A 14-year-old footballer has been selected to play the part of a young Clyde Best in an upcoming documentary being pitched to major US TV networks.

Tyree Fubler, who plays for Somerset Trojans and is a student at CedarBridge Academy, was selected to act as the pioneering player in Transforming the Beautiful Game: The Clyde Best Story.

A casting call on Sunday in Sandys included 24 players from the Somerset team — Clyde Best’s home club when he was a child. From the group, 13 were selected for roles in the film.

He said: “It feels good. I think they selected me because of the way I was playing — I was playing well. We had to do things like control the ball on our chest and take a shot. I got the ball in the goal a few times.

“Clyde Best was the first Black professional footballer from Bermuda, and he inspired me to play football. I want to play football professionally when I’m older.”

Tyree’s father, Tyone Fubler, added: “It’s a big opportunity for him, and the exposure will help him. I had to convince him to do it but now he feels happy and relaxed. I am very proud of him.”

Tyree will play Best when he was aged 11, when he and his friends formed the Ireland Rangers. The team was coached by Edward “Ice Water” Smith and would play against the British sailors at Dockyard.

It is hoped the feature-length documentary charting the life and career of Best will be premiered either at the Sundance Film Festival or Cannes Film Festival.

Directed by Dan Egan — Boston-born skier, author and producer — it catalogues the history of racial discrimination in English football.

Filming is taking place in Bermuda, and the final feature is expected to be released in 2025.

Best made a name for himself with Somerset Trojans before becoming a pioneer for Black players at West Ham United. He was one of the first Black athletes to play in the English Football League first division, recruited from Bermuda in 1968 to play for West Ham in London when he was only 17.

Mr Egan, who played football with Best’s nephew Jerry Best in the United States in the 1980s, connected with Clyde Best in 2017 while visiting Bermuda for the America’s Cup.

Mr Egan said: “I was excited about the story while I was here and connected with him. His book The Acid Test had just come out about when they threatened to throw acid on him when he came on to the field to play for West Ham in the Seventies. That motivated me to move forward with the project.

“The documentary has some of the biggest names in football in it, including English coach Les Ferdinand, Sir Geoff Hurst — the first to score a hat trick in a World Cup final — and Brendon Batson, the only surviving member of Three Degrees. It also has Garth Crooks, the first Black player playing for Tottenham Hotspur.

“It is an extensive list — a who’s who of Black trailblazers who credit their careers to Clyde Best for overcoming adversity in the face of racism.

“An interview conducted with Clyde Best anchors the film.

“I want the release to be in 2025 and coincide with the film festival circuit. I’d like it to premiere either at Sundance or Cannes — we submit it and they have to select us.

“It is perfect timing for the World Cup in 2026 in North America.

“We are also in conversations with Amazon, Netflix, Sky and NBC.”

Mr Egan said Mr Batson is on the island taking part in filming.

A number of Bermudians are involved in the film project, including Dana Selassie as line producer and Sajni Tolaram as cultural consultant.

The film, produced by Mr Egan’s US-based Degan Media, is budgeted at approximately $1 million, with some grant funding coming from the Ministry of Youth, Culture and Sport as well as funding from several individuals and companies, including Gosling’s.

Some of the money still needs to be raised.

Mr Egan added: “This is the story of how Clyde became the first Black superstar in the modern TV era in England at the age of 17. For me it shows how the Bermudian culture and Bermudians punch above their weight, and have affected the world of sports.

“Clyde Best has been the cornerstone to exporting soccer and football around the world through his soccer accomplishments. It is an important story as the racism is still happening.

“We cover that up until the Euro 2020 finals, where England lost to France and three Black males missed the penalties, and were abused on social media.

“Clyde always says his daddy told him he was playing for those who came after him. It is within that lens that you see the movie and accomplishments that he effected.”

• To learn more about the film, visit www.clydebest.com