Clyde Best

Clyde Best
Name	Clyde Best
Birth date	24 February 1951
Birth place	Somerset Parish, Bermuda
Position	Forward
Youthclubs1	Somerset Trojans
Years1	1968–1976
Clubs1	Wolverhampton Wanderers
Caps1	206
Goals1	47
Years2	1976–1980
Clubs2	West Ham United
Caps2	81
Goals2	22
Years3	1979–1980
Clubs3	Tampa Bay Rowdies
Caps3	36
Goals3	13

Clyde Best (born 24 February 1951) is a Bermudian former professional footballer who played as a forward, notable for being one of the earliest black players to establish himself in top‑flight English Football League football during the 1960s and 1970s. Best featured prominently for Wolverhampton Wanderers and West Ham United and later played in the North American Soccer League. His career intersected with cultural and social developments in England, Bermuda, and United States sport during the late 20th century.

Early life and background

Born in Somerset Parish, Best grew up on Bermuda and began playing for local side Somerset Trojans before being scouted and moving to England. His early years coincided with postwar migration patterns between Caribbean islands and Britain, a period marked by overlapping flows with communities from Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago. The move brought him into contact with youth systems influenced by clubs such as Wolverhampton Wanderers, where managers and scouts like Ron Atkinson and others of the era shaped pathways for overseas players. Best's background in Somerset Trojans and Bermuda football culture informed his playing attributes and resilience amid the racial climate of 1970s Britain.

Club career

Best signed for Wolverhampton Wanderers in the late 1960s and made his senior debut under manager Bill McGarry. He became a regular at Molineux Stadium during campaigns in the Football League First Division and played alongside teammates such as John Richards and under coaching influences including Tommy Docherty contemporaries. Wolverhampton's fixtures often saw Best face clubs like Liverpool F.C., Manchester United F.C., Arsenal F.C., Tottenham Hotspur F.C., and Leeds United A.F.C.. In 1976 Best transferred to West Ham United, linking up with players such as Trevor Brooking and managers in the East London setup; he featured in fixtures at Upton Park and in cup ties against clubs like Everton F.C. and Southampton F.C.. Later, Best moved to the North American Soccer League with the Tampa Bay Rowdies, joining a league that included figures like Pelé, Giorgio Chinaglia, Franz Beckenbauer, and George Best (no relation) and competing in venues across United States and Canada. During his club career Best encountered periods of injury, form fluctuation, and transfers influenced by managers, contracts, and the changing commercial landscape of football in the 1970s and early 1980s.

International career

Although born in Bermuda, Best's international profile was limited by the island's non‑FIFA status at the time and by his club commitments in England and the United States. He appeared for Bermuda in regional fixtures and tournaments involving opponents from CONCACAF such as Canada and United States. Best's situation reflected broader patterns affecting players from overseas territories who navigated eligibility rules used by organisations like FIFA and regional bodies. His visibility in domestic leagues nevertheless inspired selection debates and recognition from figures in Bermuda Football Association circles.

Playing style and legacy

Best was known as a tall, powerful center‑forward who combined aerial ability with an eye for goal, linking play with teammates and posing a consistent threat to defences of clubs such as Nottingham Forest F.C., Crystal Palace F.C., Sheffield Wednesday F.C., and Derby County F.C.. Contemporary reports compared his physical approach to forwards used by managers across the Football League First Division and noted his adaptation to different tactical systems employed by managers like Bill McGarry and John Lyall. Best's legacy extends beyond statistics to his role as a pioneer among black players in English football alongside contemporaries such as Gordon Banks (team‑mate era influence), Viv Anderson (later pioneer), and figures from the Caribbean migrant communities. His experiences confronting racial abuse in stadiums contributed to early conversations that later involved institutions like Kick It Out and influenced campaigns led by multicultural advocates and sports historians chronicling racism in sport.

Personal life

After retiring from professional play, Best settled between England and Bermuda and engaged in coaching, youth development, and community work, interacting with organisations such as local clubs, school programmes, and regional federations. He took part in events alongside former teammates and managers from clubs like Wolverhampton Wanderers and West Ham United and participated in commemorations connected to stadiums including Molineux Stadium and Upton Park. Best's later activities included involvement with charity matches, veteran gatherings, and media appearances reflecting on eras featuring players like Kevin Keegan, Alan Ball, and Bobby Moore.

Honours and recognition

During his time at Wolverhampton Wanderers and West Ham United, Best earned accolades for goals and appearances and recognition from supporters' groups, club halls of fame, and civic honours in Bermuda. His pioneering status has been acknowledged by football historians, sports commentators, and institutions documenting the history of black players in British sport, alongside other honourees in lists compiled by media outlets and museums dedicated to football heritage. In later years, Best received testimonials, invitations to anniversary matches, and acknowledgement from organisations preserving the history of players from Caribbean backgrounds and the broader English Football League community.

Category:Bermudian footballers Category:Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. players Category:West Ham United F.C. players Category:North American Soccer League (1968–1984) players