Clyde Best facts for kids
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(s) | 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) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 1997–1999 | Bermuda | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Clyde Cyril Best is a famous former football player from Bermuda. He was born on February 24, 1951. Clyde Best was one of the very first black players to play in England's top football league, the First Division. He was a talented striker who scored 47 goals for West Ham United between 1968 and 1976.
Contents
Early Life and Moving to England
Clyde Best moved from his home in Bermuda to England when he was 17 years old. He went there to play football for West Ham United. When he first arrived, the team's captain, Bobby Moore, helped him settle in. Clyde Best has said that Bobby Moore and other West Ham players like Harry Redknapp and Billy Bonds helped him deal with unfair treatment he sometimes faced.
Playing Football: A Pioneer on the Field
As one of the first black footballers in England, Clyde Best often faced racist chants from the crowds. Despite this, he became a favorite player among the fans at Upton Park, West Ham's home stadium. He was known as a strong and powerful player. It was hard to take the ball from him, and he was good at heading the ball.
West Ham United Debut and Goals
Clyde Best played his first game for West Ham United on August 25, 1969. It was a home game against Arsenal, and the score was 1–1. He was only 18 years old at the time. His first goal for West Ham came shortly after, on September 3, 1969. It was in a League Cup match against Halifax Town, which West Ham won 4–2.
Over seven seasons, from August 1969 to January 1976, Best played 218 games for West Ham. He scored 58 goals for the club. In one unusual game in 1973, he even played as a goalkeeper for a short time when the regular goalie was injured!
Playing in Other Countries
After his time at West Ham, Clyde Best also played football in other countries. He played in the Dutch league, called the Eredivisie, for a team named Feyenoord. He also played in the United States and Canada for teams in the North American Soccer League (NASL). These teams included Tampa Bay Rowdies, Toronto Blizzard, and Portland Timbers.
While playing for the Tampa Bay Rowdies in the 1975 championship game, called Soccer Bowl '75, he scored a goal in the 88th minute. This goal helped the Rowdies win their first NASL championship with a 2–0 victory. The next year, he also helped the Rowdies win the 1976 indoor football title and was named the most valuable player (MVP) of that tournament.
Coaching Career
After his playing days, Clyde Best became a coach. In the early 1990s, he was an assistant coach for the San Diego Sockers. Later, from 1997 to 1999, he coached the Bermuda national team.
Later Life and Recognition
After his coaching career, Clyde Best moved back to Bermuda, his home country. He has received special honors for his contributions to football. In 2004, he was added to the Bermuda National Sports Hall of Fame. In 2006, he was awarded an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) for his services to football and the community in Bermuda. This is a special award given by the British government.
See also
In Spanish: Clyde Best para niños
