FILM SYNOPSIS

Transforming the Beautiful Game is firsthand look at overcoming racial adversity through the lens of an iconic Bermudian soccer player: Clyde Best.

Best was one of the first Black athletes to play in the English Premier League, recruited from Bermuda in 1968 to play for West Ham United in London when he was only 17. He faced blatant racism and torment from fans, but met adversity with excellence, and in the process became a legendary goal-scoring striker and groundbreaking role model.

This feature documentary explores how Best’s journey shaped the future of soccer worldwide, and the lingering inequalities in professional sports today.

FILM SYNOPSIS

Transforming the Beautiful Game is firsthand look at overcoming racial adversity through the lens of an iconic Bermudian soccer player: Clyde Best.

Best was one of the first Black athletes to play in the English Premier League, recruited from Bermuda in 1968 to play for West Ham United in London when he was only 17. He faced blatant racism and torment from fans, but met adversity with excellence, and in the process became a legendary goal-scoring striker and groundbreaking role model.

This feature documentary explores how Best’s journey shaped the future of soccer worldwide, and the lingering inequalities in professional sports today.

PRODUCER: Julie Anderson

Julie Anderson is an Academy-Award nominated documentary film producer, director, and development executive who has been honored with four Emmy Awards and two Peabody Awards. She has created programming for ESPN, HBO Sports, HBO Documentary Films, PBS, CNN, CBS Sports, and ABC Sports.

In 2019, she produced HBO’s highly acclaimed documentary We Are The Dream, as well as the multi-part documentary Vick for ESPN’s 30 for 30 series about former NFL quarterback Michael Vick, the number one pick in the 2001 NFL draft.

Julie was the director of documentary development for HBO Documentary Films and produced the Academy-Award nominated documentary God Is The Bigger Elvis. As a Senior Producer for ESPN, she created Emmy award winning magazine shows Outside the Lines and E:60 and was a senior producer on HBO’s Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel.

There has never been a better time to tell this story.

Themes: race, sports, combating discrimination,
immigration, systemic change.

Storytelling tools: exclusive, intimate interviews,
a wealth of unseen archival footage,
a relevant story with modern connections.

Our mission: create a powerful piece of
nonfiction cinema worthy of acclaim and
resonant to viewers worldwide & capture the
story of a Bermudian icon and West Ham legend.

We are proud to be an official International Documentary Association project. The International Documentary Association (IDA) supports the vital work of documentary storytellers and champions a thriving and inclusive documentary culture. Their “Fiscal sponsorship” classifies this project as a 501(c)(3) public charity for fundraising through grants and donations.

There has never been a better time to tell this story.

Themes: race, sports, combating discrimination,
immigration, systemic change.

Storytelling tools: exclusive, intimate interviews,
a wealth of unseen archival footage,
a relevant story with modern connections.

Our mission: create a powerful piece of
nonfiction cinema worthy of acclaim and
resonant to viewers worldwide & capture the
story of a Bermudian icon and West Ham legend.

BERMUDIAN ORIGINS

IMG_9398b
  • Born in 1951, family of 8 siblings
  • Father worked as prison warden,
    played soccer in Naval yard
    adjacent to prison
  • Playing for Bermuda National team
    by age 15
  • Signed with West Ham United at the age of 17

BERMUDIAN ORIGINS

IMG_9398b
  • Born in 1951, family of 8 siblings
  • Father worked as prison warden,
    played soccer in Naval yard
    adjacent to prison
  • Playing for Bermuda National team
    by age 15
  • Signed with West Ham United at the age of 17

     

CLYDE'S CAREER

WEST HAM UNITED

  • 1968-1976
  • Age upon arrival: 17
  • 221 Games, 51 Goals as a Striker
  • Enduring racial discrimination: sent threatening letters,
    harassed by crowds
  • Became an adored West Ham Legend

WEST HAM UNITED

  • 1968-1976
  • Age upon arrival: 17
  • 221 Games, 51 Goals as a Striker
  • Enduring racial discrimination: sent threatening letters, harassed by crowds
  • Became an adored West Ham Legend 

USA CAREER

  • 1975-1984
  • 327 Games, 133 Goals, 100 Assists
  • One of the Black pioneers of North American soccer
  • High-profile foreign athletes brought to the US, instrumental in bringing sport into American culture
  • 1974: Birth of indoor soccer. Best is one of the key players to popularize sport variation worldwide
  • 1975: Best is part of the first season of Tampa Bay Rowdies existence
  • June 6, 1976: Best faces Pele playing for New York Cosmos, wins 5

