The Irons clash against Arsenal at lunchtime on Saturday is being celebrated as a Bill Bonds and Trevor Brooking match.
And ClaretandHugh’s associate editor Sean Whetstone remembers the two legends in a special article recalling his own memories of the wonderful ‘old lady.’
The pair will be joined at Upton Park the likes of Phil Parkes, Alvin Martin, Alan Taylor, Kevin Lock, Bobby Gould and Alan Curbishley
Brooking, who spent a spell as caretaker boss of the Hammers during 2003, played over 500 times for the club and between 1966 and 1984, scoring 88 times. Bonds, 69, turned out for the Hammers between 1967 and 1988 and spent four years in charge of the club between 1990 and 1994.
In his piece Sean writes: “It was on the South Bank that I watched the first of the two ‘special guests of honour’ here today, Trevor Brooking, not a knight in those days. I saw him towards the end of his career . I remember the last game Brooking ever played against Everton in May 1984 vividly.
In more recent times I was lucky enough to interview Sir Trev, for Moore Than Just a Podcast, about his memories of Bobby Moore and I met him once again at the West Ham Players Awards when he received his lifetime achievement recognition. He is one of the nicest people in football.
It was from the same South Bank terraces that I also watched the second of today’s special guest of honour, one Mr Billy Bonds. I have a signed photograph of him in pride of place in my lounge holding the FA Cup.
Sadly, I missed watching many his best playing days during his record breaking 799 game run, but it is incredible to think that he played to the ripe old age of 41 when he retired in April 1988; a game I also attended at the old Dell.”