Clyde Best Reflects On Football Legacy
Clyde Best has spoken about his football journey as Transforming the Beautiful Game: The Clyde Best Story, a film exploring the life and legacy of the Bermudian pioneer, prepares for its premiere.
Best gave an interview to the English newspaper The Times before the film’s screening at Sadler’s Wells East Theatre in London on March 25.
The former West Ham United forward rose to prominence as the first Black football superstar of England’s modern televised era and later played a role in the early expansion of professional soccer in the United States.
“My dad told me you’re not playing for yourself, you’re playing for those people coming after you,” Best told The Times.
Best said that during his time at West Ham he once received an anonymous letter threatening to throw acid in his eyes as he emerged from the tunnel for a home fixture.
“I don’t know if it was a West Ham fan or an away fan or whoever it was,” Best, 75, said.
“I feel sorry for them because if you have that mentality, there’s something wrong with you.
“Luckily nothing happened and we were able to get through.”
Racial abuse was nevertheless a common experience throughout Best’s seven seasons in England’s top division.
“You’ve got to be tough,” he says. “You’ve got to think of your own fans and your team – you don’t want them to be a man short by me not playing to my abilities, so you can’t let it affect you.
“The way to silence a crowd – hit the back of the net.”
The documentary, produced by Best’s long-time friend Dan Egan, looks back at the striker’s impact both on and off the pitch.
“When you’re from a small place, you’ve got to dream big,” Best says.
In 1975, Best moved to the United States to play for Tampa Bay Rowdies in the North American Soccer League [NASL].
“The NASL already had Pelé, but people just saw Pelé as Pelé so Clyde was, culturally, more of a move.”
Best later represented both the Rowdies and Portland Timbers and took part in exhibition matches alongside Brazilian legend Pelé.
Pelé told him: “I’m the king but now you’re the prince.”
You can read the full story here on The Times website.
