Blue plaque for Arthur Wharton is unveiled in Rotherham

On 7th September 2023, a blue plaque was unveiled in Rotherham in honour of Arthur Wharton, the world's first black professional footballer.

The plaque was organised by Rotherham Civic Society with support from the Arthur Wharton Foundation and is located at Rotherham Titans rugby club. This was the home of Rotherham Town Football Club when Wharton signed for them as a professional in 1889. 

Wharton was also a world record holding sprinter and was an accomplished cricketer, cyclist and boxer. After retirement he became a miner and was buried in an unmarked grave in 1930 until FURD raised money to provide a headstone in 1997.