City Hall’s foyer was abuzz as people turned out last night for the red-carpet premiere of a film celebrating the legacy of Bermuda sporting icon Clyde Best.

The feature-length documentary Transforming the Beautiful Game — The Clyde Best Story was screened in front of a large audience, which included the film’s stars and football legends, members of the business community and government officials.

Mr Best, who scored 47 goals in 186 appearances for West Ham between 1968 and 1976, was heartened by the turnout.

He told the Royal Gazette: “I feel proud especially to be at home to come and put something like this on.

“I think it is great. But like I said before — it’s not for me, it’s for my country.

“We can take this and learn from it and do what we have to do as far as young people are concerned.”

The football legend said he was touched by the reception from audiences since the film premiered in London last month.

“It is something that is worthwhile seeing,” he said, as he recounted his journey from the island as a 17-year-old to top-flight club West Ham United in 1968.

Mr Best added: “I think the most important thing to remember is that the size of where you come from doesn’t matter.

“If you got the tools and you’re willing to make sacrifices, you could achieve big things.”

Tony Head, the film’s narrator and writer, said it was a “wonderful experience” to tell the story of Mr Best.

He added: “Clyde is a very humble person ... I think his story is one of the most important sports stories ever.

“I think for Clyde to come from such as small island and turn our to be the icon that he is, I think it is a tremendous accomplishment.”

Ade Coker, who played alongside Mr Best at West Ham in the 1970s, said that he paved the way for him and many Black footballers to play at the top level.

“He made it easier for me,” he said. “I didn’t go through a lot of what he went through.”

Mr Coker said the film depicted “all the struggles that Clyde went through to do what he did”.

For his part, Mr Coker said after watching the film that he realised that back when the pair played at West Ham, Clyde had perfected some of today’s well-known football skills, such as his famed 180-degree turn with the ball.

David Burt, the Premier, attended the event, as well as Dennis Lister, the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Lovitta Foggo, the Deputy Speaker, and Crystal Caesar, the Minister of Education.

Mr Lister, a producer of the film, said Mr Best was his neighbourhood hero and “at that time we all looked at what he was doing”.

He said being part of the production of the film, he saw that people “still recognise Clyde for what he was done”.

Mr Burt said it “was particularly important” that the story of the Bermudian legend was told.

He said the Government felt proud to support the film and he said people felt emotional after its first screening in London.

Rick Richardson, who is featured briefly in the film, said he had the privilege of playing against Mr Best and also covering his rise in the game as a sportscaster.

“This is fascinating,” he said of the film.

He added: “I think it is recognising our sons of the soil and it can only lift us.

“Lots of times, especially with the young Black men, they say we have no role models.

“We have. Dan [Dan Egan the film’s director] has done a great job of highlighting that and we can only go on from there.”

Gary Darrell, a former national football coach, said: “We are usually the last to recognise our own and this is long overdue.”

Mr Darrell said Mr Best’s potential on the pitch was no secret. He added: “I think he has been a trailblazer not only for Black players overseas but for local players as well.”

Tim Crane, a historian at West Ham, said fans of the club had “come out in force” to see the film since its release.

He added: “Clyde is one of our favourite players of all time. He has his special place in West Ham’s history.”

Tyree Fubler, who plays young Mr Best in the film, said he felt honoured to be chosen for the role which he said “was a new experience”.

“The film is very interesting, a lot of people should watch it,” he said. “It shows that anything is possible.”

• Transforming the Beautiful Game — The Clyde Best Story will be shown in Bermuda at the Earl Cameron Theatre, City Hall, tonight and at the Ruth Seaton James Centre for the Performing Arts in Devonshire, from April 23 to 26. Tickets are available at clydebest.shop

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