Fifty years of Billy Bonds 1967-2017
The Legendary West Ham player and captain who lifted two FA Cups and made a Club record number of first team appearances hung up his boots at the age of forty-one to become the youth coach. A phenomenal 20 years, nine months and 12 days separated the first and the final of Billy Bonds’ appearances for West Ham.
His two decades of unflinching service saw many changes at the Boleyn Ground – not least his own gradual transformation from clean-shaven youngster to a bearded elder statesman, but throughout the years Bonds was a constant rock for the Hammers, both in the good times and the darker days. His 793 appearances for West Ham is a club record will never be eclipsed.
Photo Credit of Billy Bonds in 1967: Steve Marsh http://theyflysohigh.co.uk/
