Icons Legend of the Week #11: Billy Bonds

Icons Legend of the Week #11 is West Ham United hero Billy Bonds.

Billy Bonds made an incredible 793 first-team appearances for West Ham United over 21 seasons. The Hammers legend was a passionate and tough-takling leader and an inspiration to his teammates. When Bobby Moore departed for Fulham in 1974, Bonds was an obvious choice to replace him as captain. He held on to the position for a full decade, during which he led West Ham to two FA Cup triumphs.

In 1988, at the age of 41 years and 255 days, Bonds reluctantly hung up his boots as a knee injury finally got the better of him. His legacy lives on at West Ham, but it was at Charlton Athletic that he started his career. He left school at 15, and having joined the groudstaff at Charlton, he worked his way through youth and reserve teams to become a part of the first-team squad just before he turned 18. After 95 league appearances for the Addicks, West Ham boss Ron Greenwood parted with £50,000 to take him across the Thames to the Boleyn Ground in 1967.  

Bonds started life at West Ham as a right-back, before he was switched to midfield to partner Trevor Brooking in 1970. He was at his peak in the early seventies, and in the 1973/74 season he was West Ham's top scorer with 13 league goals, including a hat-trick against London rivals Chelsea. Bonds was known for his combative, tireless style of play, but he coupled his physical and mental attributes with a fine footballing brain and intelligent use of the ball.

In his first season as captain Bonds led West Ham to FA Cup glory with victory over Fulham. In 1976 he was the inspiration behind West Ham's European Cup Winners' Cup run, which saw them finish runners-up after defeat to Belgian side Anderlecht in the final. West Ham were enjoying the most glorious era of their history. At international level, however, Bonds was overlooked. He appeared for England under-23s twice, but the closest he got to a full international cap was as an unused substitute in a World Cup qualifier against Italy in 1977.

West Ham were relegated from the top flight in 1978, but they still managed to win the 1980 FA Cup as a second division side, beating first division Arsenal 1-0 thanks to a Trevor Brooking goal. Bonds, playing at centre-back since 1977, captained the East Londoners as they made their return to the top flight the following season, and played out the remaining years of his career with West Ham in the top flight.

In over two decades at West Ham, Bonds firmly established himself as a club legend. He won 'Hammer of the Year' in 1971, 1974, 1975 and 1987, and was appointed MBE in 1988. He even returned to West Ham in 1990 for a four-year stint as manager, leading them to a comfortable mid-table finish in the Premier League before choosing to resign. Undoubtedly, however, Bonds finest achievements at West Ham came as a player, when he guided them through on of the most glorious eras in their history.

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To view Icons complete range of Billy Bonds signed photos click here.