Arthur Wharton was the world's first Black professional footballer. Despite his sporting prowess, he was never fully accepted and died a forgotten man.
Arthur Wharton was born in Jamestown, Accra, Gold Coas ... read full comment
Arthur Wharton
Arthur Wharton was the world's first Black professional footballer. Despite his sporting prowess, he was never fully accepted and died a forgotten man.
Arthur Wharton was born in Jamestown, Accra, Gold Coast (now Ghana) in 1865. Coming to England to study in about 1882, Wharton soon made a name for himself in athletics. Winning the Amateur Athletics Association 100 yards sprint in a world record time of 10 seconds (the first world record), he retained his title in 1887. A supreme all-round athlete, his other sports were cricket, cycling and football.
While playing for Darlington as a goalkeeper Wharton was spotted by Preston North End in 1885 - 86. He joined them the following season during which they reached the semi-finals of the FA Cup. By 1889, he had turned professional, playing for Rotherham Town, Sheffield United, Stalybridge Celtic and Ashton North End. He finished his footballing career in 1902 playing for Stockport County in Football League Division Two. His last match was against Newton Heath in February 1902. An unorthodox and entertaining performer, he had a phenomenal punch as a keeper and, with his sprinting background, sometimes played on the wing.
Born into an upper middle class family his decision to enter professional sport brought him down to a lower social level. Rejected by the Gold Coast Colonial Administration for a civil service post, his sporting prowess was regarded as 'inappropriate' for a colonial official. After he retired from football, he spent much of the rest of his working life as a colliery haulage hand in the South Yorkshire pits. He died in December 1930 and was buried in a third-class grave in Edlington, South Yorkshire.
Sammy Dee 11 years ago
If this man truly came from Ghana then his name must have been corrupted from Atta Kwateng to Arthur Whartson. These people always find a way to change us!
If this man truly came from Ghana then his name must have been corrupted from Atta Kwateng to Arthur Whartson. These people always find a way to change us!
Susuka 11 years ago
What kind of journalism is this?
Where the heck is St Georges Park? Is it in Ghana or in the UK? If it is in the UK, then I think that we down here in Ghana should also begin to show some appreciation and gratitude for thi ... read full comment
What kind of journalism is this?
Where the heck is St Georges Park? Is it in Ghana or in the UK? If it is in the UK, then I think that we down here in Ghana should also begin to show some appreciation and gratitude for this unsung hero. It must be recognized that greatness is in our blood, even though some vermin among us try at every step of the way to make us all look like stupid, dumb and incompetent slaves.
I am sure that the Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah knew all this and it could have been the reason that prompted him to promote sports and football/athletics in particular in a big way, during the glorious days of Ghana that saw us winning medals and trophies throughout Africa and the world.
Of course in the same way that even the Ghanaian sports establishment do not even know of this Wharton guy who ruled the world in athletics, likewise, we also rejected the Osagyefo who encouraged the development of sports in the new nation of Ghana with a bang that still lingers in spite of the many spiteful and unproductive people who have since tried to destroy all that he did for Ghana, Africa and the world.
nii addo moffat 11 years ago
it well said that racism exist in england, equally tribalism is much more in ghana when if u belong a said tribe u can not get ajob so let deal better in solving that issue here.
it well said that racism exist in england, equally tribalism is much more in ghana when if u belong a said tribe u can not get ajob so let deal better in solving that issue here.
nii addo moffat 11 years ago
rubbish, most person from james town have names of foriegn origin,that why is the place is called british accra, a place where civiity began in ghana
rubbish, most person from james town have names of foriegn origin,that why is the place is called british accra, a place where civiity began in ghana
Arthur Wharton
Arthur Wharton was the world's first Black professional footballer. Despite his sporting prowess, he was never fully accepted and died a forgotten man.
Arthur Wharton was born in Jamestown, Accra, Gold Coas ...
read full comment
If this man truly came from Ghana then his name must have been corrupted from Atta Kwateng to Arthur Whartson. These people always find a way to change us!
What kind of journalism is this?
Where the heck is St Georges Park? Is it in Ghana or in the UK? If it is in the UK, then I think that we down here in Ghana should also begin to show some appreciation and gratitude for thi ...
read full comment
it well said that racism exist in england, equally tribalism is much more in ghana when if u belong a said tribe u can not get ajob so let deal better in solving that issue here.
rubbish, most person from james town have names of foriegn origin,that why is the place is called british accra, a place where civiity began in ghana