A Biased BBC reader sent this!
The BBC is carrying a fawning article about Arthur Wharton – see http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-20878659. Most people will never have heard of him, but he was apparently the first black professional footballer. He was, by many accounts, an interesting character and his story may well be deserving of a wider audience (he was also a preacher). But look how the BBC describes him: “one of the greatest ever British athletes”. Was he?
He was actually born in Ghana and of mixed background rather than being black. The BBC further tells us that he “played in goal for Darlington, Newcastle United, Sheffield United and Rotherham Town and other famous old clubs like Preston North End”. Indeed he did, but in a football career lasting 17 years he only made a total of 16 appearances, of which just 2 were with Preston North End. He did not play internationally. Nor did he win any trophies or awards.
An interesting historical anomaly, yes. But hardly a black Victorian Stanley Matthews or Bobby Charlton, much less one of the “greatest ever British athletes”. Except to the racialisers of the BBC, of course.”
for the bbc he s black, therefore far better than all those “ole whitey” he played with, put together 😀
…. biased absolute, utter garbage …
hey! he wasn t muslim as well was he? he could go straight to untouchable god status, if only he lived in pakistan too
😀
an al bbc … pant wetting full house … and a statue in broadcasting house.
as an addition …
bbc – news – re – india rape murder
absolutely blanket
can india change? , brutal tales from dehli
the rapes that india forgot?
how that india treats women, no less …
whats needed?
obviously not to mention pakistan comes first
rapes the bbc forgot eh!
just been another … six year old this time
He was a preacher. Was he gay? If so he should have been allowed to be a bishop.
Wiki make no bones about his race:
“…he is best remembered for his exploits as a footballer; while he was not the first mixed race footballer in the United Kingdom — leading amateurs Robert Walker and Scotland international Andrew Watson predate him — he was the first mixed race footballer to turn professional”
sorry, left the bold on…
In the video the guy says he wasn’t selected for England because of the colour of his skin. Does he have proof?
I wasn’t aware that the multiculturalist mafia had that much influence in 1895. In any case, the Arthur Wharton Foundation website doesn’t say anything about him being selected for England.
It looks like he was a much better runner than footballer anyway.
And , after playing a game he had to have 12 months rest before playing again !!!
I doubt the suggestion of a colour bar. Wasn;t there a famous cricketer at about the same time who played for England – although he was from India ?
The peerless Ranji.
Also James ‘Darkie’ Peters played fly-half for England in the early 1900’s, which is about 70 years before the ‘peoples game’ capped Viv Anderson: bloody racist middle class snobs at work, obviously.
In addition, Rugby League capped Cec Thompson in the early 50’s, who sadly died a little while ago.
Yes, this Seacole-Wharton propaganda by BBC-NUJ (and ‘left’) knows no bounds in its racial propagandist absurdity.
Surely a 17 foot statue is inadequate for the guilt-ridden political debt which BBC-NUJ thinks we owe.
Peter Hitchens on Seacole yesterday:-
“How ‘multiculture’ fanatics took Mary Seacole hostage”
By PETER HITCHENS
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-2257668/PETER-HITCHENS-How-multiculture-fanatics-took-Mary-Seacole-hostage.html?ITO=1490&ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490
White people are underrepresented at the top level of English football. White people make up about 95 % of the UK population but a lower proportion of premier league players.
As a football fan and premier league club season ticket holder I don’t care about this, but surely the BBC, with its passion for equality, should be asking why white people are not getting a fair crack at the whip when it comes to the multi-million pounds per year salaries avaialble in the premiership.
“White people make up about 95 % of the UK population but a lower proportion of premier league players.” …… Did it cross your mind that “English” players, irrespective of their colour, make up a pretty low proportion of the players in the Premier League. It may be that the clubs choose to sign players for their footballing ability rather than their nationality or race.
“It may be that the clubs choose to sign players for their footballing ability rather than their nationality or race. “
That sounds like a good method for selecting people for jobs in all walks of life. Select the best candidates, irrespective of race, colour, sex, sexual inclination, social status, whether disabled or not. This would be an end to positive discrimination. Women Only shortlists would then be illegal and your beloved Labour Party would be in the dock.
Most people on here are in favour of the best person for the job, unlike you lefties who believe people should have their race, sex, social status etc. to be regarded as more important than ability when going for jobs, University places etc.. Your answer will make Jim Dandy wince if he reads it as you let your side (left-side of course) down.
“That sounds like a good method for selecting people for jobs in all walks of life.” – Totally agree with you.
“……………your beloved Labour Party would be in the dock.” – Sorry, I have never voted Labour in my life.
” Your answer will make Jim Dandy wince…………………….” – I really don’t mind if Jim winces or otherwise.
It doesn’t matter which extreme left-wing party you vote for, they are all the same when it comes to positive discrimination, i.e. all for it.
Sorry – where did I advocate positive discrimination? I actually agreed with you in that selection based on ability should be the norm.
