The achievements of the world’s first ever black professional footballer Arthur Wharton have been recognised in Rotherham, with the unveiling of a blue plaque outside the very ground where he began his career.
Here at Rotherham United, we are incredibly proud of our association with Arthur and were honoured to have been given the opportunity to join his family, the Mayor and members of the Arthur Wharton Foundation amongst others to ensure his legacy will have a permanent symbol in our town.
His extraordinary journey began in 1889 when he made his debut for Rotherham Town, six years on from moving to the country from Ghana. A talented sportsman, Arthur was also a capable cricketer, rugby player and cyclist and even won the 100 yards dash in the AAA Championships in a world record 10 of ten seconds, a record which stood for 30 years.
The talented goalkeeper became a pioneer in a match against Walsall, making the first appearance in the Football League by a black footballer.
The plaque - situated at the entrance to Clifton Lane - was unveiled by former Chelsea and Southampton defender Ken Monkou, who is now an ambassador for Show Racism the Red Card, on 7th September 134 years to the days that he made history against the Saddlers.
Also in attendance were Shaun Campbell, founder of the Arthur Wharton Foundation, former Chelsea goalkeeper David Speedie, Simon Hyacinth, the CEO of Sheffield-based Football Unites, Racism Divides, the Mayor of Rotherham, Councillor Robert Taylor and our Chief Operating Officer Paul Douglas.
Descendants of Arthur Wharton were also there on the day, including his two great-granddaughters, Dorothy and Nancy Leeson.
“It was an honour and a privilege to be able to represent Rotherham United in paying tribute to Arthur Wharton’s achievements within the game and we’re all delighted to see that his legacy has now become a permanent fixture at the very place he made history,” Rotherham United Chief Operating Officer Paul Douglas told The New York Way.
“Arthur’s achievements have quite rightly been well documented and we’re all incredibly proud that he represented Rotherham United, albeit under their previous guise of Rotherham Town.
“This plaque will act as a permanent reminder of Arthur’s life and everything that he did, not just for the town of Rotherham, but for the game as whole. It is a fitting celebration of someone who will never be forgotten.”