'Mysterious' Sam Allardyce mural appears in Dudley

Elliot Ball
BBC News, West Midlands
Josh Tranter
BBC Radio WM
BBC Sam Allardyce is painted on the side of a white wall wearing a dark navy blue suit eating orange chips out of a white paper bag. BBC
A mural of football manager Sam Allardyce has appeared on Union Street in Dudley

A 10ft mural of former England and West Bromwich Albion manager Sam Allardyce has appeared in Dudley.

The artwork, depicting the former Premier League boss eating orange chips, a Black Country classic, is believed to have been pasted on to a wall in Union Street on Wednesday.

Allardyce grew up in Dudley and locals have suggested the area could now have its own Banksy.

Resident Scot Simmons said: "How did he do it without anyone seeing? Did he just put it up in a couple of minutes? Is he trying to remain mysterious?"

Fellow Dudley resident Andy Smith said: "Local lad eating orange chips, what more do you want?

"There is a genuine Banksy in Birmingham, perhaps this is Dudley's answer to Banksy."

Mr Simmons added: "Looking at it you don't know how good it is till you come down and see it.

"It's put Dudley on the map. Big Sam, immortalised here, yeah it's brilliant."

However, one man who worked nearby was not impressed.

"Who is it? It's just weird, it doesn't make sense and it needs to go," he said.

Allardyce managed Blackpool, Notts County, Bolton, Newcastle, Blackburn, West Ham and Sunderland during his career as well as having a short-lived spell as England boss.

Orange chips are thought to be dipped in a batter with added turmeric or paprika to give them their distinctive colour.

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