On this day in 1865 Arthur Wharton was born in Ghana.

[silver blade]

On this day in 1865 Arthur Wharton was born in Ghana.
Arthur played for the Blades in the late 1800s and is widely considered to be the first black professional footballer in the world.

or was it Andrew Watson?

 

[Gavlar]

Great story.

 

[Tynemouth Blade]

Darlington mural honours first black footballer

Arthur Wharton came to the UK in the 1880s from Ghana, and was signed as a professional player.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[coaxingstar71]

I'm all for celebrating stuff like this, but he was hardly in the 'one of our own' category. Records show he played 1 league game for us and 1 'other' game, a total of 2 games.
So a bit like in 100 years time, getting giddy about the fact that Brian Launders played for us.