When Bermuda’s players step out on to the pitch tonight in Guatemala they will be following in the footsteps of one of the best teams the Island has produced.

It is nearly 50 years since the first international between the two countries, and the side that played in three Olympic qualifiers against Guatemala in 1967 will be honoured by the Bermuda Football Association during half-time of Monday’s World Cup qualifier between the two.

Clyde Best and Lionel “Baldie” Smith will be two of those striding out on to the pitch together once again, and the atmosphere is likely to be far friendlier than the one they experienced in Central America all those years ago.

A 1-1 draw in Guatemala, followed by a goalless draw in Bermuda forced a replay on what was supposed to be neutral territory. The game ended up being in neighbouring El Salvador, close enough to be almost a home game for Guatemala.

“We were beating them and their fans started to set fire to the stadium. Us being amateur and from Bermuda, we’d never seen anything like that before,” Best said.

“We ended up losing the game 2-1, I think that’s why we lost, we were more afraid than anything.”

Best though has fond memories of that time, and playing in a team that won the silver medal at the Pan Am Games in Winnipeg, beating the United States, and Trinidad and Tobago, along the way.

“We were a very good team, and it was a fantastic journey,” Best said. “It was a great group and what was amazing for me was to be so young and be in the team with all these men. Even if you weren’t [starting] in the team, you were still cheering them on to win and that spirit, that was what was amazing about that time for me.

“[It was] one of the best teams that I’ve ever played with, not only as players, but they were fantastic human beings as well.”

Best cannot wait to get together with his friends to spend an evening reminiscing about their achievements, and remembering those that will be unable to attend.

Smith also has fond recollections of those years and the bonds that grew between the players.

“We were a unit, even if we weren’t playing football, you would see guys meeting on the street and you would think they were brothers,” Smith said.

Guatemala stands out for other reasons, not just the reception the team received inside the stadium, but the one they got outside as well.

“When we played in Guatemala there were more people inside the stadium than on the Island of Bermuda,” Smith said. “It was hostile, but they treated us like superstars at the hotel and when we were travelling around.”

All those memories are likely to come flooding back once more on Monday evening as the Class of ‘67 stand on the pitch at the National Stadium and are acknowledged for their achievements.

“It will be a good occasion,” Best said. “I’m looking forward to seeing everyone again, we don’t get together as often as we should.”

Bermuda play Guatemala in the away first leg tonight at 11pm (Bermuda time).