Remembering Arthur Wharton: The First Black Professional Footballer
In an interview from 1888, Arthur Wharton recalled overhearing a conversation between two fellow track competitors some years before. “Who’s he,” one rhetorically asked, glancing at Wharton, “that we should be frightened of him beating us? We can beat a booming n***** any time.” Wharton approached the men and coolly asked if they wanted to […]
The Evolution and Political Dynamism of Football in Mussolini’s Italy
On a November night in 1934, the English national football team faced their Italian counterparts, Nazionale di calcio dell’Italia. The match was held at Arsenal Stadium in London –more commonly known as “Highbury” – on this day filled to capacity. Unusual attention surrounded this “friendly,” which had no influence on rankings or trophies and was […]
