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A striking 10-foot mural of former football manager Sam Allardyce has unexpectedly appeared on a wall in the centre of Dudley, raising eyebrows, questions, and a few smiles among locals.
The artwork, which shows the ex-England and West Brom boss enjoying a portion of the region’s beloved orange chips, was spotted on Union Street on Wednesday, near a local chip shop. Its creator remains unknown, but the buzz around town suggests Dudley may have found its own answer to Banksy.
In a video shared with ITV News, Allardyce himself, who grew up in Dudley, responded warmly to the tribute. “Just seen the mural that has been sent of me in Dudley, my home town. Absolutely privileged to be honest with you, I thought it was a very good likeness. Chips look a bit hot, but I really enjoyed seeing it. Whoever did it, thank you very much.”
Though the image lacks a caption or slogan, some residents believe it adds character to the area. “It’s a bit odd as it doesn’t have a slogan or any words, but it brightens up the place,” said one shopper passing by on Friday.
Sam Allardyce, or Big Sam, as he is widely known, has had a long and colourful career managing clubs across the English football pyramid, including stints at Bolton, Newcastle, West Ham, Sunderland, Crystal Palace, Everton, West Brom, and most recently Leeds United. He also managed England for a single game.
A polarising figure in football, Allardyce never shied away from controversy. After a 6-0 drubbing at Manchester City during his time with West Ham, fans vented their fury with chants of “fuck off Sam Allardyce.” In his memoir, he hit back, branding them “brainwashed” and “deluded.”
He once famously said he’d win the league every year if given the chance to manage Real Madrid.
As for the chips, orange chips are a regional delicacy in the Black Country, often deep-fried in a batter coloured with turmeric, paprika, or secret ingredients. The exact origin of the recipe remains unclear, with some tracing it back to wartime rationing and others claiming it rose to popularity in the 1970s.
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