First black player recalls scoring in 4-1 win over Wrexham before 14,000 Sealand Road crowd.

AN historic figure from the Blues’ past was at the Deva Stadium on Saturday to cheer on his old team.

As an 88th birthday treat, Tom Best – the first black player to represent Chester in the Football League – was guest of honour at the League Two clash with Gillingham. It was the first time Tom had see his former club play in 60 years.

He was taken to the game by John Cullen, manager of the Rose Garden independent living scheme in Hereford where Tom now lives.

As well as receiving a warm ovation from the crowd before kick-off, Tom chatted at half time with Blues directors and supporters, including club historian Chas Sumner and official supporters club chairman Barrie Hipkiss.

Tom, who stayed in Chester over the weekend, said: “I thoroughly enjoyed the whole weekend. I was thrilled that there were some people there who remembered me playing for the club!”

Tom played for Chester during the 1947/48 season and scored 14 goals in his 40 appearances as a forward in his Blues career.

A late entrant into professional football, he was 26 when he made his Chester debut against Oldham – marking the occasion by scoring a goal in a 2-1 victory.

During the war years, Tom had played in Ireland for Belfast Celtic and Cliftonville.

He also represented the Combined Services and played for a short time in Queensland, Australia.

When Chester offered him a trial he was playing for his home town club Milford Haven in the Welsh League.

The Chester game that stands out most for him was a 4-1 home victory over Wrexham when he scored one of the goals in front of 14,000 supporters at Sealand Road.

By the start of the 1948/49 season, Tom was beginning to attract the attention of the bigger clubs. He joined Cardiff City in October 1948 for £7,000 – a huge fee for the time and a record until Billy Foulkes joined Newcastle United in the early 1950s.

Tom remained at Cardiff for just over a season before joining QPR. After leaving Rangers, he returned to Milford Haven and later joined non-league Hereford and Bromsgrove Rovers.

On his retirement from football, he worked as a baker for Mothers Pride.

Additional information by Chas Sumner.