West Ham legend Billy Bonds has died

[jimharri]

It should have been done, while he was still with us.

Absolutely.

 

[BlueHammer85]

I didn’t hear about this till I was late running in the ground , really threw me off and then was a big round applause for him shortly after.
Just a huge figure for West Ham ever since I knew the club, I never got to see him play but he was my first manager when I started going - fans adored him, always. Don’t think anyone got a stand ovation like he did every time he was announced and walked on the pitch over the years for the odd interview and wave to crowd. Billy Bonds Claret n Blue Army. RIP

 

[jimharri]

I didn’t hear about this till I was late running in the ground , really threw me off and then was a big round applause for him shortly after.
Just a huge figure for West Ham ever since I knew the club, I never got to see him play but he was my first manager when I started going - fans adored him, always. Don’t think anyone got a stand ovation like he did every time he was announced and walked on the pitch over the years for the odd interview and wave to crowd. Billy Bonds Claret n Blue Army. RIP

From memory, he was your typical no-nonsense CB. No tiki taka stuff with him, stick it in row Z. The opposition can't score from up in the gods!

 

[Gaylord du Bois]

I didn’t hear about this till I was late running in the ground , really threw me off and then was a big round applause for him shortly after.
Just a huge figure for West Ham ever since I knew the club, I never got to see him play but he was my first manager when I started going - fans adored him, always. Don’t think anyone got a stand ovation like he did every time he was announced and walked on the pitch over the years for the odd interview and wave to crowd. Billy Bonds Claret n Blue Army. RIP

Saw him play. Heard a few tales about him too. Top man. Someone who's soul is built into the foundations of the club.

 

[1961_vintage]

Sad news. A great player and a great character. RIP.

 

[BlueHammer85]

From memory, he was your typical no-nonsense CB. No tiki taka stuff with him, stick it in row Z. The opposition can't score from up in the gods!

He had every leadership attribute going, humble, loyal, run the show and gave 100% - my Dad worshipped him, same way I did Mark Noble - who also was terribly unlucky not to receive an England cap.

 

[BrianW]

RIP and rise in glory, Billy—a true legend.

 

[cleavers]

That'll be a big funeral in East London. Would the club consider paying a lasting tribute to him? Maybe name a stand, or one of the approaches to the stadium?

I think he already has a stand named after him.

 

[Gordyola]

Legend is an over used word, not for Billy Bonds though, WHU’s Tony Book both did everything for their club
A lovely tribute on 606 by a Palace fan said he give him a jump start on an occasion and regularly bump into him always had a chat was a down to earth bloke Billy use to shout to him “hey Palace” guy was emotional
RIP legend and commiserations to Billy’s family, loved ones and friends (not forgetting “Palace”)

 

[BlueHammer85]

 

[roach3]

Remember getting him in my first pack of football cards early seventies and stuck in my mind for years probably coz it was an easy name to remember, tough as nails player unlike the pussies in today’s game
R.I.P big man

 

[dennishasdoneit]

RIP "Bonzo". A fantastic servant for the club. 663 appearances for them. I always thought he was the stereotypical "one club man". But he actually started his career at Charlton, and made nearly 100 appearances for them.

I was just thinking the same Jim...and I thought about Denis Smith.at Stoke
Proper hard defenders.
And loyal.to the club..Smith broke every bone in his body defending Stoke.
Loyalty.

 

[dennishasdoneit]

I was in a pub,talking to others,when I looked up and saw the news Billy Bond is dead
The folk talking couldn't see the tears in my eyes.
What a man.

 

[dennishasdoneit]

Remember getting him in my first pack of football cards early seventies and stuck in my mind for years probably coz it was an easy name to remember, tough as nails player unlike the pussies in today’s game
R.I.P big man

Deadright.

 

[dennishasdoneit]

Rip Bonzo

 

[KentBlue]

and I thought about Denis Smith.at Stoke

Whoah! Now there's a name from the past. Yeah, I well remember seeing him back in the day: real no nonsense fucker who got stuck in and definitely let you know he was there.

So many names from the past, so many memories.

 

[VOOMER]

For a lot of us, despite being an Iron, he would have been a player from our early years of following the blues.
Mike Doyle, Tommy Booth, Peter Barnes, Paul Clements, Big Joe and the rest.

 

[VOOMER]

Whoah! Now there's a name from the past. Yeah, I well remember seeing him back in the day: real no nonsense fucker who got stuck in and definitely let you know he was there.

So many names from the past, so many memories.

Still remember like yesterday watching Willie Donachie taking out John Mahoney with a headbutt and not even waiting for the ref to show the red card.

 

[Gaylord du Bois]

He had two testimonials with West Ham.

 

[Prestwich_Blue]

RIP Billy. Think he was right-back in the infamous 1-5 game on Jimmy Greaves' West Ham debut. He never played a full international, just a couple of U-23 games, which is staggering.