Arthur Wharton-The First Black Professional Footballer | AFC Finners | Football History Documentary

00:00:00 - 00:05:00Arthur Wharton, born in modern-day Ghana in 1864, was the first black professional footballer in England. He moved to England at 19 to pursue a Methodist career but abandoned it due to his exceptional athletic abilities. Wharton excelled in various sports, including cricket, rugby, and athletics, and broke the amateur world record for the 100-meter sprint. In 1885, he joined Darlington FC as a goalkeeper, facing discrimination with some commentators referring to him as "the brunette." Wharton's reputation brought him to the attention of Preston North End, who signed him in 1887. He helped the team reach the FA Cup semi-finals, with one performance described as "one of the best exhibitions of goalkeeping I've seen for a long time." Despite his success, Wharton left Preston in 1888 to focus on his running career, missing out on their inaugural first division title and FA Cup win. He returned to football in 1889, signing as a professional for Rotherham, becoming the first black footballer to do so. Wharton spent five years at Rotherham, where he met his wife and became the landlord of the Albert Tavern. His journeyman lifestyle continued, with stints at Sheffield United, Stanley Bridge Rovers, Ashton North End, and Stockport County. Despite his phenomenal athletic abilities, Wharton's health began to deteriorate due to alcoholism, syphilis, and cancer, and he died penniless in 1930. In 1997, Wharton's grave was given a headstone, and in 2003, he was inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame. Wharton's story is inspiring, as he overcame racial discrimination to excel in various sports and serves as a reminder that talent and perseverance will always triumph.See more00:00:00 In this section of the "Arthur Wharton-The First Black Professional Footballer" documentary by AFC Finners, the focus is on Arthur Wharton, the first black professional footballer in England. Born in modern-day Ghana in 1864, Wharton moved to England at the age of 19 to pursue a Methodist career but soon abandoned it due to his exceptional sporting abilities. He excelled in various sports, including cricket, rugby, and athletics, and broke the amateur world record for the 100-meter sprint in 10 seconds. In 1885, Wharton joined Darlington FC as a goalkeeper, impressing crowds with his eccentric personality and unique goalkeeping skills. However, he faced discrimination, with some commentators referring to him as "the brunette." Wharton's reputation brought him to the attention of Preston North End, who signed him in 1887. He helped the team reach the FA Cup semi-finals, with one performance described as "one of the best exhibitions of goalkeeping I've seen for a long time." Despite his success, Wharton left Preston in 1888 to focus on his running career, missing out on their inaugural first division title and FA Cup win. He returned to football in 1889, signing as a professional for Rotherham, becoming the first black footballer to do so. Wharton spent five years at Rotherham, where he met his wife and became the landlord of the Albert Tavern. His journeyman lifestyle continued, with stints at Sheffield United, Stanley Bridge Rovers, Ashton North End, and Stockport County. Despite his phenomenal athletic abilities, Wharton's health began to deteriorate due to alcoholism, syphilis, and cancer, and he died penniless in 1930. In 1997, Wharton's grave was given a headstone, and in 2003, he was inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame. Arthur Wharton was a unique character who overcame prejudices and excelled in various sports, making him a true pioneer and inspiration.00:05:00 In this section of the "Arthur Wharton-The First Black Professional Footballer" documentary by AFC Finners, the focus is on the inspiring story of Arthur Wharton, the first black professional footballer. Despite the racial discriminations that existed during his time, Wharton managed to find a way into professional sports and excelled not only in football but also in rugby, cycling, running, and cricket. His determination and talent surpassed the hatred and bigotry that unfortunately existed in sports during that era. Wharton's story serves as a reminder that no matter the challenges, talent and perseverance will always triumph.

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