I really do not care who you assume I may or may not vote for however, I think anyone in the UK would have difficulty in finding a mainstream “extreme left-wing party” to vote for.
Just because someone happens to disagree with your opinion does not make them a “lefty”.
Next thing you’ll be telling us is that you’re a UKIP supporter!
There are many Extreme Left-Wing parties you can choose from. Your beloved BBC supports them all to differing degrees.
“There are many Extreme Left-Wing parties you can choose from” – Please name them bearing in mind that they require to be “mainstream” and not just available in one or a small number of constituencies.
The Green Party?
Just a thought.
…a bad one. 👿
There are many Extreme Left-Wing parties you can choose from. Your beloved BBC supports them all to differing degrees.
Except the BNP. The Beeboids have to label them “Right-wing” in order to place clear blue water between them.
I myself rather like Sepp Blather-but only because the BBC hate him.
Blather says that anybody “upset” by “racist” words at the side of their pitch, probably would do better to stay on the pitch and score a couple of goals.
Oh dear-no!
The BBC would rather any two bob team losing 6-0 to engineer a walk out by claiming Luis Suarez said something about them on Twitter eight months ago.
Zero tolerance you see!
As yet, apart from Carlton Clarke, I`m struggling to get myself the anti-racism XI needed to represent the BBC/Guardian at eh next gay/Disabled Ga,mes in Castro, California.
Sol Campbell? Graeme Le Saux?
Well-as long as Pat Crerand is captain eh?
Interesting to note that you like Blatter that much you managed to mis-spell his name!
Is their some reason that nearly every comment you post has a reference to homosexuality in it?
People in glass houses..Your second sentence, ‘their’ should be ‘there’. Is ‘their’ some reason that nearly every comment you post is rendered idiotic by your inability to spell?
His posts are rendered idotic by his in-built idiocy. It’s clear to all but Albumen that the mis-spelling of Bladder’s name is deliberate for humerous effect.
“Albumen” – another humorous (as opposed to the common mis-spelling “humerous”) mis-spelling reminiscent of the playground bully backed up by his adoring sycophants
Wow, the spelling police at work again.
No worries. I do not live in a glass house and I don’t throw stones either.
Oh dear Albumen(that your real name then?).
Yes-as someone else here has kindly pointed out-I used Blatters name with that pun “blather”…as in to “blather on”-any Victoria Wood sketch should illuminate it for you my friend.
As for the gay bit….don`t think Pat Crerand or Ron Harris will be happy with your insinuation-all I`m saying is that black footballers as automatic victims of racism is a well-known shibboleth of the BBC…as indeed are that community I mention, with absolutely no prejudice intended.
You tell me …how do we file Justin Fashanu then?…black or…no, I daren`t use that other category….you`ll only add it to my name on your Aspergers chart won`t you?
Sorry to “blatter on”…let`s hope that that will cross a few wires within, and fuse you for a while….
Let`s see the BBC scotch the Messi record breaking goal tally this year, by reminding us about that Zambian who apparently has scored far more!
Or is the BBC institutionally racist in denying our Zambian star his superiority to Lionel Messi and his hideously white/Eurocentric stage to promote whiteys cultural hegemony of this truly global sport of equality and diverse achievements!
Come on Beeb…racism takes root when we don`t bravely come out and tell Barcelona that theirs is nothing compared to the wonders of Luanda Town!
Oh-the Africa Cup is bound to be coming up-let`s hope we get wall to wall guff about it…or else we should put a complaint in about the racism at the BBC….
If I am correct, I believe his First World War service is of more interest. A “man of colour” joining the Army and becoming a commissioned officer (Lieutenant) in a military establishment that was still governed by social class, never mind racial superiority!
He was killed in action whilst trying to cover the evacuation of his platoon’s wounded.
I hope I’m referring to the correct individual. If I am right, then he deserves much respect for his military service and bravery in action.
He certainly doesn’t deserve being used as a cipher for BBC racial politics.
If only the relatives of the likes of this man, of Seacole and the like would tell the f***in BBC/etc to stop using ANY decent role model or helpless victim of tragic events; simply in order to mock and insult the “normals” of this country.
If the BBC like you-it`s only for as long as you`re a useful stepping stone to Lennons Land of niceness.
Only the BBC could get me to despise the mention of poor Millie Dowler etc-simply because the BBC body surf on the corpses of these poor souls, before swaddling them in a rainbow/EU shroud.
Sadly, if the BBC or Guardian commend anybody to me…I tend to assume that they`re Marxist stoolies or useful sticks to beat the Tories with…the likes of Hobsbawm come to mind.
And even when their eulogies ARE critical-well, as Savile shows; they cover them up for as long as the Left Liberal elite will be requiring.
Exactly, well said.
The Arthur Wharton Foundation website says he died penniless in 1930, buried in a pauper’s grave. There’s nothing there about any military service, although that doesn’t necessarily mean he didn’t serve. He still doesn’t deserve to be used as a weapon for any cause.
