"Billy Bonds, who has died aged 79, was one of the greatest players ever to represent West Ham United and one of the finest never to win a full England cap. Bonds was the very embodiment of the West Ham spirit, the bearded and buccaneering captain who later managed the club, a figure of huge significance who fits alongside World Cup-winning trio Bobby Moore, Sir Geoff Hurst and Martin Peters in the Hammers' Hall Of Fame."
"Bonds joined West Ham from Charlton Athletic for 47,000 in May 1967, the start of a magnificent 21-year career on the field that saw him become the club's longest-serving player, making 799 appearances. He was initially signed as a right-back before becoming an outstanding midfielder who later played as an accomplished central defender, proving a worthy successor to Moore as West Ham captain when he departed for Fulham in 1974."
"As well as those FA Cup wins, he led West Ham back into the former First Division at the end of the 1980/81 season, a campaign during which they also lost to Liverpool in the League Cup Final after a replay. It was not just team honours he collected during that time. Bonds, who won the coveted "Hammer Of The Year""
Billy Bonds died aged 79. He joined West Ham from Charlton Athletic for 47,000 in May 1967 and enjoyed a 21-year playing career with 799 appearances, becoming the club's longest-serving player. He started as a right-back, became an outstanding midfielder and later an accomplished central defender. He succeeded Bobby Moore as captain in 1974 and led West Ham to FA Cup victories in 1975 and 1980. He captained the side that reached the 1976 European Cup Winners' Cup Final and guided promotion to the First Division in 1980/81. He later managed West Ham and earned Hall of Fame recognition.
Read at www.bbc.com
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