Former Liverpool Football Club player Howard Gayle honoured with mural

Liverpool Football Club’s first Black footballer and a trailblazing local activist has been honoured with a mural in his home city.

Painted by John Culshaw – famous for his range of murals across Liverpool – the mural of Howard Gayle on Upper Warwick Street is the second in a series of works commissioned by local charity Mandela8.

The charity are delighted to now partner with Riverside Foundation to showcase and celebrate more community role models.

Mandela8 are aiming to “change the face of the community we live in by portraying positive models and their achievements” and have previously commissioned murals of photographer and urban griot Leroy Cooper in Granby and Nelson Mandela himself on the side of The Kuumba Imani Millenium Centre. 

Howard Gayle was one of the charity’s first patrons having spoken alongside Mandela8 trustees at the 5th UNI World Congress in Liverpool in 2018.

Howard was born in Toxteth as the youngest of four siblings. His father had settled in the area from Sierra Leone after World War II and met his Ghanian wife in Liverpool.

Howard signed a professional contract with the Reds in 1977, becoming the first black player to play for the club. Featuring in the second leg of the 1981 European Cup semi-final against Bayern Munich, he later went on to represent the likes of Birmingham City, Sunderland, Stoke City and Blackburn Rovers.

Throughout his playing career, Howard was the subject of racial abuse and has since become established as one of the country’s most dedicated activists working to see racism eradicated from the game. 

LFC had been 85 years in existence when Gayle arrived in 1977 but it was not only Liverpool where he made history. He became the first Black player at Fulham as well when former Liverpool player Bobby Campbell brought him in when he was the manager at Craven Cottage.

The completion of the new mural comes ahead of Mandela8’s ‘Acts of Kindness programme, which falls on the internationally recognised Mandela Day on 18th July. To mark the day this year, Mandela8 and Liverpool BID Company have joined forces to ask corporations to identify a month within the year to do ‘acts of kindness’ for a community organisation or group as part of their ‘Celebrating Communities’ theme for 2024.

Not asking corporates to pledge a months worth of support.  Asking corporates to identify a month within the year to do an act of kindness for a community org or group to celebrate communities.

Sonia Bassey MBE, Chair of Mandela8 said: 

“We are delighted to be collaborating with Riverside Foundation on this mural. As such a key partner in the community we think it’s apt that the mural is of someone who not only made history but someone who now uses their position to help others. I’d like to thank Howard for giving us his blessing to bring this mural to life and to to the brilliant John Culshaw for another stunning work of art.”

Sarah Wall, Riverside’s Head of Homes & Communities said:

 “Through Riverside Foundation funding, we’re really pleased to have supported this project, which has enabled an incredible artist to bring this inspiring piece to the community. The messages carried by the mural not only create a feeling of hope and inclusion, but also opportunities for discussion whilst celebrating an iconic local role model. Our Foundation exists to help people to overcome obstacles and to support initiatives that benefit the communities in which we work, including money advice and affordable warmth services and projects that inspire a sense of togetherness and pride in our neighbourhoods. We feel this mural embodies this vision and are excited for the community to see it.”

Stephen Nze, Mandela8 Ambassador, said:

“We are happy to have been able to work with Riverside Foundation on this project over the past few months to create a long overdue mural of one of Liverpool 8’s – and one of this city’s – first Black sporting icons, Howard Gayle of Liverpool Football Club. After seeing so many football murals across the city we think it is fitting that there should be one now of Howard and we are very proud that it will be in the heart of our community on Upper Warwick Street L8, where Howard and his family and friends and community will see it daily. Hopefully it becomes a inspiration to many young people on what you can achieve with hard work, commitment and overcoming obstacles.”

John Culshaw, Artist said:

“I have spent a lot of time in L8 in the last couple of years, doing a lot of work in the area and gotten to know a lot of people. One thing I have learned is how proud the people are of the area and how much they get behind each other and feel the pride when someone achieves something extraordinary. I love what Mandela8 are doing, really showcasing genuine community leaders and inspiring generations.”

Find out more information on the Mandela8 website.

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