Several weeks ago, local referee Gordon Hunter set me a poser by asking why there were hardly any footballers called Arthur playing football in Britain at senior level.
Between us, we were able to come up with just messrs Graham, Duncan, Albiston, Numan and Mann.
Michael Gallacher, who works for Halliburton in Arbroath, added to the ‘Arthurs’ when he suggested Arthur Wharton, stating he was reckoned to be the “first black footballer to play in Britain”.
Tommy McKay, who works for The Inclusion Group in Dundee, also forwarded Wharton in addition to: “If we are using world spelling of Arthur, then Arturo Vidal (Juventus) would be one.”
I think we will just stick to playing in Britain.
Back to Wharton and he was born in the Gold Coast (now Ghana) in 1865, and came to Britain aged 19 with a view to studying ministry. However, his love of sport, in particular athletics and football, saw him sway from the cloth.
He started as an amateur, playing as a goalkeeper for Darlington, then moved on to Preston North End.
He left Preston to concentrate on his running for a spell, equalling the amateur world record of 10 seconds for the 100 yards at the AAA Championships.
On his return to football, he played for clubs which included Rotherham, Sheffield United and Stockport — and sometimes even playing as a winger.
He was also a keen cyclist and cricketer, playing for local teams in Yorkshire and Lancashire.
Kenny O’Rourke kept his offering local and suggested Arthur Finn.
Arthur was a winger with Lochee Harp who joined Montrose in the 1960s.
David Cooper, of Downfield, Dundee, cheekily suggested Kenny Arthur, the former Partick Thistle goalkeeper, who has also played for several other clubs.
“I know it is his surname but he is still an Arthur,” he smirked.
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