Bermuda Football Association have secured $1 million of FIFA funding to build a new headquarters which will be named in honour of former West Ham hero Clyde Best.

The Clyde Best Centre of Excellence will be a 4,000 square foot complex complete with the BFA's administrative offices and multi-functional meeting space on the top floor and technical centre consisting of changing rooms, training room, physiotherapist room and gymnasium on the ground floor.

It will be located on the same site as BFA Field with building work to start within the next eight months.

Best was off the Island yesterday and therefore unable to attend the unveiling of the plans.

Outgoing BFA president Richard Calderon said the Centre of Excellence would not cost the association a penny thanks to FIFA, which also covered the costs of the $1.3 million artifical pitch at BFA Field more than two years ago.

"We received $400,000 apiece from FIFA Goal 3 and 4 plus another $250,000 grant from FIFA's assistance programme," said Calderon.

"It's completely FIFA funded and that's the beauty of it . . . we're able to move forward without carrying debt. From day one we wanted this and within two years it's planned and paid for."

Calderon believes the multi-purpose centre will be at the top of his accomplishments as president and paid tribute to general secretary David Sabir and his executive for their hard work behind the scenes over the last 18 months of planning.

He also thanked the Government for approving their request to annex the adjacent land to BFA Field where the centre will be developed.

"As has been the case of all the work done by this executive, this initative has been a collaborative effort and one that will have a lasting and positive impact on local football. In short, the BFA will finally have a home that they own. " said Calderon.

"I don't see it as a legacy of mine, it's been a team effort. David's Sabir's has been instrumental in attending the FIFA and Concacaf meetings that I couldn't, as was our financial controller Gideon Kigotho.

"Now we have an office space that we won't rent. That gives us money for other things."

Calderon said it was fitting that Best's name would sit above the new facility which would also be made available for the clubs to use. The big striker scored 47 goals in 186 matches for Hammer between 1968 -76. He was one of the first post-World War II black players in British football.

"It's critical for us to recognise Clyde in a big way," Calderon said. "A couple of years ago the Bermuda Football Federation (BFF) started the Clyde Best Tournament but this to me is more lasting.

"When you think of Bermuda's most successful player you think of Clyde Best. People too easily forget that."

The BFA secured the services of project managers Atlantic Building Consultants Ltd, Botelhowood Architects and structural engineers Entech Ltd.