IF you happened to find yourself in a one-on-one tackle with Billy Bonds, then you would normally end up coming off worse.
With his socks rolled down his ankles, long brown hair down to his shoulders, Bonds was quite the physical specimen in his pomp for West Ham in the 1970s and 1980s.
The toughest midfielders back then, the likes of Liverpool’s Graeme Souness and Leeds’ Billy Bremner, all knew they were in for a scrap whenever they encountered Bonds at Upton Park.
And while he would never fulfil an ambition of playing for England – something he was more than deserving of – he was one of the most combative footballers of his generation.
Bonds was not a one-club man, it is a myth to think he was a product of West Ham’s fabled academy, but he was as near as damn it.
It was why, when his death was announced this morning at the age of 79, it will be an emotional day for everyone connected with West Ham.
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It is why, for decades, the supporters have acknowledged their courageous, inspirational and lion-hearted leader with the chant: “Billy Bonds’ Claret and Blue Army.”
After moving over from Charlton in south-east London to Newham for £47,000 in 1967, a perfect signing for the boss Ron Greenwood, he became a legend in claret and blue.
Until he retired in 1988 at the age of 41 under John Lyall – he only played for two Hammers managers – he had made 799 appearances in a 21-year spell and was named Hammer of the Year on four occasions.
That same year he stopped playing he was awarded an MBE for services to football, an acknowledgment at the time by the honours system of his class and dedication.
An incredible tally of matches that is unlikely to ever be broken in today’s modern-day era.
More importantly than that, he lifted the FA Cup twice, first in 1975 when West Ham beat Bobby Moore’s Fulham at Wembley.
And then five years later, he did it again, as Second Division West Ham stunned Arsenal thanks to Trevor Brooking’s low header.
He was also the skipper when West Ham lost 4-2 to Anderlecht in the final of the 1976 European Cup-Winners’ Cup at the Heysel Stadium.
Though he would go on to manage the club for four seasons, between 1990 and 1994, having been a youth coach under Lyall, it was a tumultuous, difficult period.
Having led the club to top-flight promotion in 1990-91, West Ham were relegated in the 1991-92 season, meaning they were absent from the inaugural Premier League campaign, but he brought them up at the first attempt alongside Kevin Keegan’s Newcastle United.
Disappointingly, there was never an England call-up during the 1970s and 1980s.
Perhaps he was the best player around back then that never won the Three Lions shirt.
Of course, it was not his fault that England failed to qualify for the 1974 and 1978 World Cups.
Bonds – who was capped twice at England Under-23 international level – was on the bench as a non-playing substitute for a World Cup qualifying match against Italy in November 1977.
A collision with teammate and goalkeeper Phil Parkes in the last game of the 1980-1981 season broke two of his ribs, which ruled him out of selection for England’s clash with Brazil in May 1981.
An extremely shy, private and loyal man, Bonds – the son of a bus driver – did get involved in commentary work for BBC Radio London but stopped that when he became disillusioned with the act of professional football.
He was never one to crave the limelight even though he had the love and devotion of the fan base.
He was completely devoted to his family – wife Marilyn, who passed away in 2020, daughters Claire and Katie, and grand-daughters Eloise and Elissa.
In 2018, fans voted him as West Ham’s greatest-ever player – and given the competition for that accolade that is quite an incredible honour.
Another fine tribute came in February 2019 when West Ham announced they would name the East Stand of the London Stadium, their home since 2016, after their former leader on the pitch.
It was a universally positive and welcome idea, especially for those fans that had seen opposing midfielders bounce off him during the glory days.
Bonds, a modest and humble man, said: “It’s a great honour and means so much to me and my family.
“To think that I am only the third West Ham player to receive this honour after Bobby Moore and Trevor Brooking – you can’t get better than that.”
Bonds was always tough but fair in his challenges, a hard man, yet not one to shout about it or issue idle threats.
Though if he ever felt someone crossed the line he would speak out.
Once as a manager, he did not like the time ‘Mad Dog’ Martin Allen went over the top of a player, a reckless, dangerous challenge, and he threatened to fine his own midfielder for that incident.
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