Les Ferdinand, the former Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur and England striker, has endorsed the prospect of a knighthood for Bermudian legend Clyde Best on account of his barrier-breaking exploits in English football.

Best endured racism and horrifying abuse from the terraces during a stint with West Ham United between 1968 and 1976, which helped pave the way for the Black players that followed him into the English game such as Ferdinand, who is adamant the Bermuda Sports Hall of Fame inductee should be knighted for his contributions to the sport.

“When you look back on Clyde and what he achieved and when he did it, I think without a shadow of a doubt he should be recognised and knighted,” Ferdinand told The Royal Gazette.

“Not just for what he brought to the game in this country, but also for what he’s done back in Bermuda where he’s galvanised the country.

“He is an inspiration to many people; not just in the way that he performed, but in the way that he conducted himself as well. He’s a humble guy whose kept his feet firmly on the ground.”

Ferdinand joins a distinguished group of former professional players who have called for Best to be knighted — including the late Cyrille Regis and West Bromwich team-mate Brendon Batson, as well as Bermudians Shaun Goater and Randy Horton.

The trailblazing exploits of Best, who scored 47 goals in 186 appearances for West Ham, are depicted in a film titled Transforming the Beautiful Game — The Clyde Best Story, which was given its Bermuda premiere at City Hall on Tuesday night.

That Best has yet to be knighted decades after his career ended comes as no surprise to Ferdinand given the amount of time he has been away from the English game.

However, he is encouraged to see the former Hammers star’s contribution to the game finally being highlighted and recognised in the feature-length documentary.

“I am not surprised only because when you’re out of sight, you’re out of mind and Clyde has been out of sight in the UK for a long time,” he said.

“This documentary has taken too long to come around and, because it’s come around when it has, everybody is now seeing Clyde‘s plight.

“This documentary has highlighted what he’s done for Black footballers and what he’s done for football in general. Not just in this country but back in Bermuda and around the world.

“Then it highlights what’s been done and that’s why people are calling for him to be knighted now — and rightly so.

“The unfortunate thing is it has taken this documentary to put him in the minds of a lot of people, where he should have been in their minds a long time ago.

“When they see the story and his plight there are certain things they were unaware of, as I was as well, to his plight, his story and history.”

Ferdinand, who also had a playing stint with West Ham, is among those featured in the film.

“It was an honour to be involved, to be part of the production and to speak about someone who has inspired hundreds and hundreds,” he said.

“The story needs to be told and broadcast. The Premier League now has 45 per cent of players with a Black community background, and those guys playing today need to recognise where it all started and not enough of them know.

“These boys that are coming through and playing now need to understand who Clyde was, so knighting him would be a start.”

Also renewing calls for Best to be knighted on island was former North Village player and president Shervin Dill.

“I fully endorse the knighthood of Clyde Best,” he said.

“I think it’s way overdue and it’s time Bermudians and the King gave him that honour.

“It’s way overdue because he earned it for what he’s done to break the barriers in Black sport. He’s earned the right of a knighthood.”