Pioneering Best takes Centre Stage as Documentary Premieres
IslandStats.com
West Ham United legend Clyde Best was the guest of honour at Sadler’s Wells East as the world premiere of Transforming the Beautiful Game: The Clyde Best Story received a standing ovation from a capacity crowd.
The film, directed by award-winning filmmaker Dan Egan and narrated by Tony D. Head, offers a poignant and definitive account of the Bermudian’s trailblazing journey through English football. Arriving in London as a seventeen-year-old in 1968, Best became one of the first Black superstars of the modern television era, scoring 58 goals in 218 appearances for the Hammers and helping to dismantle racial barriers during a volatile period for the British game.
The premiere, held at the heart of the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, brought together a "who’s who" of footballing royalty. Notable contributors in the film—including Sir Geoff Hurst, Ian Wright, and Harry Redknapp—feature prominently in a narrative that explores not only Best’s on-field excellence but also his quiet resilience in the face of systemic racism.
A particularly emotive highlight of the evening was the film’s focus on the historic Easter Sunday match in 1972, when West Ham became the first English top-flight side to field three Black players in a single starting line-up: Best, Clive Charles, and Ade Coker. This "quiet revolution," as the documentary describes it, is framed as a foundational moment for the modern, multi-cultural Premier League.
Following the screening, Best joined a live Q&A session where he reflected on the importance of the project. "It was never just about me," Best told the audience. "It was about making sure that the doors I walked through stayed open for those who came after."
The London run continues at Sadler’s Wells East until March 28, before the documentary moves to Bermuda for a highly anticipated homecoming series of screenings at the Earl Cameron Theatre and Ruth Seaton James Auditorium starting April 21.
Wednesday, March 25, 2026
A Walk Down Memory Lane - Trojans’ Class of 76 Live 7 pm
IslandStats.com
The golden era of Bermudian youth football will be back in the spotlight this evening as the popular sports programme "A Walk Down Memory Lane" welcomes the Somerset Trojans’ historic 1976 Bantam squad.
Hosts Earl Basden and Dennis Brown are set to lead a nostalgic journey through one of the most significant chapters in Somerset’s youth development history. The show will feature several members of the iconic 1976 team, reflecting on a period when the West End club’s production line was considered the benchmark for excellence on the island, live at 7pm.
The centerpiece of tonight’s discussion will be the team’s landmark journey to Toronto, Canada, to compete in the Mini World Cup. For many of the young Trojans at the time, the tournament represented a first taste of international competition, pitting Bermuda’s technical flair against a diverse field of global talent.
Listeners can expect first-hand accounts of the challenges and triumphs from that Canadian tour, which helped forge the character of players who would go on to define the senior game in Bermuda for years to come. The broadcast serves as a timely reminder of the importance of international exposure for the island’s youth prospects, a tradition the Somerset Trojans helped pioneer decades ago.
The programme offers a rare opportunity for fans of all ages to hear from the pioneers of the "Silver City" era, bridging the gap between the legends of the seventies and the current crop of talent rising through the ranks at Silver Roots.
Sunday, March 22, 2026
Football Show - Title Decider & Relegation Drama 6 pm
IslandStats.com
The race for promotion and the fight for top-flight survival reach a fever pitch this weekend as Bermuda's domestic season nears its dramatic conclusion.
With massive implications at both ends of the table, the action kicks off this evening on the Islandstats.com Football Show, live at 6:00 pm, previewing a Sunday afternoon that could define the future of several clubs.
The panel will review what happened at the PHC Stadium as the First Division crown was presented. It will either be Robin Hood or the Somerset Trojans.
The drama then shifts to Bernard Park, where the stakes couldn't be higher. Young Men’s Social Club find themselves staring into the abyss; anything less than three points against North Village Rams will see them relegated.
However, their fate isn't entirely in their own hands. Even a win might not be enough if the Paget Lions manage to secure a point in their formidable clash against the PHC Zebras.
Saturday, March 21, 2026
Late Withdrawal Forces Cancellation of Roach Bout
IslandStats.com
Bermudian amateur standout Adrian Roach has expressed his frustration and disappointment after his scheduled bout was cancelled at the eleventh hour following a late withdrawal from his opponent.
Roach was due to feature on the undercard of the "Homecoming of Joseph Jackson Jr" event, presented by Walter T Johnson III Promotions. However, the anticipated clash fell through when opponent Devin Carter pulled out of the contest just moments before the official weigh-ins were set to take place.
The timing of the withdrawal left organizers with no opportunity to source a replacement fighter, leaving the 22-year-old North Carolina A&T student without a match after weeks of intensive preparation. Roach, who has been a consistent presence on the regional circuit, took to social media to address his supporters and vent his exasperation at the turn of events.
"I’m upset to announce that my fight today has been cancelled," Roach stated. "My opponent Devin Carter pulled out of the fight right before weigh-ins and didn’t leave us any time to find a new one. There’s no excuse for such poor sportsmanship but it’s a part of this game".
Despite the setback, the middleweight prospect was quick to offer his apologies to those who had traveled to see him compete. "I apologize to all that were looking forward to seeing me fight and thank you all for your continued support," he added. Roach is now expected to return to the gym immediately as his management team looks to secure a new date and opponent to ensure his momentum in the 2026 season isn't stalled by the cancellation.
Saturday, March 21, 2026
Records Tumble as Archery Stars Shine at Championships
IslandStats.com
A trio of Bermudian archers rewrote the history books this weekend as a series of stunning national records fell during the National Archery Association of Bermuda Indoor Championships.
The atmosphere at the 18-metre range was electric as Camerin Pickering, Jaydon Roberts, and Robin Selley delivered career-best performances to set new Senior, Junior, and Cadet benchmarks respectively. The results signal a significant leap forward for the sport on the island, with the leading protagonists demonstrating elite-level precision under the pressure of a national final.
In the Men’s Olympic Recurve Round, Camerin Pickering asserted his dominance to claim the gold medal in emphatic fashion. Pickering navigated the technical demands of the indoor format to post a personal best score of 572 out of a possible 600, officially establishing a new Senior National Record. His clinical performance set a high standard for the following divisions, proving his status as the premier recurve archer in the country.
The youth divisions proved equally fruitful for the record-keepers as Jaydon Roberts secured the silver medal behind Pickering while making history of his own. Roberts’ personal best score of 558 out of 600 was enough to shatter the existing Junior National Record, marking him as one of the most exciting prospects in the regional circuit.
The record-breaking trend continued in the Women’s Cadet Recurve, where Robin Selley produced a golden performance. Selley showed remarkable composure for her age to secure the top spot on the podium with a personal best of 532 out of 600, a score that now stands as the new National Cadet Record. With three major records falling in a single afternoon, the NAAB Indoor Championships have provided a clear statement regarding the rising trajectory of Bermuda's archery program as they look toward international assignments later this season.
Gold Medal Division Winners
Junior Recurve Women - Electra Smith - 485/600 Cadet Recurve Male - Braeden Fraser - 475/600 Bowman Recurve Female - Sophia Davidge - 288/600 Masters Barebow Male - Calvin Burgess - 351/600 Masters Recurve Male - Robert O’Connor - 485/600
