New City Mural Honors Six Football Club Legends

A new mural has been created, immortalizing six legendary figures from the football club. The artwork depicts former Bristol City strikers Jimmy Rogers, Jantzen Derrick, John Galley, Tom Ritchie, Alan Walsh, and Bob Taylor, all of whom played for the club spanning from the 1950s to the 1990s. Local artist Andy Colwell created the design for the mural, located near the club’s Ashton Gate ground, prior to its public unveiling on Saturday. Neil Palmer, who founded the Bristol City Former Players’ Association, commented, “It’s all very well talking about it, but when they actually see it, it’ll evoke something in them, that’s for sure.” This mural marks the third such commission within the past year; previous artworks include former club captains Louis Carey and Geoff Merrick together on the exterior of the Rising Sun pub, and Chris Garland commemorated at the Coopers Arms, both establishments situated in Bedminster. Mr Palmer further stated, “We’re passionate about doing it, because I just love it when I see a young kid who might be walking with his grandad, and his grandad is looking up at Chris Garland and telling them all about him. “I think that’s fantastic, it’s the history of the club in pictorial form.” Collectively, these six players accumulated over 1,400 appearances for the Robins, contributing close to 500 goals. Mr Ritchie, who played over 400 games for the club across two separate periods, remarked: “When you arrive at this club from Scotland as a 17-year-old, you never think in your wildest dreams that something like this can happen.”I’m extremely honoured and humbled by this, it’s wonderful for me and my family.” At the unveiling event, Mr Ritchie was present alongside Mr Derrick and Mr Walsh, as well as the family of the late Mr Rogers, who was active in the 1950s. Mr Taylor and Mr Galley are anticipated to visit the mural, which required three months to finish, at a later point in the season. Mr Taylor expressed his sentiments, stating: “I’m so honoured by this. I loved my time at city.” He added, “I am humbled to be on a wall with these great players and I thank everyone involved.” A ceremony to unveil the artwork took place on Saturday before the home match against Queens Park Rangers, with supporters encouraged to attend.