Conker Editions

Calvin Symonds at 92

Calvin Symonds became the first Black player to represent Rochdale AFC when he played for them in 1955. He is now 92 years young and living in Bermuda where he was born in 1932. It was our great privilege to meet him and his wife Valerie when we visited Bermuda recently.

Calvin Symonds, April 2024  

Calvin is still something of a celebrity on the island, remembered as much if not more for his exploits as a cricketer.

A few days after the above  photo was taken Calvin was interviewed for a local cable TV channel along with another Bermudian football legend, Clyde Best. It was our pleasure to be in the studio with them while they exchanged reminisces. Calvin’s memory is razor sharp and he was able to vividly describe goals he scored over fifty years ago.

Clyde, who also played cricket before leaving the island for a football career with West Ham, still refers to Calvin as ‘captain’ and acknowledges him as a true pioneer. Two true gentlemen!

Clyde Best – Football Icon

So much material is aired during Black History Month that it is easy to miss good things, the short film about Clyde Best that we feature here had slipped through our net. This does rather beg the question why black history only gets talked about for one month of the year, for us, the black contribution to British society (not just football) is something we should celebrate all year round.

Clyde was not the first black player at West Ham but it would have been impossible to write ‘Football’s Black Pioneers’ without discussing his experiences.

We are so grateful to JeanMaire Symonds, daughter of Rochdale’s first black player, Calvin Symonds, for sharing this film with us. Clyde and Calvin both still live in Bermuda where their sporting contributions are remembered with pride.

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