Harry Redknapp recounts West Ham 'band of brothers' at premiere of Clyde Best documentary
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Credit: Imago Fri 27 March 2026 10:36, UK Harry Redknapp spoke with fond memories of West Ham United footballers Clyde Best, Clive Charles and John Charles at the London premiere of Transforming the Beautiful Game – The Clyde Best Story.Directed by Dan Egan, the new documentary focuses on the story of the former Iron, who arrived in England at just the age of 17, becoming one of the first black players to star in the top flight. The Bermudian forward played 218 games and scored 58 goals for the Hammers between 1968 and 1976, all while dealing with a barrage of racial abuse on a regular basis.Best would ultimately leave to join the North American Soccer League in 1976, helping shape the growth of football in the country.The former West Ham footballer’s remarkable story is set to screen in Bermuda next month before embarking on an American city tour in May and June. ⚽West Ham United Matchday⚽ Team news, line-ups, expert previews and tactical analysis for every West Ham fixture.
VISIT THE WEST HAM MATCH HUB MORE FOOTBALL INSIDER STORIES Harry Redknapp recalls ‘incredible memories’Best enjoyed special memories at West Ham, and the story of his arrival as a 17-year-old in London is a staggering one. Clyde Best’s journeyYearsWest Ham1968-76TB Rowdies1976-77Portland Timbers1977-79Feyenoord (loan)1977-78Cleveland Force1979-80Toronto Blizzard1981-82Eventually, he was directed to the train station, but mistakenly exited at the West Ham stop instead of Upton Park.A lost Best was directed to the home of the mother of Clive and John Charles, who invited him in and cared for him for several years.All three players would go on to make appearances for West Ham, with John Charles becoming the first black player to ever appear for the club in the First Division in 1963.
And him [Best] and Clive went everywhere together. We had the honour of welcoming Clyde Best to Rush Green yesterday ❤️⚒️ The Hammers legend spent time with the squad before watching a live training session 🙌 pic.twitter.com/I5aFo5mDHS— West Ham United (@WestHam) May 6, 2023 View Tweet As his documentary portrays, Best’s rise above the hatred to receive huge acclaim in England was a staggering achievement, and a story that must be told.You can watch Transforming the Beautiful Game – The Clyde Best Story at Sadler’s Wells East on 27-28 March by booking tickets here. ⚒️ Don’t Miss a Beat: Your West Ham Insider Access Get the full story from the London Stadium and Rush Green with our dedicated expert hubs: Updated 24/7 with expert analysis from East London.