What probably comes to one’s mind when football is mentioned includes moments of magic in the pitch, goals that became iconic, or legendary players. How often do we remember those who were the forerunners in this sport beyond the tactical and physical aspects?
Among those highlighted in the history of football, especially for breaking racial barriers, was a man by the name of Arthur Wharton.
He is popularly regarded as the UK’s first Black professional footballer, and his story needs to be told not only by reason of his contribution to football, but by virtue of what he represents in the wider context of race, sport, and society.
The article was first published on Dec 29 2017, updated on September 25 2024
Who Was Arthur Wharton?
Arthur Wharton wasn’t just a footballer; rather, he was a trailblazer, an athlete who broke new ground in more ways than one. He was born on October 28, 1865, in Jamestown, Gold Coast-what is now Accra, Ghana-and was never destined for a mundane life.
His father, Henry Wharton, was originally from Grenada, while his mother, Annie Florence Egyriba, originated from the Fante royals of Ghana. This mix of the Caribbean and Africa was what defined Arthur, but it would be his move to England that placed him in the pathway to sporting history.
At 19, in 1882, Arthur moved to England. He had not gone to England to become a footballer, much less a professional athlete; he came for studies and training as a Methodist missionary.
But just like most young men of that period, he found himself drawn to the world of sport, where his natural talent quickly became impossible to ignore.
Early marks in athletics from Arthur indicated the brilliance he was made of. In 1886, he achieved the feat of equalling the world record for the 100-yard dash in 10 seconds. His sprinting abilities singled him out as one of the best in Britain during those times, but football is where he really left his mark.
The Start of a Football Career
The footballing career of Arthur Wharton began in the humblest of fashions.
As an amateur, he played as a goalkeeper with the small club of Darlington and wasted little time with his athleticism to soon catch the attention of bigger teams. At a full height of 6 feet tall, quick reflexes, and amazing agility, Arthur was a commanding presence between the posts. He was a great shot-stopper, considering that during his time, goalkeepers had to catch balls with their bare hands.
Soon, one of the most dominant teams of the era took notice of Wharton’s talents: Preston North End. Preston was something near royalty in footballing terms by the end of the 19th century and became known as “The Invincibles” after their unbeaten 1888-89 season.
Arthur was an amateur who joined the club in 1886, and though he did not stay long enough to be part of the double-winning side, his time at Preston was what truly counted. This is because it was there that his forays into professional football began, with him being the first Black player to do so in the UK.
Arthur Wharton took his place between the sticks for Preston during their great FA Cup run of the 1886-87 season, going all the way to the semifinals.
Although his stay with Preston was very short, remember that such a fact is of immense historical importance: Arthur was breaking new ground and showing a talent which knew no racial boundaries in a society which hadn’t yet caught up to that idea.
The Professional Leap: From Rotherham Town to Sheffield United
Following this, Arthur had a very brief spell with athletics to further his running career; however, in 1889, he was once more lured back into football, signing as a professional with Rotherham Town.
This was an important step for him to take as a footballer, during which time he established himself as an accomplished goalkeeper and earned recognition for his work in the field.
But he most famously signed for Sheffield United in 1894, one of the big football clubs at that time. He did not play regularly, mostly because of the presence of the more colourful and larger-than-life character in English football, William “Fatty” Foulke; Arthur did make some notable appearances.
One such was a First Division encounter against Sunderland, thereby making him the first Black man to appear in the English top flight.
It is here that it needs to be said that Arthur’s professional career was not all smooth sailing. Football, as indeed the rest of the world at the time, was not in any easing state for players of non-white ethnicity.
Records do not state any overt racism during his playing days, but it would be uncreative thinking that he did not face racist behavior on and off the field. Yet, it was impossible for talent like Arthur’s to stay suppressed, and the fact that he did not give up in the face of this adversity speaks something about him.
Life Beyond Football: Kickoffs, Struggles, and Hardships
In the early 1900s, Wharton’s football career had begun to wind down.
Unlike the multimillionaire footballers of today, who often retire into lives of luxury, the post-football life which awaited Wharton was far from being glamorous. After retiring from professional football in 1902, Arthur struggled with financial problems and acquired a serious drinking problem, which unfortunately contributed to his adversity.
Like most athletes of his era, there was no safety net when the cheers finally subsided and the crowds disappeared.
This became work as a colliery haulage worker at Yorkshire Main Colliery in Edlington: hard and heavy work in the coal industry. By 1911, he was living in a rented room in West Yorkshire, worlds away from the fame to which he had been accustomed.
His transition from professional athlete to working-class life-which was, unfortunately, emblematic of the limited opportunities available to Black men in Edwardian England-was complete.
In spite of all that he achieved, Arthur spent his last few years in relative obscurity, dying in 1930. He was buried in an unmarked grave, forgotten, it would seem, by the great world.
The Rediscovery of a Legend
It wasn’t until many decades later that British sport truly recognized Arthur Wharton’s contribution to the game. His story would have gone unbeknownst to history had it not been for organizations like Football Unites, and Racism Divides, which asked that his grave be properly marked.
In 1997, their efforts paid off, and a headstone finally went at his burial site, putting some type of recognition to this amazing life and career of the UK’s first Black professional footballer.
This was but the beginning, however. Wharton’s legacy began to grow, as his groundbreaking work in British football became much better known.
One such example back in 2003 was his induction into the English Football Hall of Fame for his great and lasting influence on the game. Then in 2014, a statue of Wharton at St George’s Park, the National Football Centre of the English Football Association, was unveiled. He now stands in statue form, a powerful reminder of barriers torn apart and also the opening of doors to a new generation of Black footballers.
The impact of Wharton extends beyond the realms of the football pitch.
In 2012, a small statue of him was presented to FIFA, where today it is on permanent display at their headquarters. A story of triumph over adversity, it reminds us how far we have come-and how much further we still have to go-in the battle against racism and inequality.
Why Arthur Wharton’s Story Still Matters
His life is not important as much for what he has done, but rather for what he represents: the symbol of resilience, the fact that progress is often hard-won, and the pioneers who finally broke new ground faced obstacles that others did not.
Now, as then, the most pressing problem facing football is racism, so that Arthur’s story can never be more topical than it is today.
Today we have Black footballers in the Premier League, La Liga, and the Bundesliga, in fact, in every major football league around the world. But it wasn’t an overnight thing; Arthur Wharton was among the first to show the world that talent has no colour, and he did that in a world not quite ready to wholly accept that fact.
These are the modern football stars, the likes of Marcus Rashford, Raheem Sterling, and Sadio Mané; they stand on the shoulders of such as Arthur Wharton, who, with others, has shown the way forward, often at great personal cost.
All too powerfully, his story is the story of how sports can unite us, bridge gaps, and move us all forward-but only if we acknowledge and celebrate the pioneers who made the path.
Ultimately, Arthur Wharton’s story has nothing to do with the beautiful game of football but is, rather, about courage, persistence, and how sport can somehow or other make barriers fall.
As we celebrate today’s game and all its stars, let us not forget the man who was there at the beginning, breaking new ground and showing the world just how very much football can be a game for anyone.
