The magazine’s expert panel assessed the contribution and achievements of all the greats through the club’s history from Syd Puddefoot (207 goals in 208 games between 1913 and 1933), through to World Cup-winning England captain Bobby Moore and the present day.
In 21 years as a player, rock-hard defender Bonds, now aged 70, made a record 799 first-team appearances, scoring 61 goals, and leading the team to FA Cup glory in 1975 and 1980, before returning for a spell as manager which saw the club promoted twice, record its longest-ever unbeaten run, and reach an FA Cup semi-final.
Blowing Bubbles editor David Blackmore said: “The club’s most gifted player? No. Its highest goalscorer. Absolutely not. Capped by England? Never. But the club’s greatest ever? Without a doubt.
“His statistics are remarkable by anyone’s standards, and he was as battling a player as you could ever see – Billy Bonds was the sort of player every fan would want in their side, he never took a step back.
“He really is Mr West Ham – no-one has made a contribution quite like him, and in 2013 he was the first person to receive the club’s Lifetime Achievement award, so it’s a surprise that he’s not yet been honoured at the London Stadium.”
“Bonzo” arrived from Charlton aged 20, for £49,500, and was still playing for West Ham until three days short of his 42nd birthday.
David continued: “He always demanded the most from himself, and from team-mates too – famously he once thumped someone in the dressing room after a particularly bad defeat at Leeds because he felt the player hadn’t pulled his weight.
“He was prepared to get stuck in and take the cuts and bruises that came his way, and stayed loyal to the club through good times and bad – of which there were plenty.
“Player, captain, leader, winner, and then inspirational manager – Billy Bonds has been all these things and more to West Ham over the years, and he remains an absolute icon to fans to this day.
“Our top 40 included some of the very greatest achievers English football has ever seen – the dazzling maverick Paolo di Canio, the legend that is Bobby Moore, and Sir Trevor Brooking, whose career was so similar to Bonds’s but who seemed to receive wider recognition – but even these greats have to take their hats off to Billy Bonds.
“Loyal, courageous, honest and modest – William Arthur Bonds MBE embodies everything West Ham fans are most proud of about their club, and thoroughly deserves to be the club’s all-time greatest.”
Read the entire list as well as columns from Phil Parkes and George Parris and an exclusive interview with Ian Bishop in Blowing Bubbles’ January issue. Get your copy here > www.blowing–bubbles.co.uk/read–our–latest–issue.html
Can’t disagree with this one at all. A complete and utter legend in the full sense of the word. I was lucky enough to meet him once, as a kid. He, Sir Trev and Pop Robson were opening a new Tesco’s and there were hundreds of us there queuing to get a signed photo. Bonzo looked up, pointed at me, my Dad and younger brother and said “They’ve been waiting hours…bring them straight up.” The organiser didn’t dare to disagree. Can you imagine a lot of the primadonas these days even noticing…
No complaints from me either. I still have the shirt I used to wear at school with the No.4 on the back (No names in those days).Bonzo is the epitome of a West Ham legend.
Very good article Hugh and Bonzo thoroughly deserves the accolade of No1 Legend.
Certainly is nice to see something like this & sure as hell beats reading fans boring everyone with their innane amoba like Porn Twins Chuckle Brothers comments.
Amoeba.It doesnt change the facts though.
Another underrated player who ought to get a mention is Ronnie ‘Ticker’ Boyce. If for nothing else the winning goal in 1964 cup final, but folk often forget he scored twice in the 3-1 win over Man U in semi-final. A great player- the team just wasn’t the same if Ticker wasn’t playing.
Brilliant choice! What a man!
My memory- a bit shaky, can’t remember year or the other team even. We were losing with about 5m to go. Might have been a cup replay. Definitely under lights. Bonzo has given it absolutely everything as usual, but is still steaming in. We go another goal down. Right in front of the East Stand he goes in for the most horrendous tackle and sends this poor bloke flying. Sent off still looking like he is going to take on the world. Not allowed to approve of such things now tut tut most irresponsible. Seem to remember it made most of us feel better. At least he cared you never doubted that.
I’d love to see an all time worse top 50…Marco Boogers? John Radford? Joey Beauchamp? We might need a top 100 😀
We were having this discussion at half time at the match on Saturday, folk around me pretty much all agreed on Boogers.
I remember, also faded, a game against Chelsea at UP, god knows when, Chopper Harris lunges horribly at little Johnny Ayris, awful tackle, Bonzo runs the length of the pitch to put one on Harris – get’s sent off!
Happy days!
The thing with Billy was that when he first came he was a brilliant midfielder. I reckon the equal of Bryan Robson. But he had a bad injury. I think missed nearly a season with it. Came back & turned himself into a good back central defender, but my god was he good in those early days- late sixties/ early seventies. Any other old codgers out there who can remember when he had that injury? I have probably got it wrong. My daughter says I can’t go to games on my own any more cost I will probably end up at UP wandering round the building site trying to get somebody to sell me a pie! Sad…