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{{Short description|English footballer (born 1946)}}
{{Short description|English footballer (1946–2025)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2025}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2012}}
{{Use British English|date=November 2025}}
{{Infobox football biography
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Billy Bonds <br /> <small>[[Order of the British Empire|MBE]]</small>
| name = Billy Bonds <br /> <small>[[Order of the British Empire|MBE]]</small>
| image = BillyBonds.JPG
| image = BillyBonds.JPG
| image_size =  
| upright =  
| caption = Bonds in 1992
| caption = Bonds in 1992
| fullname = William Arthur Bonds
| full_name = William Arthur Bonds
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1946|9|17|df=y}}
| birth_date = {{birth date|1946|9|17|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Woolwich]], London, England
| birth_place = [[Woolwich]], London, England
| death_date = {{death date and age|2025|11|30|1946|9|17|df=y}}
| death_place =
| height = 6 ft 0 in<ref>{{cite book |title=Rothmans Football Yearbook 1987–88 |editor-first=Peter |editor-last=Dunk |publisher=Queen Anne Press |location=London |date=1987 |page=388 |isbn=978-0-356-14354-5}}</ref>
| height = 6 ft 0 in<ref>{{cite book |title=Rothmans Football Yearbook 1987–88 |editor-first=Peter |editor-last=Dunk |publisher=Queen Anne Press |location=London |date=1987 |page=388 |isbn=978-0-356-14354-5}}</ref>
| position = [[Defender (association football)|Defender]], [[midfielder]]
| position = [[Defender (association football)|Defender]], [[midfielder]]
Line 29: Line 31:
| managerclubs2 = [[Millwall F.C.|Millwall]]
| managerclubs2 = [[Millwall F.C.|Millwall]]
}}
}}
'''William Arthur Bonds''' {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|MBE}} (born 17 September 1946) is a former professional [[Association football|footballer]] and [[coach (sport)|manager]], who is most often associated with [[West Ham United F.C.|West Ham United]] with whom he spent 27 years as player and manager. He played 799 first-team games for West Ham in a career spanning 21 seasons.
 
'''William Arthur Bonds''' {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|MBE}} (17 September 1946 – 30 November 2025) was an English professional [[association football|footballer]] and [[coach (sport)|manager]], who was most often associated with [[West Ham United F.C.|West Ham United]] with whom he spent 27 years as player and manager. He played 799 first-team games for West Ham in a career spanning 21 seasons, winning two [[FA Cup]]s with them. He died peacefully on 30 November 2025 whilst sleeping.


