A SPORTING pioneer could be immortalised in his homeland with a stadium built in his honour.

Arthur Wharton was the world’s first black professional footballer, who began his career playing in goal for Darlington.

Following a high-profile campaign for a permanent memorial to Wharton in Darlington, a proposal has also been put forward to construct the Arthur Wharton Stadium in Tema, Ghana.

Mr Wharton moved to Darlington from Ghana in 1882 in order to train as a Methodist minister.

As well as playing football for the Quakers, he also appeared for Preston North End and Sheffield United.

He was also a one-time world record holder for the 100 yard dash.

Shaun Campbell, from Darlington, has led the campaign to have a statue erected in Wharton’s honour in the town.

He said he was told about the plans to build the Arthur Wharton Stadium when he met the High Commissioner of Ghana, Professor Danso Boafa, at a speciality and fine foods fair at London Olympia earlier this month.

At the fair, to mark Ghana’s status as the world’s leading cocoa producer, a chocolate statue of Wharton was made by master chocolatier Philippe Wall, from Belgium.

The proposed stadium would be built at the King Solomon Football team ground in Tema. It is hoped it would provide a focal point for leisure activity in what is Ghana’s largest seaport.

It would also have classroom and outreach facilities, which would be operated in conjunction with Charlton Athletic Football Club, to help teach local children.

Mr Campbell said he had only recently been speaking to John Carmichael, the director of football charity Truce International, about how it would be nice for a stadium in Ghana to be named after Wharton.

He added: “I couldn’t believe it when I went to the Olympia and they passed me the brochure showing the proposal.

It’s fantastic that he could be recognised in his homeland.”

Recently, Mr Campbell visited the House of Commons, where he presented a scale model and plaque of Arthur Wharton to FA chairman David Bernstein.