Gone but not forgotten- Rotherham Town

Arthur Wharton

Harry Thickett

Rotherham Town had a 3 year League career. Their most notable players were Arthur Wharton, Harry Thickett and Tom and Dave Porteus. Their colours during their League days were red jerseys with blue knickers. 

Season	League	FA Cup
1893-94	Div.2 14	Q1	reelected
1894-95	Div.2 12	Q1
1895-96	Div.2 15	Q4	did not apply for re election

Formed In 1878 as Lunar Rovers (the founders were shop workers whose long working hours meant that their only opportunity to get a game was to play by moonlight!), the club was admitted to Sheffield New Football Association in 1879.

The charming name was changed to Rotherham FC in 1882, and in 1884 they made their FA Cup debut. 

Having added Town to the name Rotherham were founder members of the Midland League (1889-90) and won the title for 2 years in succession prior to being elected to the Football League.
After losing League status in 1896 the original Rotherham Town was wound up.

A new Rotherham FC was formed in 1900. From 1903 they played in the Midland League along with Rotherham County.
 Rotherham FC adopted the Rotherham Town name again in 1905. 

County were elected to the Football League in 1919. In May 1925 the two clubs merged to form Rotherham United.

Arthur Wharton

Arthur Wharton was born in The Gold Coast (Ghana). He was educated in London and then moved to Grenada in the West Indies. At the age of 17 he returned to England to train as a missionary teacher. However he soon abandoned this in favour of following a career in sport. He was an accomplished cricketer, cyclist and sprinter (a World record holder with 100 yards in 10 seconds in 1886).

Unusually for a sprinter, Wharton was primarily a goalkeeper, although he did also play on the wing.

He was on the books at Darlington and Preston North End as an amateur between 1885 and 1888. Though he never commanded a regular first team place he did play in the FA Cup semi final for Preston. After taking a break from football to focus on sprinting, he joined Rotherham Town as a professional in 1889. He became the first black/ mixed race player to play in the First Division when he was with Sheffield United in the 1894-95 season. After spells with Stalybridge Rovers (he also coached Rovers,signing Herbert Chapman in 1896) and  Ashton North End he ended his career with Stockport County.

During his playing career Wharton had also been a pub landlord. Sadly he died  a destitute alcoholic in 1930.