Video: Clyde Best On Film Documentary

March 30, 2026 | 0 Comments

Clyde Best said he was “over the moon” with the positive reaction to a documentary about his football career, which completed its UK screenings at a London theatre yesterday [March 28].

Best attended showings of Transforming the Beautiful Game – The Clyde Best Story alongside family, friends and former team-mates throughout the week at Sadler’s Wells East in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.

The film charts Best’s career from joining West Ham United in the late 1960s to his move to the United States, where he played in the then-burgeoning North American Soccer League with the Tampa Bay Rowdies and Portland Timbers, as well as a spell with Feyenoord in the Netherlands. It also explores the wider issue of racism in football.

“The documentary really is a great thing,” Best told Bernews.

“My main purpose for doing it was to show young people what I was able to do and what I went through.

“Hopefully, they can use that for a blueprint for themselves.

“I’m over the moon we were able to do it. It’s not just for me – it’s for Bermuda, all the players I played with and against, and the West Ham fans.

“We had great numbers here every night supporting us – it’s been great.”

Best, 75, said he could hardly have imagined the impact he would have on Black players who followed in his footsteps, including England internationals Viv Anderson, Ian Wright and Les Ferdinand, who attended the red-carpet premiere on Wednesday.

Also at the first official screening were Premier David Burt and English-based Bermuda footballers Nahki Wells and Reggie Lambe.

“I never thought something like that would happen for me,” said Best, a former Somerset Trojans forward.

“It’s been more than 50 years [since playing for West Ham] – it’s unbelievable.

“So much has changed since then. We’re looking at the London Stadium [opposite Sadler’s Wells East], which is a lot different to what I had at [the Boleyn Ground, the club’s former stadium]. It’s a big, big difference.”

During a question-and-answer session after the screening, Best joined his former West Ham team-mate Ade Coker in a rendition of “I’m Forever Blowing Bubbles”, the club’s anthem.

The feature-length documentary was directed by American Dan Egan, who played football at school in Maine alongside Best’s nephew Jerry.

“It’s been overwhelming,” Egan said. “The reaction has been so positive from players, teams and the fans.

“People are clapping during the movie like they’re watching a match.

“Bermudians love to travel and we knew quite a few would come over.

“A lot of people actually came over from Bermuda to watch Clyde play back in the day.”

The documentary will be screened in Bermuda at the Earl Cameron Theatre, City Hall, on April 21 and 22, and at the Ruth Seaton James Centre for the Performing Arts in Devonshire from April 23 to 26.

Tony Head, the narrator, Clyde Best, Dan Egan, the director