Back in September 1970, West Ham United went up against the iconic Pele in a friendly out in New York.
Three months after Pele’s Brazil beat Bobby Moore’s England in the 1970 World Cup, arguably the greatest player in the history of football plied his trade against West Ham United.
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The United States Soccer Federation and the North American Soccer League (NASL) came together to organise a friendly between West Ham and Santos at Randall’s Island Stadium in New York City, set-up by ex-Hammers star Phil Woosnam in a bid to grow the game in the US.
Pele, of course, scored twice in a 2-2 draw, with West Ham legend Clyde Best bagging a brace for the Hammers.
Speaking on the It Was What It Was podcast, Best revealed what Pele said to him after the game.
Pele called Clyde Best the ‘prince’
Asked about the game, Best said: “The amazing part about that story is, at the end of the game, Pele came up to me, and he said ‘Clyde, I’m the King, you’re the Prince.’
“So I said to him, ‘Well, to be a Prince to you, that’s a big honour.’”
Clyde Best playing for West Ham United in 1972.
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Best was not only a brilliant footballer but a pioneer as one of the first Black footballers to play in England’s First Division. His story inspired a generation, including Ian Wright and Les Ferdinand.
Recommended to West Ham legend Ron Greenwood by former Bermuda head coach Graham Adams as a teenager, the striker made his way over to east London from the tiny island.
Best recounts a story of landing in Heathrow on his own before making his way to east London, getting off at West Ham tube station rather than Upton Park.
After walking around for hours, he was helped by an older gentleman and directed to the Charles household, where he lived alongside former West Ham players Clive and John Charles.
Across a seven-year spell at West Ham, Best scored 58 goals in 218 games. His career continued into America after leaving West Ham in 1976, while he also played for Dutch giants Feyenoord.
Best is clearly a hugely important figure in football history and was awarded an MBE in 2006 for services to football and the community in Bermuda.
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