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‘A Century Apart’ Wharton & Elliott in verse -Review

Stuart Butler

6th April 2009

‘A Century Apart’ written by Peter Daniel
Illustrations by Ted Smith Orr.
Creative Energy Publications

It’s always good to come across football poetry publications that involve fellow working poets and contributors to this site whilst
also embracing subjects close to our hearts . So with a moving forward by Phil Vasili, this latest ‘soft back’ from ‘Creative Energy’ (‘Football Pure Poetry 1 & 2’ etc; ) is a worthy and commendable offering .

In poetry form, this book covers and compares the lives of both Arthur Wharton, England’s first black professional footballer in 1886 and Paul Elliott MBE (Charlton, Chelsea etc;) almost a hundred years later in 1981. Set in verse by Daniel and accompanied by trade-make Smith-Orr illustrations, ‘A Century Apart’ offers the reader an insight into the black contribution to football and over a hunded years of black people’s experience of living in Britain.

“When the goals flew past him the insults would begin
His talent couldn’t shield him from the taunts about his skin” P.Daniel.

Peter Daniel of Westminster Archives, was virtually single-handedly responsible for externally launching the Education Through Football programme , now a regular part of life at Stamford Bridge. He championed Chelsea’s first ever black player – Paul Canonville’s story of racist abuse from fans and much more through the delivery of poetry and art workshops to children iin schools and libraries involving myself, Ted S-O top Zimbabwean poet Albert Nyathi , Michael Foreman and the Chelsea pensioners.

As a result, and now with it’s own Hub Study Support Centre, Canonville has been re-discovered and taken back into the Chelsea fold undertaking Anti-Racism workshops regularly for the club . Paul Elliot continues to represent Kick It Out internationally .

Hot on the heels of the harrowing award-winning ‘Black & Blue’
from Canonville, (Headline) this book is another timely reminder of our oft-forgotten and sinister British past, in which Arthur remains a sad but remarkable symbol of stuggle against oppression .

In Vasili’s own introductory words Wharton was ” a metaphor for both excellence and weakness”.’

The Editor – Crispin Thomas

Copies are available at £6.00 each (incl of Postage & Packing)
from:
Creative Energy Publications, 365 Homesdale Road,
London SE25 4PN

For further enquiries and information contact :
tsopoetryshow@hotmail.co.uk

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Source: https://footballpoets.org/news/2009/04/06/a-century-apart-wharton-elliott-in-verse-review/