Rotherham honours Arthur Wharton, England’s first black professional footballer

Plaque unveiled 134 years after footballer, runner and cricketer first played for Rotherham Town

Arthur Wharton is far from being a household name but his fans say his name should be shouted from the rafters. More than a century ago he was the outstanding sportsman of his generation: a world record-breaking runner, a superb cricketer and England’s first black professional footballer.

“He was a trailblazer, an inspiration,” said the former Chelsea player Ken Monkou. “We follow in his footsteps … [without him] there wouldn’t be a Usain Bolt, there wouldn’t be me, John Barnes and Brendon Batson. He laid the foundation. He put the crumbs out.”

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