Best In CNN Report On Race In Football
Barrier-breaking Bermuda footballing legend Clyde Best will be featured on a major CNN report on racism in football. “World Sport Presents: It’s Not Black & White” airs on Friday [Feb. 24] at at 4 p.m. Bermuda time, on Saturday at 12 a.m. and 10 p.m., on Sunday at 7 a.m. and at Monday 4 a.m.
The first black player of the modern era to establish himself in England’s top division, Mr. Best said the reaction he faced from some fans on the terraces more than 40 years ago was extreme, mirroring the strong resistance to immigrants landing on Britain’s shores back then.
In a release promoting the programme, CNN said: “Recent incidents have shown that racism is still a big problem in these more multicultural times. England, in particular, is dealing with the fallout of two high-profile player on player controversies. Fans, meanwhile, have been arrested for racially abusing players at stadiums and on the Internet.
“Racial tension started growing in the UK after World War Two, when immigrants began pouring into the country from the British Empire’s colonies around the world — notably the West Indies. The number of non-whites in England climbed from just a few thousand in 1945 to about 1.45 million in 1970.”.
Mr. Best arrived in the UK from Bermuda to play for London club West Ham United in 1968 — the same year British politician Enoch Powell made his infamous “rivers of blood speech”, predicting a future of endless racial strife and riots if immigration continued.
“People weren’t used to seeing people of color on the field in those days. I was always taught that you’re not playing for yourself, you’re playing for the people who are coming behind you, and that’s what kept me going,” Mr. Best told CNN. “There were certain things that were said and done, but you’ve got to put them in them in the back of your mind and be strong and do what you have to do.”
Mr. Best’s persistence in coping with the hate mail and the fan abuse — some of it from his own club’s supporters — helped paved the way for Viv Anderson, England’s first black international, and other black players.
Clyde Best In Action With West Ham Against Tottenham, April 1, 1972
The Bermudian striker was so successful in overcoming the bigotry he encountered from a small minority of British soccer supporters, he went on to become a genuine fan favourite during his time at West Ham.
He was a strong, powerful player with the skills of the traditional English centre forward, tough to dispossess when he had the ball and good in the air. His first goal for the team came in the League Cup in a 4–2 win against Halifax Town, on 3 September 1969.
He played 218 games and registered 58 goals for West Ham over seven seasons between August 1969 and January 1976.
Mr. Best was inducted into the Bermuda National Sports Hall of Fame in 2004. He was decorated with the MBE in the Queen’s 2006 New Year’s Honours list for services to football and the community in Bermuda.
It would be good for our youth to see that before Shawn Goater was born, Clyde Best was representing Bermuda, and representing well. I think that more should be done to recognize Mr. Best, as a trailblazer.
cancer and the hate brigade mus be tearful with reminisces of not having to hide back then.
Thank You CNN for showing the world Bermuda’s achievements.
I concur @ Prayerful and Tommy Chung and lets give this gentleman all his due while he is still here with us. Thanks to you and people like you who have broken down barriers and continue to do so. At the same time making it easier sometimes too easy for people of my generation. too many of us take things for granted.
Too bad we as a nation have not done more for Best (i.e. rename the national stadium after him, honor national heros day for him). Does the critteria have to be that the hero has to be deceased?
We have named numreous schools and buildings after heros of a local recognition. FINE but this man’s recognition spreads further then any of them. Just walk the streets in London and ask any english football fan, who was the first black premiership player. And you will see the recognition.
sad the video did not show more of the man in the spot light!! the man scored a 58 goals it would have been nice to see one
Yeah, its a shame that other ‘well-known’ Bermudians get great recognition here in Bermuda even naming airport and buildings and having a ‘hero’ celebrated 2 or 3 times straight every national heroes day because we couldn’t find another hero in our history!! PLEASE….. What a shamble!
BTW..bernews, why did you post a video showing game highlights that showed nothing really of Best’s talents on the field. I am sure there are other games you may have picked unless there are none available online :O
Saw the advert for this the other day on the telly over here in England, Bermudas youth should definitely watch this for a number of reasons, most importantly though how to play the West Ham way!!!
http://www.bermudafa.com/president/469855.html