West Ham Legend Billy Bonds Dies Aged 79
Billy Bonds, the celebrated West Ham United captain and record appearance holder, has died aged 79.
Born in Woolwich in 1946, Bonds began his football career at Charlton Athletic, making 97 appearances before joining West Ham in 1967 for a £50,000 fee. Initially starting as a right-back, he transitioned to midfield in 1970 and became top scorer for the 1973-74 season.
Bonds succeeded Bobby Moore as West Ham captain in 1974, leading the team for about a decade. Notably, he captained West Ham to FA Cup glory in 1980 when the then Division Two side defeated Arsenal 1-0. Despite injuries, Bonds returned to make 26 appearances in the 1984-85 season before retiring in 1988 due to knee and toe injuries, finishing with a record 799 appearances.
Following his playing career, Bonds worked as a coach and manager. He led West Ham's youth team from 1988, took over as the senior team manager in February 1990, secured promotion back to the top flight in his first full season, reached an FA Cup semi-final, and eventually resigned. He also had spells managing Millwall and coaching roles at Queens Park Rangers and Reading.
Bonds’ legacy includes being a four-time Hammer of the Year and having the East Stand at the London Stadium named in his honor in 2019.
Tributes poured in following his death. A montage celebrating Bonds was displayed at the London Stadium, and current player Jarrod Bowen laid a No. 4 shirt in his memory, praising Bonds as the best captain. Manager Nuno Espírito Santo described the passing as a sad moment. Former players Tony Cottee, Joe Cole, and Rob Green also offered their respects.
