new commercial partnership with Roc Nation.

The majority of others, though, have been fan funded with the feel good factor around Marcelo Bielsa's team pouring into artistic expression from those with the creative minds to do so.

Leeds United's Supporters Trust (LUST) oversaw a commemorative painting by Lowfields Road underpass in 2017, yet it was Andy McVeigh - aka the Burley Banksy - who appeared to spark the uprising of street art in the city.

"After the huge Kalvin one went up, someone said to me that I'd started it all," Andy told the Yorkshire Evening Post.

"I was a bit baffled by it when they said that. There wasn't much street art in Leeds before and I can't do anything anywhere near as good as that one.

"But I guess it is more about this feeling to make the city a better place. If I have had a small contribution to that then that's an incredible thing.

"I'm from Leeds so hopefully people think it is a bit more from the heart."

In the last year alone the figure of Bielsa has appeared on Hyde Park corner and the club's famous crest by the M62 footbridge.

The Trust launched a project last year to oversee the implementation of murals across the city through fan donations while McVeigh and local artist Nicolas Dixon brought 'Bielsa the Redeemer' to life in Wortley as part of a campaign to save the TV Harrison Sports Ground.

Adam Duffield also collaborated with Leeds midfielder Mateusz Klich to create a 'Champions' mural in LS11, with the two working together over a number of months to finalise the design that celebrated promotion to the Premier League after 16 years away.

Adam - who is known as Meds One - is also responsible for the Pablo Hernandez art on the side of the Duck and Drake pub.

Artwork across the city hasn't just been limited to football. Boxer Josh Warrington and Leeds Rhinos hero Rob Burrow - who was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease in 2019 - have also been immortalised, whilst foundations have been laid for Leeds City Council to work with local artists in brightening up areas away from sport.

Another mural on The Calls appeared in January as a message of unity and hope for the people of Leeds while others celebrating the city's heritage and characteristics have been welcomed.

Adam, though, believes that the way the Whites supporters have embraced street art has helped it become more acceptable to the city's wider population.

"Leeds is a really art baron city compared to other places I go," Adam told the YEP.

"It can be pretty bleak when it comes down to art, so the injection of it from the boxes that the Burley Banksy has been doing captured the attention of people.

"It tied the city more to the club, which is a really good thing. It also gave me the opportunity to paint at Elland Road - something he did opened doors for what I have done.

"When I did the 'Champions' mural with Mateusz [Klich] it went viral. It was all over Leeds United's social media and it blew off. It went crazy and people were so receptive.

"I think it has given a platform for art to be more accepted in the city - not only by Leeds fans but people generally.

"It really strikes me that is what is happening. It is really opening the door to street art in Leeds and it's a fantastic thing."

The Trust are currently working on a number of projects, with plans in place for a remembrance of club legends Jack Charlton, Norman Hunter and Trevor Cherry at Pudsey market.

There are also hopes to commemorate the 10th year of Gary Speed's passing and a huge urge to keep on creating more with supporters, alongside local artists to create a mural trail throughout Leeds.

"It's like a celebration of how the club has moved on. It feels like the city is back in love with football again," Clair Hufton, of LUST, said.

"It's probably been since Bielsa arrived in all honesty. People are talking about it more now we're in the Premier League. You have family members who are watching it who never have before.

"Everyone knows who Bielsa is and you do have to put a lot of it down to him and what he has brought back to the city.

"The club deserves a lot of credit - but it's his morals, what he believes in and stands for. I think that has really resonated with people. When you have someone associated with the club like that who sparks that passion, it rubs off onto everyone else.

"There's a lot of pride in the club and a great way to demonstrate it is through art. You have to be careful because not everyone likes football, but hopefully they think that the artwork is brightening up otherwise dull spots.

"The Trust are leading a project but it's got to be for fans to be involved and be a part of it.

"Everyone is really proud to be from Leeds. There is just something different about it. It's no different to whether it is a mural for Leeds United, Leeds Rhinos, Josh Warrington or a coat of arms representing the city.

"Artwork is a really great way of expressing our love for the city whatever, and however, whether that is sport or our heritage."