Sir Trevor Brooking has recounted the day that Billy Bonds has a full-on fight in the West Ham dressing room bath only for a fully clothed Ron Greenwood to jump into the communal bath to tear them apart.
The former Hammer in question was Ted MacDougall, a forward from Scotland. MacDougall’s stay at West Ham was very short. Making his debut on 10 March 1973 against Sheffield United his first goal came in the next game, his home debut, a 2-1 home win against Manchester City. The following season was a poor one for MacDougall at West Ham and his confidence as a player suffered. He scored only one goal and was sent-off on 6 October 1973 for attacking Burnley player, Doug Collins. The punch-up in the bath with Billy Bonds followed a 4–1 defeat, on 3 November 1973, to Leeds United curtailed his stay at West Ham. MacDougall had scored the only West Ham goal of the game but Bonds had criticised his effort and the two fought in the bath. Manager Ron Greenwood was forced to jump in to pull the two apart, It was his last goal for West Ham. He played only four more games, his last in December 1973 before he joined Norwich City.
Brooking re-told the story to West Ham supporters at Southend theatre in front of an amused Bonzo nodding his head for the 1980 FA Cup Hammers heroes event.