Tributes have continued to pour in for West Ham legend Billy Bonds, who sadly passed away at the weekend at the age of 79.
It’s fair to say the entire West Ham family was still coming to terms with the news of his passing when the team kicked off against Liverpool on Sunday. Since then, the footballing world has begun to mourn the loss of a true great — a player and man who left an impression on absolutely everyone he met.
I actually met Bill before I’d even seen my first West Ham game. It was 1981, and I was at school in Ilford when Bonzo, Alvin Martin and Ray Stewart brought the FA Cup in to show us.
Childhood Memories of a Giant of a Man
Looking back, it’s the sort of thing you just don’t see anymore. They must have been there half the day as the cup was carried from classroom to classroom. I remember my form teacher being absolutely delighted to stand next to Billy Bonds and hold the FA Cup.
I was seven years old, in complete awe of Bonzo, who seemed absolutely enormous and had a presence about him. Added to that, he was the man from the TV — the hero I’d seen in the FA Cup final.
My dad had a ticket for the famous 1–0 win against Arsenal, so I was dispatched to my nan’s house. We watched the match on TV with full commentary from my grandad, who relayed every kick and tackle like he was in the commentary box himself.
Tales of Bonzo’s freakish fitness and legendary training sessions would come later, along with some highly amusing anecdotes told to me by the likes of Phil Parkes and Ian Bishop.
The tributes are coming thick and fast now, and it’s clear that everyone loved Bill — not just as a footballer, but as a man. Because despite all of his talent and his near-mythical reputation, Billy Bonds was, by all accounts, just a normal bloke and one of the nicest fellas you were ever likely to meet.
Yeah I was there at Wembley in 75 , something I always tell my children I did , he was a truly inspiring footballer , I also saw him play many times in the late sixties and early seventies as well , I sat and watched the 80 cup final with two arsenal fans namely my father in law and brother in law I enjoyed dancing round their living room when brooking scored, and even more when Bonzo lifted the thing.
i have cried many times over west ham, the majority in frustration but three times ive cried uncontrollably. the first was when bobby Moore passed away, the second after our final game at the Boleyn and the third was sunday. god bless you bill and RIP
I think this has hit every west ham fan from our generation, not only because of who he was, but it was what he represented, honest, genuine, a grafter, a leader and was everything we grew up with about west ham.
his passing just highlights how much of our club has been taken from us, the players who come and go at a whim, the managers every few months and our long term home.
when thinking and looking at the picture and clips of bonzo in recent days, it’s not just memories of him that comes flooding back, it’s the memories of why we loved it so much then Vs now…
Not quite sure who was hardest in the tackle, Billy or Norman Hunter? They don’t make ’em like that anymore! With today’s rules leading to a booking for nothing, neither of them would see out the first half!
Football ain’t like it used to be an 🙁
Childhood and teenage hero whose passing has hit hard. RIP Bill.
Billy Bonds claret and blue army…
Saw Billy make his debut for us on opening day of season back in 1967 & without doubt my favourite ever WHU player. Doubt there will ever be another like him RIP Bill 👍⚒