Laurence wrote:
I saw him a few times. Early on when he played midfield he was a true buccaneer. If the ball was there to win, Billy went for it. When he was mid thirties i saw him play as a central defender against Norwich. He was the best player on the pitch that day by a distance. He read the play like the last great, Bobby Moore, stifled any attacking threat and marshalled the team.
The only sad thing about Billy was he never, ever played for England. Looking back on it now it still seems crazy.
An absolute outstanding player, professional and man.
David Leslie Green wrote:
Subject: Billy Bonds School Days
I remember Billy Bonds at school Middle Park Avenue and then Eltham Green. He was a great guy, he was head of school at Middle Park, always playing football during school hours and after school.
He was a born leader and I would have followed him anywhere. I did play football on his side sometimes but was not very good but that did not matter, he did not hold it against you.
I remember he broke his arm at school and he had an accident when he turned the gas oven on with out lighting it and then when he did light it there was an explosion and he burnt his eyelids.
I did go round his house on several occasions and met his mother. I don't remember his father. He was a very shy person but I liked him a lot.
He is my only claim to fame, when I tell friends I used to go to school with Billy Bonds they all say who the bloody hell is Billy Bonds. Well I knew him and thats what matters, I hope he is well and enjoying a well deserved retirement just like me.
Jim Green (Old navy slang for Green)
Reece wrote:
I spent my teenage years watching Billy Bonds at Upton Park. He and Trevor Brooking were my football heroes. How Billy never played for England is amazing.
I look at the modern footballers and very few have the desire, inspiration and loyalty that Billy and Trevor showed to the Hammers. I just do not have the respect for modern footballers that I hold for Billy Bonds.
I always remember singing "Six foot two, eyes are blue, Billy Bonds is after you". He never gave up and I always remember the second half when we were under pressure, Billy would come out of the tunnel with his socks rolled down and you knew he meant business.
No disrespect to the late Bobby Moore but for me Billy Bonds is the greatest ever West Ham defender and Captain.
Len Wilcock wrote:
Billy Bonds was simply the best uncapped player I've seen in over 40 years of watching the game. Full back, Central midfielder, Centre half and even on occasion in his early days at West Ham, a Right Winger.
The possessor of a powerful shot, strong and fierce in the tackle and with better technique than he was ever given credit for, Bonds would undoubtedly have been an England regular in the modern day.
The story is that Sir Alf Ramsey didn't select him because he didn't like his "gait" when he ran, UNBELIEVABLE. But why Revie never selected him was a mystery to many.
As a Captain he led by example in every aspect. In his fitness, attitude, commitment to the cause and his all round ability he commanded the utmost respect from all those around him.
Off the field he was the total opposite to his on field character. Quiet, un-assuming, reserved. Just a straight forward bloke.
Billy was a genuine hero to me and every other West Ham fan and to name what I thought was his greatest performance would be difficult, but the 0-0 draw in the League Cup quarter final v Forest in 79-80 and the FA Cup Semi final replay v Everton at Elland Road in the same season are the 2 that immediately stand out.
His transfer value in this day and age would be extremely high as he would be in great demand.
All in all Billy was a true, if unheralded in many quarters, great of the game. We may never see such a player in this country again.
Jack Aldridge wrote:
I watched the Hammers throughout the 70's and Bonzo was always head and shoulders above the mere mortals that used to crowd midfield on muddy pitches.
They certainly don't make them like him any more.
Thanks for the memories.
Jason Williams wrote:
I was lucky enough to meet Billy through his niece Nicky, who I dated for two years and also went to school with. I found him to be down to earth and genuinely caring.
He has a superb sense of humour and had a way of making everyone laugh
Terry Regan wrote:
Billy Bonds was a player that did not give up. he fought tooth and nail for every single ball and if only other players at West Ham at the time had the same desire to win, the club would have won more glory. I have had the benefit of seeing Bonzo play many times and I am grateful to have had that opportunity.
On the pitch an absolute man mountain but off it a very quiet one. Led the team by example and if playing now would definitely get into any of the top premiership clubs. Why? He could play equally as well at full back, centre back, sweeper, winger and central midfield. Just view his playing record as it says it all. Very few of today's modern players have the ability to play in so many different positions.
Thanks Bill for sticking by West Ham through the good and bad times.
Brendan Carty wrote:
Inspirational player, great example to fans & sports men & woman.
