Bermuda sports legend Randy Horton has been featured in a book paying tribute to those who helped promote and firmly establish soccer in the United States.

Titled Black Pioneers of the North American Soccer League (1968–84), the 220-page book acknowledges the valuable contributions of black players from Africa, the Caribbean, Britain and the Americas who showcased their talents in the now defunct league and also mentored youngsters in communities across the United States and Canada.

Horton, the second Bermudian to play in the NASL behind former national coach Carlton “Pepe” Dill, played for the New York Cosmos, Washington Diplomats and Hartford Bicentennials between 1971 and 1976.

“We were trailblazers and were the ones that provided the roots for what is now the MLS,” Horton said.

“They were trying to make soccer a viable game in the United States, so while we were playing, we also did a lot of clinics with young footballers to get them excited about the game.

“I was well respected around the league and was invited to speak at schools and run clinics.”

Horton said it is an honour to have been recognised in such manner for his contribution to the game in the US.

“When you see something like this, you know what you did you didn’t do for nothing,” he added.

“Of course, that’s not why you do those things. But you have to be thankful because what you’ve done has not been in vain and also that people appreciated it.”

Horton scored 51 goals in 99 appearances, led the league in scoring each of the first four years he played, earned Rookie of the Year and MVP honours and also led Cosmos to their maiden NASL title.

“It was great playing in the league,” said Horton, who scored 43 goals in 77 appearances for the Cosmos between 1971 and 1974. “It was pretty fantastic and I got a lot of attention because I was the leading goalscorer for the first four years that I was in the league.

“I had an amazing [first] season, scoring goals left, right and centre in that first season.

“We won the championship in 1972 in my second season. That was the season I was also MVP, and the beauty about that was you get selected by the players you play against, so people from the Cosmos couldn’t vote for me.”

He added: “All the players that I played against said I was the MVP, and to me that’s one of the greatest honours that I’ve ever had because it’s the guys I played against who respected the quality of my play.”

Another honour Horton enjoyed at Cosmos was playing alongside Brazilian legend and World Cup winner Pelé – albeit briefly.

“I only played with Pelé in exhibition games,” he said. “He was coming in when I was moving and I always tell people they couldn’t afford him and me.”

Horton was scouted by the Cosmos playing with the Philadelphia Ukrainians in the German American Soccer League.

It was while playing for the Cosmos that Horton declined an offer to play in England for Queens Park Rangers.

“QPR wanted me after I was MVP [in the NASL] and offered me a contract and had everything set up,” he said.

“But I was 27 years old and the money wasn’t that great at that time. I was also working on my master's degree [at Rutgers University], preparing to come back here to be a principal. I still have the letter the QPR coach [Gordon Jago] sent me, saying he was sorry I wasn’t able to come and wishing me all the best in my studies.”

After leaving Cosmos, the 6ft 2in striker joined compatriot Gary Darrell at the Washington Diplomats, where he scored seven goals in 18 appearances.

He was loaned out to Hartford Bicentennials after recovering from a leg injury, and scored one goal in four appearances before ending his career in the league in 1976 and returning home to serve as player-coach for childhood team Somerset Trojans.

Also featured in the book is Horton’s former Somerset strike partner Clyde Best, who played in the NASL for Tampa Bay Rowdies, Toronto Blizzard and Portland Timbers.

Other Bermudians to have played in the league include Sam Nusum, John Nusum, the late Richard “Dirt” Simmons, Fred “Pinks” Lewis, Dale Russell and Ralph “Gumbo” Bean.