Statue honours Arthur Wharton - the world's first black professional footballer

A new statue has been unveiled in tribute to the world's first black professional footballer, Arthur Wharton.

Wharton played as a goalkeeper for Preston, Rotherham, Darlington and Sheffield United after coming to Britain from the Gold Coast - now Ghana - as a 19-year-old in the 1880s.

It wasn't just football that he excelled in - becoming the world's first 100 yard record holder in 1886 with a time of 10 seconds.

He was also a professional cricketer and a keen cyclist - who set a record time for riding between Preston and Blackburn in 1887.

However it was for his footballing talents that he was best known, with a reputation for eccentricities.

One of his favourite - and most unusual - tactics was to crouch at the side of the goal before springing into action when required.

One commentator, writing for the Sheffield Telegraph and Independent in 1942, is quoted describing an even more remarkable stunt which had left the opposition red-faced several decades earlier.

Despite his multitude of successes, Wharton struggled to receive the recognition he undoubtedly deserved.

After developing a drinking problem he retired from football and worked as a halage worker at the Yorkshire Main Colliery in Edlington.

He died in 1930, and was buried in a pauper's grave that remained unmarked until 1997.

The latest statue - situated at the St George's Park national football centre in Burton - comes as part of efforts to pay greater recognition to the top-flight's first mixed race footballer.

David Sheepshanks, chair of St George's Park said he hoped the 16ft-high statue by sculptor Vivien Mallock would help inspire coaches from ethnic minorities.

Currently, there are only two black and minority ethnic managers in the football league - Carlisle's Keith Curle and Huddersfield's Chris Powell.