Arthur Wharton Blue Plaque

[justpassing]

Hello all,

Not really sure where to post this so please feel free to move to the relevant section if this is wrong.

There is currently a fundraising scheme to raise a few hundred quid to install a blue plaque in honour of ex Blade and world's first professional footballer and world record sprinter at his former home in Yorkshire. If anyone wants to help dedicate the life of a Blade who rose to the pinnacle of sport through all the racial prejudice of his day, a bloke who still worked as a miner in his local community all help would be appreciated. Or shares via Facebook and Twitter etc too.

The Just Giving page for the project is at: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/arthurwharton?utm_id=107&utm_term=8pR36vpyz

Cheers

 

[FinchleyBlade]

Might be controversial, but should someone really get a plague purely because of their race? Not sure I agree they should to be honest. For their career yes, but not purely because they were the first black/white/asian/whatever to do something.

Actually seems a little demeaning to me.

 

[justpassing]

The plaque isn't for his race. He was the first 100 yard (now 100m) world champion, regardless of his race. He happens to have been the world's first black professional footballer too (which personally I think IS something important to celebrate). On top of that he played cricket for many local sides and despite being born into a well off family he later worked as a miner and walked and lived among Yorkshire folk as a working class man, who later was buried in an unmarked grave, as just another working class man.

In his later years he was constantly using his fame and notoriety as a sportsman to attend races and games (even into his 50's he raced) to raise funds for other Yorkshire sportspeople who were injured etc.

Obviously it is a personal preference if you don't feel such a man deserves a blue plaque, that's your choice. Just weigh that up against the thousands of blue plaques for other public figures all over the UK though, is he really any less deserving than them? Or should we take the others all down? For the sake of a few hundred quid, in comparison with the wages of an average footballer in the Championship today it is peanuts.

Obviously if it is unpopular then so be it, it won't happen.

 

[Tyler Durden]

I'll be chucking some in towards it on Wednesday when my new card comes.

 

[FinchleyBlade]

The plaque isn't for his race. He was the first 100 yard (now 100m) world champion, regardless of his race. He happens to have been the world's first black professional footballer too (which personally I think IS something important to celebrate). On top of that he played cricket for many local sides and despite being born into a well off family he later worked as a miner and walked and lived among Yorkshire folk as a working class man, who later was buried in an unmarked grave, as just another working class man.

In his later years he was constantly using his fame and notoriety as a sportsman to attend races and games (even into his 50's he raced) to raise funds for other Yorkshire sportspeople who were injured etc.

Obviously it is a personal preference if you don't feel such a man deserves a blue plaque, that's your choice. Just weigh that up against the thousands of blue plaques for other public figures all over the UK though, is he really any less deserving than them? Or should we take the others all down? For the sake of a few hundred quid, in comparison with the wages of an average footballer in the Championship today it is peanuts.

Obviously if it is unpopular then so be it, it won't happen.

Fair enough, its obvious he did have a good career that deserves celebration, but judging by your justgiving page it seems his race is one of the main reasons given as to why he should have a plaque and people should donate. From what I understand about him there is no evidence that he faced any overt discrimination or racism at the time, just curiosity.

For his career and charitable causes he may well deserve a plaque I agree, but boiling it largely down to race because he was the 'first black' something I don't agree with. You could go through every sector or industry and give someone an award or plaque for that, its just something that is, I don't think it particularly needs to be celebrated. As I said I actually think its a little belittling, bringing a persons life purely down to a racial level, or over-emphasizing their achievements because they were a certain race.

Sure many will disagree with me, just my view. Good luck to you anyway.

 

[snootyfenooty]

Fair enough, its obvious he did have a good career that deserves celebration, but judging by your justgiving page it seems his race is one of the main reasons given as to why he should have a plaque and people should donate. From what I understand about him there is no evidence that he faced any overt discrimination or racism at the time, just curiosity.

