Best played for the Timbers from 1977-81, electrifying Soccer City USA with 38 goals and 27 assists in 115 games as a striker
Clyde Best, a forward from the Portland Timbers’ NASL (North American Soccer League) era, returns to Portland this week, and is set to be honored by the club at Saturday's match against the Colorado Rapids.
Best played for the Timbers from 1977-81, electrifying Soccer City USA with 38 goals and 27 assists in 115 games as a striker. Before coming to Portland, Best was one of the first Black athletes to play in the first division of English football when he was recruited from Bermuda in 1968 at the age of 17 to play for West Ham United. An inspiration for generations of Black athletes, Best helped shape the future of soccer worldwide.
Best will be honored at halftime of Saturday's match at Providence Park; Kickoff is 7:30pm PT.
Saturday’s match will be streamed live on MLS Season Pass on the Apple TV app in English and Spanish as well as local radio broadcasts, 750 The Game (English) and La GranD 1150AM/93.5 FM (Spanish).
While in the Rose City, Best will attend Timbers training on Thursday then on Friday, he will visit Providence Park – where he played as a member of the Timbers more than 40 years ago – for an unveiling of a mural of him placed on the north end concourse.
Transforming the Beautiful Game: The Clyde Best Story, a documentary in production about his impact on the sport due for release in 2025. For more visit www.clydebest.com.
