A mural celebrating 150 years of Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux has been fully restored after it was vandalised with blue paint in the build-up to last month's Black Country derby against West Brom, according to a BBC report published on Wednesday.

The commission and its timing

Artist Joe Miles, 39, was commissioned by the club and a sponsor to paint the piece at the entrance to Molineux Subway, featuring legendary former players Billy Wright and Steve Bull alongside returning striker Raul Jimenez. City council permission was granted for the subway wall, and Miles completed the artwork just a day or two before Wolves hosted West Brom on 20 September.

The timing, he now acknowledges, may not have been entirely straightforward. "It probably wasn't the wisest to paint it on those dates, but it is what it is," Miles told the BBC. "I think it definitely riled them up, and got the Wolves fans a bit more hyped up." Wolves won that Championship fixture 1-0.

Vandalism and the aftermath

Supporters making their way to the ground on matchday found that blue emulsion paint had been daubed across some of the players' faces. West Midlands Police investigated the damage and subsequently arrested an 18-year-old man, who has since been released on bail, according to the force.

The incident meant that everyone who attended the derby saw the mural in a damaged state. Miles said many supporters still stopped to speak to him on the day, expressing their appreciation for the work even in its compromised condition.

Restored and ready

Miles has now removed the paint and repaired the damage in full, and says the response from supporters has been overwhelmingly positive. "Everybody that went to the West Brom match, it had already been trashed, so no-one got to see it in its full glory," he said. "But I still had lots of people coming up and saying hello and how happy they were with it."

For Miles, who describes himself as a lifelong Wolves fan, the commission carries personal significance beyond the professional achievement. "I'm a Wolves fan myself so, being a young lad, I never really thought I'd be painting something for the club right next to Molineux," he said. "I'm pretty lucky that I've been able to do that, and it's all been positive feedback."

He added that he is now looking forward to fans and players seeing the artwork as it was intended, ahead of the club's next home fixture at Molineux. Miles works as a full-time artist, creating large-scale pieces in gyms and tattoo parlours.

Derby-day passion given a visual form

The mural and its subsequent vandalism underlines the intensity of feeling surrounding the Black Country derby, one of the most fiercely contested local rivalries in the Championship. West Brom, of course, were the visitors for the September fixture, making the choice of location and subject matter all the more charged in the days leading up to kick-off.

With the restored piece now back in place near the stadium entrance, supporters arriving for future Molineux fixtures will finally be able to see the artwork in the condition Miles always intended.

Frequently asked

What happened to the Wolves mural near Molineux?
Artist Joe Miles completed a mural of past and present Wolverhampton Wanderers players at Molineux Subway just before the Black Country derby against West Brom on 20 September. Blue paint was thrown at it before the match, damaging the faces of several depicted players. An 18-year-old man was arrested by West Midlands Police and later released on bail.
Has the Wolves Molineux mural been repaired?
Yes. Joe Miles confirmed to the BBC that he has fully removed the vandal paint and restored the mural to its original condition, so supporters can now see it as it was intended ahead of the next home game at Molineux.
Who is featured in the Wolves mural at Molineux Subway?
The mural, painted by Joe Miles to mark 150 years of Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux, features former players Billy Wright and Steve Bull alongside returning striker Raul Jimenez.