For his career and charitable causes he may well deserve a plaque I agree, but boiling it largely down to race because he was the 'first black' something I don't agree with. You could go through every sector or industry and give someone an award or plaque for that, its just something that is, I don't think it particularly needs to be celebrated. As I said I actually think its a little belittling, bringing a persons life purely down to a racial level, or over-emphasizing their achievements because they were a certain race.

Sure many will disagree with me, just my view. Good luck to you anyway.

I agree, basing something like this on race is demeaning, especially when you consider other players of that era. Why not give a plaque to our (probably) greatest ever player, Ernest Needham, or Herbert Chapman or the lad killed in WW1, Jimmy Revill. It's a bit like the statue argument in that 100's of people connected with the club merit some kind of memorial but you'll never please everyone.

 

[Boxer Blade]

I'll be chucking some in towards it on Wednesday when my new card comes.

What you doing with your old one?

 

[Tyler Durden]

What you doing with your old one?

Nothing, I somehow snapped it after too many sherberts last week.

 

[Boxer Blade]

Know the feeling pal, been there more than once, will probably grow up, one day!

 

[FTPE]

I might have got this wrong but...
He's already got a blue plaque yeah?

 

[DifferentClass]

Considering this was in the 19th century yes, he probably faced extreme racism. Many people back then had never seen a black person before.

It's people like him who are the reason why we no longer see race when it comes to football. So I do think his race is a factor but not THE factor.

 

[justpassing]

I might have got this wrong but...
He's already got a blue plaque yeah?

Thanks to fundraising and good work by FURD and others he now has a gravestone and the Football Association and Rotherham United have statues of him in prominent locations. The blue plaque that exists for him in Tameside was unveiled by them in recognition of his time living and playing over there, it is not a national scheme, blue plaque schemes are mainly local to communities. The blue plaque proposed here was to be part of the Pontefract Civic Society scheme (the nearest scheme to the locality).

This particular Civic Society are more than happy to recognise that such a remarkable man lived in the locality, FURD and Kick It Out have backed the campaign. As was common in the 1800's and early 1900's he moved around looking for work and as such he played for many sports clubs across the nation and lived in many communities where he worked. One of those happened to be in my locality, where some of us are extremely proud of him being a resident and wish to honour him.

I will be honest now and admit that I (personally) am an Owl. I wasn't even going to appeal to United fans to help spread the word about this project let alone ask if any fancied popping a quid or two into the coffers but as Arthur was one of your own I thought it polite to do so.

Frankly I'm bemused at the response on here, and I'll be honest I'm on the verge of just canning it. I tried.

 

[snootyfenooty]

Thanks to fundraising and good work by FURD and others he now has a gravestone and the Football Association and Rotherham United have statues of him in prominent locations. The blue plaque that exists for him in Tameside was unveiled by them in recognition of his time living and playing over there, it is not a national scheme, blue plaque schemes are mainly local to communities. The blue plaque proposed here was to be part of the Pontefract Civic Society scheme (the nearest scheme to the locality).

This particular Civic Society are more than happy to recognise that such a remarkable man lived in the locality, FURD and Kick It Out have backed the campaign. As was common in the 1800's and early 1900's he moved around looking for work and as such he played for many sports clubs across the nation and lived in many communities where he worked. One of those happened to be in my locality, where some of us are extremely proud of him being a resident and wish to honour him.

I will be honest now and admit that I (personally) am an Owl. I wasn't even going to appeal to United fans to help spread the word about this project let alone ask if any fancied popping a quid or two into the coffers but as Arthur was one of your own I thought it polite to do so.

Frankly I'm bemused at the response on here, and I'll be honest I'm on the verge of just canning it. I tried.

Arthur Wharton played one game for us. That hardly counts him as being one of our own. For your information, United have supported FURD throughout and Kyle Walker came through their ranks. United fans have been accused of many things but fortunately racism hasn't been amongst the headlines. Announcing your alignment with the Owls then expressing your bemusement at our response hints at bitterness and does not advance your argument.