USA CAREER

  • 1975-1984
  • 327 Games, 133 Goals, 100 Assists
  • One of the Black pioneers of North American soccer
  • High-profile foreign athletes brought to the US, instrumental in bringing sport into American culture
  • 1974: Birth of indoor soccer. Best is one of the key players to popularize sport variation worldwide
  • 1975: Best is part of the first season of Tampa Bay Rowdies existence
  • June 6, 1976: Best faces Pele playing for New York Cosmos, wins 5

CREATIVE TEAM

Dan Egan
Director/Producer
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Julie Anderson
Producer

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H. Nelson Tracey Producer
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Milton Raposo
Line Producer, Bermuda
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Charlie Davies
Soccer Consultant
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Joe Farr
Line Producer: USA
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Gherdai Hassell
Visual Artist
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Dr. Dana Selassie Line Producer: Bermuda
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MoZiah Selassiene
Associate Producer
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Eldon H. Trimingham III
Visual Artist
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Dr. Sajni Tolaram
Cultural Consultant, Bermuda
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Dan Egan
Director/Producer
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Julie Anderson
Supervising Producer
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H. Nelson Tracey
Producer
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Milton Raposo
Line Producer, Bermuda
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Charlie Davies
Soccer Consultant
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Dana Selassie
Line Producer: Bermuda
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Dr. Sajni Tolaram
Cultural Consultant, Bermuda
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Eldon H. Trimingham III
Visual Artist
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MoZiah Selassiene
Associate Producer
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Joe Farr
Line Producer: USA
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Gherdai Hassell
Visual Artist
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Help us tell this story.

Clyde Best is a Bermuda legend who is admired and adored for both his career and community service on the island and around the world. His story has never been told in cinematic or television format. We are seeking partners who are passionate about bringing Clyde Best’s story to the big screen to audiences worldwide.

We are proud to have the International Documentary Association (IDA) as our fiscal sponsor. For US-based contributors, tax deductible donations may be made through the IDA.  Support this project directly through the IDA.

A donation as defined by the IRS is giving cash or property to a qualified non-profit without receiving anything in exchange or return. Funds given as donations to IDA in support of a fiscally sponsored project are tax-deductible as allowed by law.

Please contact us if you would like to learn more ways to be involved.

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We are proud to be an official International Documentary Association project. The International Documentary Association (IDA) supports the vital work of documentary storytellers and champions a thriving and inclusive documentary culture. Their “Fiscal sponsorship” classifies this project as a 501(c)(3) public charity for fundraising through grants and donations.

In the Press

The Life and Legacy of Clyde Best

The Bermudian On July 11, 2021, England’s national football team faced off against Italy during the Euro Cup 2020 final …

Clyde Best film hailed as a showcase of resilience and excellence

The Royal Gazette 03/31/2022 The story of Clyde Best’s journey from being a little-known Somerset Trojans and Bermuda footballer to …

Video: Documentary To Feature Clyde Best

Bernnews 03/30/2022 A feature-length documentary depicting the life of Bermudian football legend Clyde Best is underway, it was announced today …

The “Best” Story to be Told About Bermudian Football Legend

03/29/2022 This week, award-winning international film producers announced that a feature-length documentary depicting the life of Bermudian football legend, Clyde …

Clyde Best documentary starts to film on island

09/22/2022 A documentary delving into the life and career of Bermuda footballing legend Clyde Best has started to film on …

On Island Filming Commences For The Clyde Best Story

09/22/2022 News Release: Filming is underway in Bermuda this week for Transforming the Beautiful Game, The Clyde Best Story. Thisfeature-length …

Island Filming Commences For Clyde Best Story

09/21/2022 Filming is underway in Bermuda for Transforming the Beautiful Game, The Clyde Best Story. A spokesperson said, “Filming is …

Clyde Best film tackles racism in 1970s English football

03/30/2022 Clyde Best endured racism as one of the first black players in top tier English football. The Bermudian football …

Clyde Best Documentary Press Conference

03/29/2022 Press conference about the planned documentary on Bermudian football legend Clyde Best, which is described as “Transforming the Beautiful …