english football league

[prycejones]

who was the first black footballer in the league

[mike1222]

There was Mike ********** (sp) who played for Plymouth and Everton circa 1965/6 but I'm sure there were some before him.

Albert Johansen (sp) Leeds in ythe early 60s

[mike1222]

Don't know what happened there - it should read **********

[mike1222]

Problems typing this! Think of three male birds - treble *****=**********

[mike1222]

No, it thinks I am being rude methinks!!!!

[GSM7554]

Mike **********

[Gef]

I think you mean Mike Trebilc o c k but I don't recall him being black. Lindy Delapenha, a Jamaican, played for Middlesbrough in the early fifties but I don't know if he was the first.

[SeaJayPea]

The game's first black professional footballer was a goalie. Born in Gold Coast (now Ghana), Arthur Wharton picked up his first pay packet in 1889 when he turned out for Rotherham United and later played in Divison One with Sheffield United.

This is not me being clever, it's a direct steal from here:

http://www.goalkeepersaredifferent.com/keeper/facts.htm

[mightyWBA]

Arthur Wharton was the first black professional footballer in the English league.He played for Preston North End in the 1880's and 90's

[mike1222]

Gef, Trebilc o c k was definitely black.

[halfadaily]

Trebilc o c k, although black by descent in fact hailed from Cornwall. He'll go down in sporting history though as being the first black man to score in a FA cup final, for Everton v Sheff Wed in 1966

[spudqueen]

Not the first black footballer, but Charlie Williams (later on one of The Comdedians) played for Doncaster Rovers in the 1950's.