Clyde Best
Clyde Cyril Best MBE (born 24 February 1951) is a Bermudian retired professional footballer who played primarily as a striker and is recognized as a trailblazer for black athletes in English top-division football.[1][2]
Best began his career in Bermuda, debuting for Somerset in the local Cup Match at age 15 in 1966 and earning his first international cap for the Bermuda national team the same year, later contributing to a silver medal at the 1967 Pan American Games.[3][4] At 17, he was signed by West Ham United, becoming one of the first black players in England's First Division, where he appeared in 218 matches and scored 58 goals from 1968 to 1976 despite facing racial abuse from spectators and opponents.[5][3]
After leaving West Ham, Best moved to North America, enjoying a prolific spell with the Portland Timbers in the North American Soccer League, where he scored 38 goals and provided 27 assists in 115 games over five seasons from 1976 to 1981, establishing himself as a club legend.[4] He later coached the Bermuda national team from 1997 to 1999 and was awarded the Member of the Order of the British Empire in 2006 for services to football and the community.[2][6] Best's career totals include over 300 club appearances and significant contributions to breaking racial barriers in professional soccer on both sides of the Atlantic.[7]