Pickford and Wharton celebrated in Darlington with new mural

Both Arthur Wharton and Jordan Pickford have links to Darlington, which is why they are to be recognised on a new mural in the town.

The new artwork is being painted onto the walls of the Arthur Wharton Foundation building, on Widdowfield Street.

Shaun Campbell working on the new England artwork on the outside of the Arthur Wharton Foundation building in Darlington (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

The foundation celebrates the life of Wharton, who became the world's first black professional footballer when he played in goal for Darlington in 1883, the start of an amazing sporting career.

Pickford also made his professional debut for Darlington, aged 17 in 2012, on loan from Sunderland to help the club when they were going through an administration process and desperately needed players.

The Washington-born keeper is now firmly established as England's number one. He has starred for the Three Lions in the Euro 2024 tournament as they aim to become the first England men's team to lift a major international trophy on foreign soil when they play Spain in Berlin on Sunday.

Shaun Campbell at the mural, which will celebrate the achievements of two goalkeepers, both with links to Darlington (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

Shaun Campbell, from the Arthur Wharton Foundation, started the mural by painting a gold lion on a white shield after England won their quarter-final match.

Now that England have progressed to the final, he is going to complete the crest with two more lions. And he has added two figures of the Arthur Wharton statue at the National Football Centre in St George's Park, Burton on Ttent, to represent Wharton and Pickford.

If England win on Sunday, the whole of the foundation wall will be decorated with a celebration mural. If they lose there will still be a design of some kind added.

Mr Campell said: "There are all sorts of things we're thinking about. I thought about doing the moral in stages as England progressed. First of all it was a white shield, but I didn't want to add anything to it until the quarter-final - if they got there.

"When I started, the traffic started increasing outside as people saw something happening and started talking about it.

Shaun Campbell was inspired to start the mural on the walls of the Arthur Wharton Foundation in Darlington by the success of the England team at the Euro 2024 tournament (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

"We're not sure how we're going to play it, but we're building up the expectation through the art."

He added: "The Darlington connection is part of the reason we're doing this, because both goalkeepers played a very important part in the club's history.

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"Arthur Wharton made his name with Darlington and Jordan Pickford played for Darlington as a young lad in their hour of need.

He made his league debut under incredibly difficult circumstances, trying to save a club's history. He stood up to be counted and now he's standing up for England.

"It's remarkable what you can achieve in the face of adversity and I'm really proud of him."