Commemorating Arthur Wharton
The statue, by acclaimed sculptor
Vivien Mallock, stands in the centre
of the St. George’s Cross in the
memorial garden at the entrance to
the National Football Centre.
Who was Arthur Wharton?
Born in Jamestown, Gold Coast (now
Accra, Ghana) in 1865 his father was
half-Grenadian and half-Scottish.
His mother was a member of the
Fante Akan royalty and he moved to
England in 1882 to train as a
Methodist missionary. Arthur
professional in 1889 after signing for
Rotherham – and became the world’s
first black professional footballer.
Arthur Wharton was born in Ghana
in 1865, moved to the UK in 1882 and
was signed by Darlington at the age
of 19. He had moved to Darlington
with the intention of training as a
Methodist missionary but opted
instead to become a full-time
athlete. And during a career that
spanned 17 years, he went on to play
as a goalkeeper for Preston North
End, Rotherham Town, Sheffield
United and Stockport County.
Not just skilled with a ball, Wharton
was a true all-round athlete. In 1886
he became the Amateur Athletics
Association’s national 100-yard
running champion – and become the
first man to run 100 yards in ten
seconds flat. “When you look at what
this man achieved it’s simply
extraordinary. ” said David
Sheepshanks St. George’s Park
chairman.
He also excelled in cricket, boxing,
cycling and rugby league and union
before turning his full attention to
football – in which he played
primarily in goal, but also
occasionally on the right wing.