I knew I had some responsibility': Clyde Best on being English football's first black superstar

"My dad told me: When you go to England, you're not playing for yourself, you're playing for those coming after you. I always knew that I had some responsibility, and I had to carry myself in a certain way and behave myself in a certain way. I'm not going to do anything stupid and mess it up."

"It is striking to hear Ian Wright say that he wore the No 8 shirt at Arsenal as a tribute to Best. Viv Anderson, the former England defender, remembers growing up and being blown away when he saw the Bermudan on television. Best takes the praise in his stride."

"I'm not a person that would go out and boast. He let his football do the talking. He dreamed of playing for West Ham after watching them beat Preston in the 1964 FA Cup final, and quickly rose through the ranks in Bermuda."

Clyde Best left Bermuda at age 17 in 1968 to pursue a trial at West Ham, driven by opportunity rather than fear. His father, a naval officer and later deputy commissioner in Bermuda's prison service, advised him that he was playing not just for himself but for future generations, instilling a sense of responsibility and proper conduct. Best became an inspirational figure and English football's first black superstar. Now 75, he returned to London to promote a documentary film about his life and career. The film features interviews with black footballers who acknowledge Best's profound impact, including Ian Wright, who wore the No. 8 shirt as tribute, and Viv Anderson, who was inspired watching Best on television. Best's approach was to let his football speak for itself rather than boast about his abilities.

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