I still have my teddy bear, Bonzo, which I got in 1975. My sister knitted him a West Ham hat & scarf for the '75 Cup Final. He's a bit battered & bruised at this stage (missing an eye, & his nose is hanging on by a thread).
He's basically bedridden, and only gets up for the really big games.
I was visiting a friend in Poland this year in May. I brought Bonzo on the trip as my lucky omen & we watched the Man.U game in my friends apartment.
I know Tevez had a great game, but don't underestimae Bonzo's influence on the outcome!!!
Barry Madlin wrote:
It is difficult to ever remember seeing Bonzo have a bad game, he was an inspirational player not only to his fellow team mates, but also to us, the supporters who stood in total admiration at the guy with his never say die attitude and inspirational leadership quality.
Am I hero worshipping, well YES, few teams down the years who have been in the position that West Ham have been in with their inconsistency, lack of ambition from the board and general disinterest in building a challenging team, can boast of having players of the calibre of Moore, Hurst, Peters, Brooking,
Lampard, Devonshire, Martin and then Bonzo.
The most common terminology used over the years by a number of sports commentators, and I remember the early days with Brian Moore on the Sunday afternoon Big Match highlights as well as latter day Jimmy Hill, was Bonds has covered every blade of grass on the pitch.
Bonzo was never a dirty player, but about the most genuinely hardest player that ever played and I include players like Tommy Smith who if you beat in one pass down the wing, would tackle you around the neck with his boot to ensure that he put the fear of God into you, that wasn't hard, just plain dirty!! and a
few more like him besides.
Bonzo would always challenge for a 50/50 ball or even when the odds were against him in a tackle, he never shirked the responsibility.
I had the good fortune of meeting and speaking with him on three occasions at training ground in Chadwell Heath and when he signed his autobiography for me, a nice guy too.......off the pitch!!
Yes, he was my West Ham hero of all time, an immense guy who really did make a big difference to the team, just being on the pitch, but not only the team, all West Ham supporters who watched the guy over the years will tell you of their own recollections of Billy Bonds MBE, our hero.
Thanks Bonzo
Conrad Satchell wrote:
I must say, being a true and dedicated fan of West Ham Utd through trials and tribulation I have found Billy Bonds to be a role model for generations who not only enjoyed witnessing the skill, loyalty and dedication of this great star. A star i beleive who has brought greatness along with other legends Bobby Moore, Geoff Hurst and Frank Lampard (senior) and finally Jimmy Greaves.
To me, Billy Bonds led this group of elite players, and
that is what they will always be. Billy, along with those other great players, they will be the ministers of this great sport of ours. I take my hat off to you and the other legends.
Barry Madlin wrote:
Throughout my years of watching West Ham, there have been some truly fantastic players at the club, including the one and only Bobby Moore.
But without any hesitation and even though the record books do not compare, my all time favourite Hammers hero, is Billy Bonds, now, with Bobby Moore and Trevor Brooking having far more distinguishing careers, this may be difficult for many to understand, but I believe that your article on Bonzo more
than speaks for itself.
Where Bobby Moore truly had his own leadership qualities and sheer brilliance and Trevor Brooking had the high profile career and playing elegance personified, Bonzo was the inspiration, not only to the team, but to the supporters on the terraces who absolutely idolized the man.
He never knew when he was beaten, he would play to the very last whistle and demand the same from his team mates, he "covered every blade of grass on the pitch" he protected our more skillfull players and, he could play a bit too.
Everybody says there will never be another Bobby Moore, but for me, there is, has and always will have been, just one Bonzo!!!
I met this guy on three occasions, once when he was injured, the 'ol toe thing!! once when he signed his autobiography for me and again, a brief conversation on the day of the Wolves match not long after the death of Bobby Moore, when he was clearly under pressure from all going on around him, but he still found time to talk through the fence to me and a mate of mine.
Bonzo, thank you for everything!
Bob Robson wrote:
Billy Bonds was, in my view, the greatest ever player for West Ham United, even higher in my estimation than Mooro, Hurst or Peters.
I had the pleasure of following the Hammers avidly in the 60's, 70's and 80's and he epitomised all that was West Ham.
It was a national scandal that he never got an England cap.
Whatever Bonzo is doing now, I wish him every success.
Richard Lewis wrote:
I only watched Billy in the flesh a handful of times, when I lived in London for a short while.
He was a truly outstanding player, with tremendous commitment, great skill and athleticism. Why he was never selected for England will remain a complete mystery.
