Clyde Best
Encyclopedia
Clyde Cyril Best MBE
(born 24 February 1951 in Bermuda) is a Bermudian
former football player who most notably played as a striker
for West Ham United
, and was one of the first black
players in British football. He was also the very first black player to play professionally for the Hammers.
While he initially suffered through some racist chanting from rival fans, Clyde became a true fan favourite at Upton Park. 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. He made his first team debut for West Ham in a 1–1 home
draw against Arsenal
on 25 August 1969 at the age of 18. His first goal for the Hammers being in the League Cup
in a 4–2 win against Halifax Town
, on 3 September 1969. Best played 218 games and registered 58 goals for West Ham over 7 seasons between August 1969 and January 1976.
Best also played in the Dutch Eredivisie
for Feyenoord and in the United States
for Tampa Bay Rowdies, Toronto Blizzard
and Portland Timbers
of the North American Soccer League
. He was also an assistant coach for the San Diego Sockers for a brief period in the early 1990s.
Best received his first cap at the age of fifteen playing for the Bermudian national team
. Best also coached the national team from 1997 to 1999.
Best was also instrumental in the origins of football at Irvine Valley College
in Southern California, as a founding member of the coaching staff along with Head Coach Martin McGrogan in 1993.
Best was inducted into the Bermuda National Sports Hall of Fame in 2004. He was awarded an MBE in the January 2006 New Year's Honours list for services to football and the community in Bermuda.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(born 24 February 1951 in Bermuda) is a Bermudian
Bermudian
Bermudian or Bermudan may refer to:* Something of, or related to Bermuda* A person from Bermuda, or of Bermudian descent. For information about the Bermudian people, see Demographics of Bermuda and Culture of Bermuda. For specific Bermudians, see List of Bermudians.* Bermudian English, the variety...
former football player who most notably played as a striker
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
for West Ham United
West Ham United F.C.
West Ham United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Upton Park, Newham, East London. They play in The Football League Championship. The club was founded in 1895 as Thames Ironworks FC and reformed in 1900 as West Ham United. In 1904 the club relocated to their current...
, and was one of the first black
Black people
The term black people is used in systems of racial classification for humans of a dark skinned phenotype, relative to other racial groups.Different societies apply different criteria regarding who is classified as "black", and often social variables such as class, socio-economic status also plays a...
players in British football. He was also the very first black player to play professionally for the Hammers.
While he initially suffered through some racist chanting from rival fans, Clyde became a true fan favourite at Upton Park. 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. He made his first team debut for West Ham in a 1–1 home
Boleyn Ground
The Boleyn Ground, more commonly referred to as Upton Park due to its location in Upton Park, London is the football stadium of West Ham United.-History:...
draw against Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
on 25 August 1969 at the age of 18. His first goal for the Hammers being in the League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
in a 4–2 win against Halifax Town
Halifax Town A.F.C.
Halifax Town Association Football Club were an English football team who most recently played in the Conference National, although prior to that they participated in the Football League for over eighty years...
, on 3 September 1969. Best played 218 games and registered 58 goals for West Ham over 7 seasons between August 1969 and January 1976.
Best also played in the Dutch Eredivisie
Eredivisie
The Eredivisie is the highest football league in the Netherlands. The league was founded in 1956 two years after the start of professional football in the Netherlands. It is currently ranked the ninth best league in Europe by UEFA....
for Feyenoord and in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
for Tampa Bay Rowdies, Toronto Blizzard
Toronto Blizzard (NASL)
The Toronto Blizzard were a professional soccer club based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada that played in the North American Soccer League.-History:The Toronto Metros joined the NASL in 1971. Their home field was Varsity Stadium....
and Portland Timbers
Portland Timbers (NASL)
The Portland Timbers were a team in the North American Soccer League from 1975 to 1982. The name has been used by two other soccer franchises: the Timbers of the WSA/APSL, Portland Timbers of the USL and the current team which began play as part of Major League Soccer in 2011.-History:In January...
of the North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
. He was also an assistant coach for the San Diego Sockers for a brief period in the early 1990s.
Best received his first cap at the age of fifteen playing for the Bermudian national team
Bermuda national football team
The Bermuda national football team is the national team of Bermuda and is controlled by the Bermuda Football Association. A member of CONCACAF, it is not among its strongest teams....
. Best also coached the national team from 1997 to 1999.
Best was also instrumental in the origins of football at Irvine Valley College
Irvine Valley College
Irvine Valley College is a community college in Irvine, California and it is a part of the California Community Colleges system. The college inherites its name from the Irvine family and The Irvine Company that were key in the development of the city of Irvine...
in Southern California, as a founding member of the coaching staff along with Head Coach Martin McGrogan in 1993.
Best was inducted into the Bermuda National Sports Hall of Fame in 2004. He was awarded an MBE in the January 2006 New Year's Honours list for services to football and the community in Bermuda.