First professional Black footballer Arthur Wharton Recognised at Wembley - 29-03-11

The legacy of the world's very first black professional footballer, Arthur Wharton, was officially recognised before England's friendly international with Ghana at Wembley on 29/03/11

West Bromwich Albion's black football pioneers, Cyrille Regis and Brendon Batson, joined Wharton's oldest living relative, Sheila Leeson, plus Sir Trevor Brooking in a pitchside presentation featuring a mini version of The FA's Arthur Wharton statue.

Last year saw The FA donate £20,000 to the Arthur Wharton Foundation towards the building of a statue in Wharton's adopted hometown of Darlington.

Born in the Gold Coast (now Ghana) in 1865, Wharton travelled to England in 1882 to train as a missionary but, after settling in Darlington, he abandoned his studies in favour of a career in sport.

He played in goal for Preston North End a year before their famous "invincible" season of 1888-89 and was understudy to the famous Fatty Foulke at Sheffield United.

Wharton's sporting prowess wasn't confined to just football - in his time at Darlington he was also a top-level sprinter and set a world record by running 100 yards in ten seconds flat.

Wharton passed away in 1930 and was originally buried in an unmarked grave but the site is now recognised with a proper headstone after campaign work by Sheila Leeson, Football Unites, Racism Divides and the Arthur Wharton Foundation.

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• Arthur
• Wharton
• Recognised
• at
• Wembley
• black
• player
• ghana
• england
• 1800s

[onana1985]

big ups to this great man