Simplify the following text for a Grade 5 native English-speaking person.
Original: Arthur Wharton ( 28 October 1865 -- 13 December 1930 ) is widely considered to be the first black professional association football player in the world . Though not the first black player outright - the amateur Andrew Watson predated him - Wharton was the first black professional and the first to play in the Football League .
Simplified: Arthur Wharton is a former football player .