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**Sir X** · January 10, 2007, 09:49 PM

RE: The first Black professional footballer

Goalkeepers were not formally acknowledged until 1871 when the FA inserted a rule that allowed those so designated to handle the ball anywhere in their half of the field. Though Sheffield Rules football had referred to the goalkeeper before this time, defining the position literally: anyone on the defending team who is nearest to his own goal. Until the 1890s a goalkeeper could be downed by one or more attackers (in an onside position), whether or not he had the ball. The more organised teams would use a rusher, a forward whose job it was to do just this. Any goalie foolish enough to catch a ball and hold onto it would almost certainly take a battering from any forwards within diving or lunging distance. All sides played with at least five forwards in the 1890s. This may explain Wharton’s preference for fisting the ball away rather than catching it; and, in part, his reputation as the ‘goalkeeper with the prodigious punch’. Despite his excellent timing and co-ordination, Arthur did not always connect with the ball!:‘Several times...[Bridgewater of Sheffield United] charged at Wharton [of Rotherham Town] as if he meant mischief. Stand-up fights because of these charges more than once seemed imminent, but the good sense of Wharton and the timely intervention of the referee prevented anything so discreditable.’[17]The position of goalkeeper suited Arthur’s character. Despite the great risk of personal injury that in the 1880s would have threatened his potential as a sprinter, the potential for freedom of expression appealed to the extrovert in Arthur. Whether he could have played successfully in other positions is a moot point. He certainly could not have done with the same skill, agility, exuberance and longevity of professional career. As goalkeeper he had freedom to roam - to the half-way line, beyond even -and take shots at goal. This would not have been unusual. Only from 1912 were goalies restricted to handling the ball within the newly marked penalty area. Swinging from the bar, as has been noted, was another speciality. A letter writer to the Sheffield Telegraph and Independent, recalled (half a century after the event).I learnt something today

**Sir X** · January 10, 2007, 09:53 PM

RE: The first Black professional footballer

In a match between Rotherham and [Sheffield] Wednesday at Olive Grove I saw Wharton jump, take hold of the cross bar, catch the ball between his legs, and cause three onrushing forwards - Billy Ingham, Clinks Mumford and Micky Bennett - to fall into the net. I have never seen a similar save since and I have been watching football for over fifty years.’[18].

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The first Black professional footballer

The first Black professional footballer

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