If anything, he should be highlighted as the first world record holder for the 100-yards dash (according to the website), and then as a “pioneer” for breaking the racial barrier in soccer. The website emphasizes his soccer achievements more than anything else, but they would, wouldn’t they. I guess that’s why the BBC completely ignored both Wharton’s professional sprinting career and his cricket achievements. The ground-breaking in soccer should be recognized, of course, but it’s a shame that the man won’t be known for what he was best at, but rather for the color of his skin.
A quick google indicates the aforementioned Andrew Watson was the first black/mixed race (albeit amateur) footballer to play at international level (for Scotland) predating Wharton by a decade. However I suspect he’s of no real interest to the BBC, as Watson was the private-school educated son of a wealthy sugar planter.
Andy S; I think your thinking of Walter Tull, (Northampon Town and Spurs)
There’s a page recognizing Watson on the Andrew Wharton Foundation website. Even the most dedicated advocates are more honest about it than the BBC.
I stand corrected. It is indeed Walter Tull I am thinking about. It seems the BBC are elevating to hero status any black person who who made some success of their lives. That they did so without having to resort to playing the victim/race card seems to contradict the Beeb’s narrative of a hideously racist society of white imperialist Edwardian Brits.
Walter Tull stills gets my respect for his military record, though,and none of those early black achievers deserve to be patronisly sanctified by the BBC’s agenda.
Like most other people I haven’t heard about this chap. He does sound a genuinely interesting bloke and worthy of notice. It’s just a shame that the race hustlers have hi-jacked him, vastly exaggerated his talents and suggesting (natch) that racism held him back.
I had to smile at one of the newspaper reports referring to him as “Darkie.” Lucky Ron Atkinson wasn’t commentating in those days…
Born in Accra in 1866, British Subject by parentage. Papers of the time report on this excellent ability as a runner firstly. Only later turned to goal keeping for various clubs. Married a girl from Rotherham in 1890, they did not have any children. 1891 census a landlord, 1901 census a tobacconist, and 1911 census a coal hewer.
Maybe the BBC will commission Garth Crooks to make a documentary about him.
Garth Crooks – a one man cure for insomnia on legs. bless him. Sweet guy, but beyond boring as a pundit.
Here’s another interesting story of a footballer from the colonies
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohammed_Salim_(footballer)
And as an avid lifelong football supporter, I must ask you – did any of you know that Gil Scott Heron’s father played for Celtic?
“And as an avid lifelong football supporter, I must ask you – did any of you know that Gil Scott Heron’s father played for Celtic?”
Indeed- he played for my team (Kidderminster Harriers) in 1953-54!
It’s interesting that most posters have concentrated on Arthur Wharton’s colour, but the bias is in the revisionist history, that the BBC shows again and again.
Here’s their article:-
7 January 2013 Last updated at 00:05
“Arthur Wharton was one of the greatest ever British athletes, but many sports fans have never heard of him.
He was the first professional black footballer and played in goal for Darlington, Newcastle United, Sheffield United and Rotherham Town and other famous old clubs like Preston North End in the late 1880s.
But his illustrious career has been airbrushed over by history.
Born in the Gold Coast, now Ghana, Arthur moved to north east England to train as a Methodist preacher in Darlington before moving to professional football.
Shaun Campbell from the Arthur Wharton Foundation is campaigning for greater recognition for the footballer, including a 17ft statue.
BBC Inside Out followed him to Ghana on his crusade to spread the word about Mr Wharton.”
One of the greatest ever British athletes? No, as other posters have pointed out using raedily available historical facts. But why let the real facts get in the way of putting the BBC viewpoint across? Horrible histories is a prime example of this.
It’s Biased BBC propganda at its most blatant and all the more effective, because real history is not taught in most of our schools any more.
It is a BBC charter requirement that the BBC educate, and in order to do that, they should present all the facts without bias. So please check the facts for yourself whenever the BBC presents anything historical. Sadly, they can no longer be trusted. I don’t think that’s going to change any time soon.
Thankfully the bBBC doesn’t (yet) seem to have latched on to the latest racist campaign, a letter in The Times today from Jesse Jackson and others opposing Michael Gove’s policies to get English schools teaching children about important people instead of token black ones.
I hadn’t realised that the loony leftie teachers had removed Winston Churchill from the history curriculum and added Olaudah Equiano (no, me neither) and Mary Seacole. Gove wants to change that and the racists are objecting.
If you had the misfortune to watch teachers TV when that used to be on air you would have seen a “teacher” go overboard with hero worship on this subject. His mission was of course to bring the subject of black history to his pupils.
The BBC paint the Greek police in a very negative light in this article, painting them as an institutionally racist organisation:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-20958353
This article is likely to damage the struggling Greek tourist sector, worsening things for ordinary Greeks and playing into the hands of Golden Dawn. The irony…
Jeff