 

[justpassing]

Arthur Wharton played one game for us. That hardly counts him as being one of our own. For your information, United have supported FURD throughout and Kyle Walker came through their ranks. United fans have been accused of many things but fortunately racism hasn't been amongst the headlines. Announcing your alignment with the Owls then expressing your bemusement at our response hints at bitterness and does not advance your argument.

I have categorically NOT accused anyone of being a racist! How can anyone who has worked closely with FURD (so yes I obviously know the United link there) and Kick It Out to honour the fact that a prominent black sportsman lived in my area, who happens to have played for United be anything close to me being a "bitter owl"? I am astonished. The whole point of FURD is "football unites..." hence I am seeing beyond my being an Owl to reach out to Blades to honour one of your ex players. That is the entire opposite of being bitter...

...but as you have just pointed out he 'hardly counts as being one of your own' so let's just call it a day with that. Can't say I didn't try.

 

[snootyfenooty]

I have categorically NOT accused anyone of being a racist! How can anyone who has worked closely with FURD (so yes I obviously know the United link there) and Kick It Out to honour the fact that a prominent black sportsman lived in my area, who happens to have played for United be anything close to me being a "bitter owl"? I am astonished. The whole point of FURD is "football unites..." hence I am seeing beyond my being an Owl to reach out to Blades to honour one of your ex players. That is the entire opposite of being bitter...

...but as you have just pointed out he 'hardly counts as being one of your own' so let's just call it a day with that. Can't say I didn't try.

OK then, why didn't you comment positively on the members on here who acknowledged your post and responded favourably to your request for a donation rather than have a pop at those who disagreed with you? You could have just left it at that.

 

[JohnDenver]

What's happened here? He's already canned it after what would seem to have been a fair bit of ground work.

Seems a worthy cause and I reckon most would agree, so surely this isn't a fit of pique at the couple of posts above?

This campaign has now ceased. Please do not give any funds to this campaign, funds already donated will be returned. Thank you to all those who have supported this campaign at every stage, especially Football Unites, Racism Divides and Kick It Out who have inspired throughout. A debt of gratitude is owed to Pontefract Civic Society for agreeing to partner the campaign and to all those at the Yorkshire Party for your continued support. A massive thanks goes out to Harry Gration from BBC Look North for kicking off the social media campaign and to Alan Biggs for spreading the word.

Finally, to the family of Arthur Wharton and to the residents of Moorthorpe, sorry, i failed.

 

[Tyler Durden]

Bizarre to go to the trouble of setting up a campaign then having a hormonal strop and shutting the whole thing down due to a couple of skeptical (but not hostile) responses on a football forum.

Shame really, I was going to put my money into the pot and spread the word on what would've been a worthy cause.

Maybe we could now all chip in and buy this person a backbone?

 

[nicksufc]

Bizarre that you would cancel it.

 

[nicksufc]

Fair enough, its obvious he did have a good career that deserves celebration, but judging by your justgiving page it seems his race is one of the main reasons given as to why he should have a plaque and people should donate. From what I understand about him there is no evidence that he faced any overt discrimination or racism at the time, just curiosity.

For his career and charitable causes he may well deserve a plaque I agree, but boiling it largely down to race because he was the 'first black' something I don't agree with. You could go through every sector or industry and give someone an award or plaque for that, its just something that is, I don't think it particularly needs to be celebrated. As I said I actually think its a little belittling, bringing a persons life purely down to a racial level, or over-emphasizing their achievements because they were a certain race.

Sure many will disagree with me, just my view. Good luck to you anyway.

And I think it's a demeaning and insulting to assume it would have been just as easy for a black man to achieve the things he did, in that time period, as it would have been for a white man. He was playing when slavery of black men was still legal in some countries FFS.

 

[justpassing]

Hello again.

Just a quick update, I took on board what feedback was on here and decided to try a different tactic. United have been kind enough to donate two Category B tickets to the campaign for us to raffle off. The competition cost £10 per entry, all money goes to the cause. As this is for two tickets that’s only £5 per ticket to the winner, great value. To enter simply head over to: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/arthurwhartonblueplaquescheme?utm_id=60&utm_term=rJmpA7Gna