One of Leeds' favourite players will be immortalised near the Leeds Rhinos Stadiumthis week.
It's difficult to talk about sports personalities in Leeds without bringing up Kevin Sinfield.
The 41-year-old is one of the most successful rugby players in the UK: no matter which way you look at it. We don't even care that Sinfield is in Leicester instead of Leeds, he will always remain a huge part of Leeds, past and present.
Now, the sports star is being immortalised by the Leeds Street Gallery, a group of keen Leeds Rhinos supporters that have crowdfunded for a mural of Sinfield to make an appearance close to his old kicking ground in Headingley.
Sinfield whilst playing for Leeds Rhinos. / Image: Wikicommons
The painting of the mural is due to begin tomorrow (Friday 11 February) outside Headingley Taps pub in Headingley.
Led by avid Leeds Rhinos fan Dan Whitley, the group of fans have raised all the costs for the mural and have enlisted the skills of Leeds Street Gallery and James Archer (JA Murals) to bring their concept to life.
Work is due to commence outside Headingley Taps. / Image: Headingley Taps, TripAdvisor
Leeds Street Gallery set up street art sites for artists to use around Leeds and also provide artists for homegrown artists to promote their names within the public eye.
Having been inspired by the murals of sports stars that line our streets, including the one of Josh Warrington on Kirkstall Road which was also curated by Leeds Street Gallery, the group banded together to impress Sinfield with a mural of his own.
The rugby player is more than deserving of the mural too. After a whirlwind year of splitting his time between sports and raising money to support friend Rob Burrow with the Motor Neurone Disease Association, the sports star was granted an OBE by the Queen.
Sinfield ran 101 miles to raise money for MNDA last year. / Image: Leicester Tigers
Last November, Kevin Sinfield raised over £2 million completed a 101 mile run in 24 hours to raise money for Leeds Hospitals Charity and Motor Neurone Disease Association and that wasn’t the first time that Sinfield has pushed himself to raise money for charity either.
Last December, the rugby coach raised over £2.7 million for the charity after running seven marathons in seven days.
Rhinos legend Rob Burrow was given a mural in 2020. / Image: Rob Burrow, Twitter
Behind Leeds Street Gallery is a group of local volunteers, who give their time and waive any fees for consultation so that the community has a space to bring projects like this to life. The team work on the project in addition to their full-time jobs, but it is thought that the mural will appear in a completed state fairly soon.
Work begins tomorrow on the mural, you'll be able to witness the progress yourself outside Headingley Taps pub in Headingley.
Feature Image- Sebastian Graser, Unsplash
News
Northern rock and blues veterans Proud Mary announce run of reunion shows in 2026
Veteran Manchester rock and blues band Proud Mary recently announced a limited run of UK reunion shows, including one right here in Leeds.
The seasoned Northern outfit may have seen plenty of lineup changes and a long hiatus of sorts, but now they’re returning for just a small handful of comeback gigs across the country.
Ahead of their seminal debut album turning 25 years old this year, 2026 also seems them steadily creeping up on the best part of three decades as a group in some form or another.
For anyone uninitiated, the native 90s and early noughties name was the first band signed to Noel Gallagher’s Sour Mash Records in 2001.
Their first-ever LP, The Same Old Blues, still remains their most revered work to this day.
Dubbed by the older Burnage brother and legendary Manc musician as “a lesson in songwriting” in an interview with the NME way back when, they started out as long-time friends and turned into fellow studio peers.
As well as supporting the likes of Oasis, Neil Young, The Stereophonics, Paul Weller, Ocean Colour Scene, Ryan Adams, Noel’s High Flying Birds and more on various tours over the years, they also famously headlined Isle of Wight Festival in 2004.
Having collaborated with the likes of another Britpop legend, Gem Archer, as well as The Smiths’ Andy Rourke, not to mention gaining plaudits from so many other contemporaries, they’re likely one of your favourite bands’ old faithful bands.
Moreover, in regional terms, rising local indie rock quintet Rosellas are also joining them on the road for their shows.
Proud Mary will be playing at The Warehouse in Leeds on Friday 8 May and you can grab your tickets HERE.
Featured Images — Proud Mary (press shots supplied via Sonic PR)
News
Reverend and the Makers frontman Jon McClure becomes chairman of Sheffield FC
Danny Jones
Reverend and the Makers frontman Jon McClure has officially been confirmed as the new chairman of the oldest football team in the world, Sheffield FC.
He might be a die-hard Wednesday fan, but given the turbulence his lifelong club have been through over the past couple of years, maybe this is the start of a new love affair.
Sheffield FC had teased that important news was coming soon earlier this month, simply writing on socials: "Not long until we can tell all. We’ve been sitting on something big."
As it turns out, the news is that one of the Steel City's most famous and beloved sons is now part of the club's new ownership structure. McClure quickly took to social media to help join in with the announcement as well.
The veteran indie frontman and Day Fever co-founder has continued to branch out from solely music-related ventures, having gone into business not only with multiple names for the smash hit afternoon-into-early evening music festival, but also joining forces with a fellow Sheffielder.
Since November of last year, Jon's has often appeared alongside his brother Chris, who plays the comedy character of 'Steve Bracknall' on the Game's Gone podcast.
A bit like Yorkshire's answer to Alan Partridge, there remains a sporting throughline in pretty much all of the 44-year-old's career at the moment - now so more than ever.
Speaking online, McClure said: "What am I doing at the world’s oldest football club, you ask? Well, meet the new chairman of Sheffield FC.
"Our vision is that we honour the club’s roots and pay homage to its incredible history, whilst restoring it to its former glory." He's already been making his presence known around their home ground.
— Sheffield Football Club (@sheffieldfc) March 3, 2026
While some are still looking for updates on the plans to bring the historic outfit back closer to Sheffield proper - the non-league club currently playing at The Home of Football Stadium in Dronfield, Derbyshire - this fresh start for the now oft-neglected native minnows has still sparked some excitement.
At present, 'The Ancients' are in the process of developing a new 5,000-seater arena at the old Sheffield Transport Sports Club site in Meadowhead, which was initially slated to open this year.
But as for the musician, he went on to add that "There’s a lot to be done, but we’re ready to get stuck in and give Sheffield FC the love it deserves"; McClure and co. have dubbed this "a new chapter" for "the first in the world", and the update will no doubt bring some fresh hope to the organisation.
What do you make of the announcement, and is a local figure like Reverend and the Makers' Jon McClure the right person to help take over this community cornerstone and national institution?
Sophie Smith -
10th February 2022 
