Post by QPR Report on Aug 30, 2009 6:48:09 GMT
Interesting. Probably like everyone, had never heard of him. Do remember West Ham's Clyde Best (and also West Ham's Ade Coker).
Observer/Chris Webber
Black football pioneers from Arthur Wharton to Viv Anderson and beyondViv Anderson, the first black England player, talks about the campaign to commemorate Arthur Wharton, British football's first black professional
Born in Jamestown, Gold Coast – now part of Accra, Ghana – in 1865, Arthur Wharton should be one of football's most iconic names. As well as a fine cricketer and the 100 yard dash world record holder, he was recognised as England's best goalkeeper, playing for Darlington, Preston, Rotherham and Sheffield United. He was also the world's first black professional footballer.
But after retiring Wharton disappeared from public life. He fell into destitution and alcoholism, died in 1930 and was buried in an unmarked grave – and today is still little known. But a campaign to celebrate his life by raising funds for a statue in Darlington has gathered momentum, winning backing from stars including Stevie Wonder. It also has the support of England 2018 World Cup bid ambassador Viv Anderson – the first black man to win a full England cap.
What do you make of Wharton's story?
VA: Finding out about him was a real surprise. When I was growing up Clyde Best was virtually the only black British face you saw on television, and yet here was this guy, a century before, who'd already achieved so much. When I saw the exhibition on him at the National Football Museum I was totally flabbergasted. I couldn't believe he's barely heard of today after achieving so much. And you'd think I'd be one of the first to know about him. There's a connection between us that will never be broken. He was the first black professional and I was the first to win a full cap. I'm honoured to be associated with him.
How did you become involved in the statue campaign?
The organiser, Shaun Campbell, made contact, and I said yes straight away. When you look at people like Ashley Cole today, they owe so much to Arthur. His story is incredible. When you think he came over in the 1880s, at the height of the Empire, to a small north-east town like Darlington, he must have been in for a rude awakening – but he seems to have won everyone over. He was quite a character by all accounts: pulling down the crossbar so the ball flew over, catching the ball with his legs, running upfield and scoring.
And for him to be a goalkeeper shows what a pioneer he was. A hundred years on and all the black players were flair players, like Cyrille Regis and Clyde Best. I was unusual being a defender – but Arthur was ahead of the game all those years ago.
Many say he should have played for England. Do you think racism stopped that?
I think it was probably more a novelty to have a black face back then so I doubt it was overt racism, as in someone openly saying: "You can't play because you're black." I'd guess it was about ignorance.
How big a deal was it when you won your first cap back in 1978?
Very big. I had letters from the Queen and Elton John and people like that. Laurie Cunningham had won the first Under-21 cap but I got the first full cap and was very proud. But really, I was just this skinny kid from Nottingham who wanted to play for his country, just like anyone else. I was a bit cocooned from it really. It's now, 30 years later, when you get cabbies and people in the street coming up to you that you're aware of just how big it was.
At the 2018 bid launch a BNP councillor turned up. How damaging was that?
We've got a free country and people can have those views – even if I don't think we need people in this country with those views. Britain is a proud multiracial society and I think our World Cup bid will reflect that. And Arthur's story is an important part of that English football culture, and he should be more celebrated. It's right that we should have a statue in Darlington. I think it's where he'd want it. Darlington is where he made his name: the people there took him to their hearts.
More on the campaign: www.arthurwharton.com
www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/aug/30/arthur-wharton-pioneer-black-footballer
Observer/Chris Webber
Black football pioneers from Arthur Wharton to Viv Anderson and beyondViv Anderson, the first black England player, talks about the campaign to commemorate Arthur Wharton, British football's first black professional
Born in Jamestown, Gold Coast – now part of Accra, Ghana – in 1865, Arthur Wharton should be one of football's most iconic names. As well as a fine cricketer and the 100 yard dash world record holder, he was recognised as England's best goalkeeper, playing for Darlington, Preston, Rotherham and Sheffield United. He was also the world's first black professional footballer.
But after retiring Wharton disappeared from public life. He fell into destitution and alcoholism, died in 1930 and was buried in an unmarked grave – and today is still little known. But a campaign to celebrate his life by raising funds for a statue in Darlington has gathered momentum, winning backing from stars including Stevie Wonder. It also has the support of England 2018 World Cup bid ambassador Viv Anderson – the first black man to win a full England cap.
What do you make of Wharton's story?
VA: Finding out about him was a real surprise. When I was growing up Clyde Best was virtually the only black British face you saw on television, and yet here was this guy, a century before, who'd already achieved so much. When I saw the exhibition on him at the National Football Museum I was totally flabbergasted. I couldn't believe he's barely heard of today after achieving so much. And you'd think I'd be one of the first to know about him. There's a connection between us that will never be broken. He was the first black professional and I was the first to win a full cap. I'm honoured to be associated with him.
How did you become involved in the statue campaign?
The organiser, Shaun Campbell, made contact, and I said yes straight away. When you look at people like Ashley Cole today, they owe so much to Arthur. His story is incredible. When you think he came over in the 1880s, at the height of the Empire, to a small north-east town like Darlington, he must have been in for a rude awakening – but he seems to have won everyone over. He was quite a character by all accounts: pulling down the crossbar so the ball flew over, catching the ball with his legs, running upfield and scoring.
And for him to be a goalkeeper shows what a pioneer he was. A hundred years on and all the black players were flair players, like Cyrille Regis and Clyde Best. I was unusual being a defender – but Arthur was ahead of the game all those years ago.
Many say he should have played for England. Do you think racism stopped that?
I think it was probably more a novelty to have a black face back then so I doubt it was overt racism, as in someone openly saying: "You can't play because you're black." I'd guess it was about ignorance.
How big a deal was it when you won your first cap back in 1978?
Very big. I had letters from the Queen and Elton John and people like that. Laurie Cunningham had won the first Under-21 cap but I got the first full cap and was very proud. But really, I was just this skinny kid from Nottingham who wanted to play for his country, just like anyone else. I was a bit cocooned from it really. It's now, 30 years later, when you get cabbies and people in the street coming up to you that you're aware of just how big it was.
At the 2018 bid launch a BNP councillor turned up. How damaging was that?
We've got a free country and people can have those views – even if I don't think we need people in this country with those views. Britain is a proud multiracial society and I think our World Cup bid will reflect that. And Arthur's story is an important part of that English football culture, and he should be more celebrated. It's right that we should have a statue in Darlington. I think it's where he'd want it. Darlington is where he made his name: the people there took him to their hearts.
More on the campaign: www.arthurwharton.com
www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/aug/30/arthur-wharton-pioneer-black-footballer
George Best, Charley George, Rodney Rodney Rodney now they had flair 
Funny how you look at things differently at 50 than when you're a youngster, now-a-days what Clyde had seems to me much better than "flair" 
They even started sh!t when they came over here last year.