Former West Ham United star Clyde Best was honoured in true Jamaican style during a touching half-time ceremony at Somerset Cricket Club on Saturday.

With the big Bermudian striker having inspired many footballers in the Caribbean during the 1960s and 70s, a visiting Jamaican Ambassadors Select took the opportunity to personally thank Best for his pioneering achievements which helped pave the way for future black professional players in the UK.

In a sense, Best?s career came full circle on Saturday as he suited up on the very ground where his skills were nurtured before enjoying a successful career at London?s Upton Park alongside the likes of World Cup hat-trick hero Sir Geoff Hurst and former England captain Sir Bobby Moore.

?It?s very touching when people really appreciate the way one played over the years and what it really meant to people in the Caribbean and other parts of the world,? said Best, who came on as a second-half substitute during Somerset Extros? 4-1 win over the visiting Ambassadors.

?A lot of people in the Caribbean many years ago used to watch me play on TV and that in turn helped to inspire them. So it is great to be honoured because what happens in life lots of times is that you don?t really realise the impact you have made on people until later . . . and that in itself is very touching,? added the local Hall of Fame inductee.

Although many among the large gathering would have liked to have seen the legendary striker find the back of the net, Best said: ?It was just nice to be out there again playing with the guys.

?I had maybe one or two touches but my shooting has gone now and I am not going out there to pull muscles and stuff like that anymore. But the most important thing is that relationships were fostered.

?But again, everything that I tried to do in life ? both on and off the pitch ? was to conduct myself a certain way and be a certain way and I think the Almighty knows that and that is what really matters.?

During the half-time ceremony, Best was presented with a commemorative plaque marking his achievements in the professional game.

Tour organiser Gordon Anglin described Saturday?s ceremony as ?emotionally agitating?.

?It was absolutely special. Some people sat there listening while others cried and it was very moving,? he said. ?It was a moving ceremony and we (Ambassadors) accomplished what we had set out to do, and that was to recognise him in the best way we could.?

Saturday also signalled the conclusion of Ambassadors? week-long tour of the Island which saw the visitors stage several football seminars for kids and play four friendlies against local opposition.

The Jamaicans lost 4-2 against BAA, 2-1 against Dandy Town Roots, 3-2 against a local over-40s select on Friday night before suffering a 4-1 loss to Extros on Saturday.

The Ambassadors also toured the Island last year and plans are now in the works for next year?s tour which promises be even bigger and better, according to Anglin.

?Next year we can hopefully change the format and involve other teams to play for charity or even play at the National Sports Centre,? he said.

?The guys really enjoyed themselves and are looking forward to returning next year.?