Nahki Wells called Clyde Best a hero, as the West Ham United legend was featured in Huddersfield’s local newspaper this week.

The article in the Huddersfield Examiner centred on Best’s recently-released autobiography, The Acid Test, and the path he paved in England football for other black players when he broke into the West Ham team in the late 1960s.

It also highlighted the racial abuse Best had to endure in those days, including a letter sent to him by a fan who threatened to throw acid in his face when he ran out onto the pitch in a match during the 1970-71 season. The title of the book came from that incident.

“These days it’s Huddersfield Town striker Nahki Wells flying the flag for Bermuda in England,” the article began.

“But 45 years ago, Clyde Best was the first footballing hero of the North Atlantic island with a population of around 65,000.”

Wells was born in 1990, long after Best left English football, but he has heard the stories of his accomplishments and has long been inspired by his fellow Bermudian.

“He was the first footballer to really emerge from Bermuda,” said 26-year-old Wells who has some unique achievements of his own like becoming Bermuda’s first million pound footballer when he transferred from Bradford City to Huddersfield for £1.3 million.

“He put the island on the map and he’s a bit of a hero to us all at home. Clyde Best paved the way for the likes of Shaun Goater, Kyle Lightbourne and myself and did it at a time when it must have been hard for a young black player.

“He does a lot for football in Bermuda. I still see him when I go back and he’s always been very supportive.”

Best was one of the earliest high-profile black players in England during the 1970s, making 221 appearances for West Ham between 1969 and ‘76.

He played four times against Huddersfield Town, and scored three of his 58 goals against them, including a goal in the FA Cup fifth-round in February 1972 when West Ham were beaten 4-2.

Just a week later Best scored twice in a 3-0 league win at Upton Town which edged Town closer towards relegation, the article stated.

n Huddersfield dropped to fifth in the Championship standings yesterday when Leeds United beat Derby County 1-0 to climb two places to third.

The Terriers are away to sixth-placed Sheffield Wednesday today.