Arthur Wharton: Preston North End honours trailblazing black footballer

Wharton also held the national 100 yards title and he set a record time for cycling between Preston and Blackburn

A plaque honouring a trailblazing footballer has been unveiled at the home of one of his former clubs.

Arthur Wharton, who was originally from Ghana, was Preston North End's (PNE) goalkeeper between 1886 and 1888.

He subsequently left for Rotherham Town, signing a contract which made him the first black professional to play in the English Football League.

His descendants unveiled a plaque in his honour at PNE's Deepdale stadium before the clubs' game on Friday.

The marker was the result of a collaboration between Preston Historical Society and PNE's community and education trust.

A society representative said blue plaques were usually used to commemorate a person, a place or an event, but Wharton's combined "all three criteria".

"Arthur the man, a player popular with the crowd; Deepdale the place, home to Preston North End since 1878; Arthur from Ghana, the first black professional footballer," they added.

The plaque was unveiled before PNE's 3-0 victory over Rotherham United on Friday

Born in what was then known as the Gold Coast in 1865, Wharton moved to England in 1883, so he could receive an English education.

His footballing career started at Darlington FC and he went on to play for PNE, Rotherham Town, Sheffield United, Stockport County, Stalybridge Rovers and Ashton North End.

In 1886, he took the title of national 100 yards champion in a race run by the Amateur Athletics Association and a year later, he set a record time for cycling between Preston and Blackburn.

He retired from football in 1902 and died in 1930.

He was buried in an unmarked grave in Edlington until the Arthur Wharton Foundation provided a headstone in 1997.

His plaque was unveiled near the memorial to pioneering women's side Dick, Kerr Ladies at PNE's ground before the club's 3-0 victory over Rotherham United on Friday.

A similar plaque honouring Wharton was unveiled at Rotherham Town's Clifton Lane ground in 2023, while a statue of him stands in the memorial garden at the National Football Centre at St. George's Park in Burton-on-Trent in Staffordshire.