Clyde Best
 Best at West Ham United's Boleyn Ground, in August 2012 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Clyde Cyril Best MBE | ||
| Date of birth | 24 February 1951 | ||
| Place of birth | Somerset, Bermuda | ||
| Position | Striker | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Somerset Trojans | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1968–1976 | West Ham United | 186 | (47) |
| 1975 | → Tampa Bay Rowdies (loan) | 19 | (6) |
| 1976 | Tampa Bay Rowdies (indoor) | 4 | (7) |
| 1976 | Tampa Bay Rowdies | 19 | (9) |
| 1977–1981 | Portland Timbers | 118 | (38) |
| 1977–1978 | Feyenoord | 23 | (3) |
| 1979–1980 | Cleveland Force (indoor) | 30 | (33) |
| 1980–1981 | Portland Timbers (indoor) | 6 | (2) |
| 1981–1982 | Toronto Blizzard | 22 | (2) |
| 1981–1982 | Toronto Blizzard (indoor) | 18 | (3) |
| 1982–1984 | Los Angeles Lazers (indoor) | 90 | (29) |
| Total | 535 | (179) | |
| International career | |||
| 1968 | Bermuda | 2 | (1[1]) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 1997–1999 | Bermuda | ||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Clyde Cyril Best MBE (born 24 February 1951) is a Bermudian former football player and coach. He was one of the first black players in the First Division in England, scoring 47 goals as a striker for West Ham United between 1968 and 1976.
Early and personal life
[edit]Best's father Joseph moved from Barbados to Somerset Village, Bermuda as part of the navy, where he met Best's mother Dorothy, a prison warden.[2] He began playing football for local team Ireland Rangers aged 12, and after falling out with the teams' coach Ed Smith, moved to Somerset Trojans, where he made his début aged 15.[2] Smith would later recall the falling out came after Best had "physically challenged" him, and led to Best being disciplined and dropped from the team.[3]
Best moved from Bermuda to England at the age of 17, to play for West Ham United. Upon his arrival he was looked after by club captain Bobby Moore.