Exhibition opens in Darlington celebrating Arthur Wharton
People are being invited to Hopetown Darlington to explore the life of the world's first professional black footballer
Last updated 19th Jun 2026
The first dedicated exhibition exploring the life of the world's first professional black footballer is welcoming the public in Darlington.
Arthur Wharton moved to Darlington in 1883 where he began his sporting career. He's also widely recognised as the world's first recorded fastest man.
His remarkable story is brought to life through powerful storytelling, photography and interactive experiences. The exhibition also explores the wider social and cultural context of his life, including the connections between sport, industry and the railways that helped shape the modern game.
The exhibition is at Hopetown Darlington and Alison Grange is from there: "We always want to highlight Arthur and his story. He's becoming more known, but we always want to champion him as one of our local heroes. And that connection to the railways is really important as the railways helped to professionalise sport, helped teams travel across the country to play each other, spectators to go and watch their favourite teams play.
"We've got some really amazing objects. We've got two of the trophies that Arthur actually won, which is incredible, some incredible original artwork and just a real variety of objects and photographs that really bring a story to life.
"Come down and see it, find out a story that you might not have heard before, be surprised by a new story, celebrate the World Cup and then the Commonwealth Games this year as well.
Arthur also played cricket and Roland Butcher, an ex-international cricketer for England, paid a visit to the exhibition and said: "He was an all-round athlete, so it's nice to showcase him as a summer of sport that we're all having. Arthur Wharton, he was not just a great sportsman, he was a cricketer as well. So that has an interest to me as well.
"Arthur Wharton obviously was a pioneer. I mean, before him, there was nobody before him. So the first one is always the one that you talk about. And he certainly was a pioneer in many sports.
"He's obviously an amazing athlete. I mean, to have played all of those sports and to the level that he's done, he was sensational and it's great that he's remembered. Young people coming forward should really recognise and be taught more about what he's actually done and use it as an inspiration for their own lives and for generations to come."
It's hoped the exhibition will also help tackle racism with an optimism that the World Cup can unite people together.
Shaun Campbell, founder of the Arthur Wharton foundation, said: "We're living in very turbulent times at the moment. There are a lot of issues in society like a tsunami of racism hitting the world at the minute and it's not unsurprising.
"Educationally, things are changing. This was never on the curriculum with us growing up. Now, with modern technology like phones, we can teach outside of the curriculum. So we're very optimistic that the next generation that comes through will have learned all about the importance of women, gender etc. We should have a more tolerant society.
"For the World Cup, when you look at the issues in society today, we've had a referee turned down simply because of the colour of his skin. In America, the best referee in Africa, who's not allowed to referee because Trump says he can't. It's madness."
Dorothy Compai, Arthur's great granddaughter, said: "I'm very proud. We're very privileged to be a part of Arthur's story. I think it's a good incentive for kids of today as well, things that can be achieved and not forgotten about as well.
"People need to know about Arthur because of what he's achieved. It must have been so difficult for him, because there wouldn't have been a lot of black people then and he must have been up against it. I'm sure he was.
"I think it's sad that that's still going on today in any sport and just in life in general. And I think stories like this, if people can read it and see it and know that things can be overcome, it's got to be better for people and to see what you can achieve."
You can find out more on the Hopetown Darlington website.