Credit: Imago
Thu 13 November 2025 10:50, UK
US filmmakers are set to release a documentary about West Ham legend Clyde Best in 2026.
Transforming the Beautiful Game: The Clyde Best Story will premiere in London in March, chronicalling the life of Best, who played for the Hammers between 1968 and 1976.
Best is known for being a trailblazer for black footballers in England, having been one of the first black men to star in the First Division in an era when racism was rife.
In 2023, ex-West Ham star Michail Antonio spoke about how he idolised Best, crediting him for paving the way for black footballers like himself.
In the film, Bermuda-born Best will talk about his career and how he became a West Ham legend, how he dealt with vile racist abuse and how he then became a star of the North American Soccer League (NASL).
Credit: ImagoClyde Best’s West Ham career
Best is one of the greatest goalscorers in West Ham’s history.
He made 221 appearances for the Irons in all competitions, scoring 51 times, ranking him just outside the top 20 for the East London club’s top goalscorers and level with Paolo Di Canio.
Best starred alongside the likes of Bobby Moore, Billy Bonds, Sir Trevor Brooking and Sir Geoff Hurst in his time at Upton Park, before leaving for the USA in 1975, initially on a loan to NASL side Tampa Bay Rowdies, who signed him permanently a year later.
Credit: CNN
During his time in East London, Best helped West Ham reach the 1975 FA Cup final, where they beat Fulham 2-0 at the old Wembley.
Unfortunately for the former Bermuda international, he wasn’t picked for the final, in which Alan Taylor scored both goals and Hammers legend Moore played for Fulham.
In his time at Upton Park, Best became a fan favourite and looked to the West Ham faithful, as well as Harry Redknapp, Moore and Bonds, to help him deal with the racist abuse he suffered from rival fans throughout his stay in England.
After his time at West Ham, Best played a key role in the rise of the NASL, starring alongside Rodney Marsh for Tampa Bay, before moving to Portland Timbers to team up with ex-Hammers teammate Clive Charles.
He then had spells at Feyenoord and Toronto Blizzard before hanging up his boots in 1984 after a series of indoor football seasons.
Between 1997 and 1999, he managed the Bermuda national team.
Who will feature in the film about Clyde Best’s career?
Director Dan Egan has released a teaser of the film on YouTube, showing interviews with former teammates and coaches of Best throughout his playing career.
Viv Anderson, John Barnes, Les Ferdinand, Paul Canoville and Brendon Batson are among the former black footballers to talk about Best and the struggles they faced playing in England around that era.
Ex-West Ham midfielder and manager Redknapp, who played alongside Best, also stars in the documentary with the catchline “the superstar you’ve never heard of”.
After Transforming the Beautiful Game: The Clyde Best Story premieres in London in March, it will be shown in Best’s native Bermuda a month later.
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