The recent anniversary of Bobby Moore’s death was heavily featured by West Ham, with a commemorative programme and fans making a mural in the stands. When he was alive, Moore just didn’t get the support he needed from the club. But what about other dedicated players from years gone by – will they suffer the same fate? Will West Ham turn their backs? Well for one, it already seems to have happened.
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I’m talking about Billy Bonds. Billy left West Ham as manager in a shroud of mystery in 1994, to be succeeded by Harry Redknapp. But it seems that, if rumours are to be believed, he was shafted by the club, and by ‘Arry.
In his first season as manager, Bonds led the team to automatic promotion to the first division. The next few seasons didn’t go quite as smoothly, but Bonds was still doing a decent job running the team with his 2nd in command Redknapp. Then Redknapp apparently told the board that he was thinking of filling the managerial vacancy at AFC Bournemouth. And, although Bonds has maintained a dignified silence on the subject ever since, the board are said to have tried to give him a role in the background and put Redknapp in the spotlight.
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Bonds wasn’t interested in taking a step ‘upstairs’ and so quit the Hammers, and if rumours are true then he hasn’t spoken to Redknapp since.
It’s even been suggested that Redknapp wasn’t given the England job as a result of this, with Trevor Brooking getting his revenge by preventing him getting the role.
Bonds has allegedly been offered roles at West Ham in more recent years, and declines them every time. I think the club are trying to make amends, but after the manner in which he left, Bonds doesn’t want to know. And who could blame him?!
Do you think our loyal servants of years gone by need more support from the club in their later life? Tweet me at @alwaysintune or leave a comment.
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From the age of 6 when I received my first West Ham shirt as a birthday present I have been a supporter (45 years Tuesday) there have been many players I have admired, adored and worshipped, but looking back over the years it’s Billy Bonds who for me epitomised every thing great about West Ham we have had greats – Moore, Hurst, Brooking, Di Canio, TC but for me Bonds will also be the Man and I would love the club to somehow recognise his achievements and preferably while he stills draws breath, he was always one to shun the spotlight but we (the club) should shine it on him now. Have heard the same stories to which you allude which is why I am not a fan of Redknapp, the club had different a board then and I hope to S & G as supporters first should be in a position to, if not make things right, at least make some move to honour the legend that is William Bonds
Of all Hammers players past and present, and I literally do mean all of then, Billy Bonds has shed more sweat, blood and tears for the cause than virtually the rest put together. He is my, and I know many other fans all time West Ham action hero, and the fact that Billy did it for over 20 years and for nearly 800 games…yes for all you younger Hammers fans..800 games, and played in his 42nd year means he is held with the utmost respect by all those lucky enough to have seen the man in action. Thats why I get angry when the younger generation especially start proclaiming people as “legends” after 2 or 3 years with the club.
Billy was a breed apart from a lot of the players today… he could easily have played for anyone at the top level but was loyal to the end, honest, and above all committed every time he put the Claret & Blue shirt on… it was simply do or die for Billy and as skipper he led by example. His head was often swathed in bloody bandages, his socks were round his ankles, and he would rather have died than shirk a tackle. In my opinion, Billy Bonds deserved as much in the way of accolades and award and legacies as Mooro and Trevor Brooking, and if the club has any sense of whats right and what needs to be done, then Bonzo must be dragged back into the field, even if its kicking and screaming.
Totally agree. Bonzo was West Ham Utd. BTW my other childhood hero was David Cross. Anyone know what happened to him once he left the club?
Billy Bonds was one of my all time hammers hero’s and as many have said epitomised for me the NEVER say die attitude that has become a part of my own psyche.
What I will say is that Sir Billy Bonds’s refusal to take up any roles offered to him have nothing to do with the present owners of the club and I will respect his decision all the same. If and when we move to the OS I believe he will be honoured by the current chairmen as I’m sure they feel the same way most of us do!
Yes Bonzo was and still is a true Hammer! Would love to see him take a bow at Upton Park again but after the Luke warm reception received at U P Monday night for many great West Ham players I think he will stick with his new passion!American Football.
Bonzo the best Hammer by a landslide for me no one has come close.
Where is he? Can he be contacted?
Surely we can tweet our gratitude and suppprt to him.
There’ll only ever be one number 4. The greatest we’ve had.
My hero, no one has ever had more commitment to the cause than Billy.
WHUFC are now selling heros T Shirts, where’s Billy Bonds?
It’s unanimous.Bonzo always was and always will be the greastest. Bobby Moore was a great player, no question, but Bonzo never ever gave less than 110%. Never went backwards and was the best minder his team mates had. Plenty of players came to Upton Park thinking they were tough until they ran onto Bill. My fondest memory when Bonzo sorted Chopper Harris out after he all but killed Johnny Ayris. Anyone remember that?
Yes…I was literally 20 yards from where it happened in the Chicken run. Harris stamped all over him after the ball had gone, true to form !! Ayris was never quite the same again………
just thought i’d come here and gloat a bit, being a Tottenham fan I take great pleasure in seeing west ham fans so miserable. But hey, you deserve it, horrible dirty fans, should not be aloud in any other stadium, good thing most of you penniless rats cant afford to go to games anyway. you are all really thick, really dumb, ignorant, scum, worst team in london by a mile. if QPR go down at you skanks dont its an injustice. no one likes your team, your fans, your manager, your lack of style, hoof hoof hoof shight. go away to some lower division, its where you belong
Miserable ?? Why ?? We are back in the Prem, look like staying there, and will soon have a world class Stadium that you so badly wanted but wont get. Such a s shame !
And by the way, the spelling is “allowed” not aloud (because you see that means noisy, and wouldnt make any sense, would it my slow witted friend from North London), your punctuation really is appalling, and unless I am very much mistaken, your sad little diatribe (get a dictionary out if you own one, or possibly steal one from WH Smith) tells me so much about you, and your woeful lack of education.
Now please take some well intentioned advice “Mr You lot are maggots”, and enroll at a nearby College or Centre of Further Education. Good day to you.
Ah, a bitter Totscum fan. If you will insist on making oral deposits to sperm banks, then that bitter taste will never leave. Nevermind, you are going to feel a lot worse when Bale moves to a big club and you no longer have anyone to win your games for you.
duhhhh west ham duhhhhhh duhhhhhhhhhh
Look at this …. http://www.whufc.com/articles/20130304/bonds-to-be-honoured_2236884_3096638
Great to see that West Ham are going to honour Billy Bonds at the player of the year awards. Can’t think of anyone else more deserving. He was and still is my all time favourite West Ham player and is indeed a true legend. My favourite memory of him was at a game against Villa when him and Peter Withe were going at it the whole game. After one particular tussle they went head to head and as the ref came over they must have both thought they could be looking at a red card a piece and so grabbed hold of each other and started to waltz around the pitch – was a very funny moment.
An Old Timer, I have seen them all, but Billy Bonds was the greatest. A real Gutsy Hammer, Oh if we had a few like him today. Saw him play a match, with a Bloodied Bandage around his Head, and giving 100%. Bobby Moore was Class, but Billy is my Favourite!
Yes, agreed Old Jack. Billy Bonds was the greatest Hammer of all time!