Clyde Best: Trailblazing West Ham Icon's Rise Against Racism
Explore the inspiring story of Clyde Best, one of the first Black players in English football, and the impact of his pioneering career at West Ham in the 1970s.
Clyde Best, the barnstorming West Ham striker from the early 1970s, is finally getting the recognition he deserves in this uplifting film. As one of the first Black players to feature in the elite levels of English football, Best's pioneering status and the wider implications of racism in the sport are explored through a stellar lineup of talking heads, including West Ham contemporaries like Geoff Hurst and Harry Redknapp, as well as those who followed in his footsteps, such as Viv Anderson, John Barnes, Les Ferdinand, Shaka Hislop, and Garth Crooks.
The film delves into Best's remarkable journey from Bermuda to London as a 17-year-old, where he effectively had a one-off trial session before being signed by future England manager Ron Greenwood. Viewers with hazy memories of Best's thunderous presence on the pitch from early 1970s editions of Match of the Day will be captivated to learn more about his pioneering role and the wider impact of his career.
Source: The Guardian
