West Ham Academy coach Georgio Tofarides recently hosted a football camp alongside DaRock Elite Academy coaching staff at the Clyde Best Centre of Excellence over the Spring school break.

Dubbed the DaRock Elite Academy — West Ham United Elite Camp, the five-day training exercise involved 40 youth players between the ages of 7 and 10 who were put through their paces by the coaching staff.

The camp provided a high-level environment with emphasis placed on development, discipline and learning and was part of the celebration and launch of the Clyde Best documentary, making for an even more meaningful experience for the young participants.

DaRock Elite Academy founder/coach and Bermuda defender Dante’ Leverock chalked up the event as a huge success.

“We had 40 children that participated in the elite camp so it was a real big success,” he told The Royal Gazette.

“It was a very good camp welcoming down West Ham Academy coach Georgio Tofarides with the help of Miller Bermuda who sponsored it alongside John Barritt & Son Ltd.

“This is the first time welcoming down West Ham and we tied it into the Clyde Best film. It was only right as Miller Bermuda is a sponsor and Clyde Best is a legend so we tied it in and brought down a West Ham coach.

“We tied it all in and celebrated Best so now you have a whole new generation knowing who he is and what he’s been through. It’s come full circle and I am really proud of being involved in this.

“We also had a free community day. We reached out to the clubs to send their players so we can put them through their paces for two hours and that was a good success as well.”

Best, who scored 47 goals in 186 appearances for West Ham between 1968 and 1976, was delighted to see the youngsters honing their budding skills.

“They were very receptive and enjoyed themselves,” he said.

“We had a good group every day which is a good sign because we need to get the children playing as much as possible,” he said.

“That’s the only way you are going to improve and we need that sort of exposure more often.”

If all goes to plan, the camp could become an annual event.

“We have some other options for next year and West Ham, for the time being, maybe an annual thing,” former professional and Bermuda captain Leverock said.

“That’s the talk and I’m even confident Georgio will come back down. The children really loved him so I think he will come back down annually.”