==Background==
==Background==
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Bonds made his League debut for Charlton against [[Northampton Town F.C.|Northampton Town]] in February 1965 and became a regular in the first team, going on to make 95 League appearances, scoring one goal, before being signed by [[Ron Greenwood]] for [[West Ham United F.C.|West Ham United]] for a fee of £50,000 in May 1967.<ref name=Northcutt1993 /><ref>{{cite book | last =Cameron| first =C.| title =Home and Away with Charlton Athletic 1920–2004| publisher =Voice of the Valley| year= 2003 | location =London| pages =211–225 | isbn =0-9518125-2-1 }}</ref> He made his first appearance for West Ham in a testimonial match for [[Kenneth Brown (footballer born 1934)|Ken Brown]] in the same month and made his League debut against [[Sheffield Wednesday F.C.|Sheffield Wednesday]] in the opening game of the 1967–68 season.<ref name=Hogg>{{cite book | last =Hogg| first =T.| title =Who's Who of West Ham United | publisher =Profile Sports Media | year= 2005 | location =London| pages =30–31 | isbn =1-903135-50-8 }}</ref> He was ever-present in the 1968–69 and 1969–70 seasons and played 124 consecutive league games until injury ended his run of appearances in October 1970.<ref name=Northcutt1993 /><ref name=TonyM>{{cite book | last =McDonald| first =T.| title =West Ham In My Day | publisher =Football World | year= 2007 | location =Essex| pages =103–113  | isbn =978-0-9551176-8-8 }}
Bonds made his League debut for Charlton against [[Northampton Town F.C.|Northampton Town]] in February 1965 and became a regular in the first team, going on to make 95 League appearances, scoring one goal, before being signed by [[Ron Greenwood]] for [[West Ham United F.C.|West Ham United]] for a fee of £50,000 in May 1967.<ref name=Northcutt1993 /><ref>{{cite book | last =Cameron| first =C.| title =Home and Away with Charlton Athletic 1920–2004| publisher =Voice of the Valley| year= 2003 | location =London| pages =211–225 | isbn =0-9518125-2-1 }}</ref> He made his first appearance for West Ham in a testimonial match for [[Kenneth Brown (footballer born 1934)|Ken Brown]] in the same month and made his League debut against [[Sheffield Wednesday F.C.|Sheffield Wednesday]] in the opening game of the 1967–68 season.<ref name=Hogg>{{cite book | last =Hogg| first =T.| title =Who's Who of West Ham United | publisher =Profile Sports Media | year= 2005 | location =London| pages =30–31 | isbn =1-903135-50-8 }}</ref> He was ever-present in the 1968–69 and 1969–70 seasons and played 124 consecutive league games until injury ended his run of appearances in October 1970.<ref name=Northcutt1993 /><ref name=TonyM>{{cite book | last =McDonald| first =T.| title =West Ham In My Day | publisher =Football World | year= 2007 | location =Essex| pages =103–113  | isbn =978-0-9551176-8-8 }}
</ref>
</ref>
Bonds played his first three seasons as a right-back before Greenwood switched him to midfield in the 1970–71 season where he counterbalanced the skills of [[Trevor Brooking]].<ref name=TonyM /> Bonds was at his peak in the early 1970s, helping West Ham to the semi-final of the [[Football League Cup]] in the 1971–72 season, where they lost to [[Stoke City F.C.|Stoke City]] after a second replay, and topping the scorers list at West Ham in the 1973–74 season with 13 goals, including a hat-trick against [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]].<ref name=TonyM /><ref name=Hayes>{{cite book | last =Hayes| first =D.| title =The Upton Park Encyclopedia: an a-z of West Ham United| publisher =Mainstream | year= 1998 | location =Edinburgh| pages =24–25  | id = OCLC: 60220812 | isbn =1-84018-043-9 }}</ref> After the departure of [[Bobby Moore]] in March 1974, Bonds was appointed to the captaincy and led the club to an [[FA Cup]] final victory over [[Fulham F.C.|Fulham]] in 1975 and to the final of the [[1976 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup Final|1976 European Cup Winners' Cup]] despite a groin injury that interrupted the latter half of the 1974–75 season and part of the 1975–76 season. Greenwood moved Bonds from midfield to the back four as centre-half alongside [[Tommy Taylor (footballer b. 1951)|Tommy Taylor]] shortly before the end of the 1976–77 season, where he was able to come out from defence with the ball.


He experienced relegation with West Ham at the end of the 1977–78 season but led West Ham to a second FA Cup victory over [[Football League First Division|First Division]] club [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]] in 1980, becoming the only West Ham captain to lift the FA Cup on two occasions. In 1980–81, he led West Ham to the final of the League Cup, which was lost to [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]] after a replay, and to promotion back to the First Division.
Bonds played his first three seasons as a right-back before Greenwood switched him to midfield in the 1970–71 season where he counterbalanced the skills of [[Trevor Brooking]].<ref name=TonyM /> Bonds was at his peak in the early 1970s, helping West Ham to the semi-final of the [[Football League Cup]] in the 1971–72 season, where they lost to [[Stoke City F.C.|Stoke City]] after a second replay, and topping the scorers list at West Ham in the 1973–74 season with 13 goals, including a hat-trick against [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]].<ref name=TonyM /><ref name=Hayes>{{cite book | last =Hayes| first =D.| title =The Upton Park Encyclopedia: an a-z of West Ham United| publisher =Mainstream | year= 1998 | location =Edinburgh| pages =24–25  | id = OCLC: 60220812 | isbn =1-84018-043-9 }}</ref> After the departure of [[Bobby Moore]] in March 1974, Bonds was appointed to the captaincy and led the club to an [[FA Cup]] final victory over [[Fulham F.C.|Fulham]], for whom Bobby Moore was playing, in 1975 and to the final of the [[1976 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup Final|1976 European Cup Winners' Cup]] despite a groin injury that interrupted the latter half of the 1974–75 season and part of the 1975–76 season. Greenwood moved Bonds from midfield to the back four as centre-half alongside [[Tommy Taylor (footballer b. 1951)|Tommy Taylor]] shortly before the end of the 1976–77 season, where he was able to come out from defence with the ball.{{cn|date=December 2025}}
 
Bonds experienced relegation with West Ham at the end of the 1977–78 season but led West Ham to a second FA Cup victory over [[Football League First Division|First Division]] club [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]] in 1980, becoming the only West Ham captain to lift the FA Cup on two occasions. In 1980–81, he led West Ham to the final of the League Cup, which was lost to [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]] after a replay, and to promotion back to the First Division.{{cn|date=December 2025}}


Bonds passed Bobby Moore's club record of appearances in 1982–83 and 'officially' retired in May 1984, relinquishing the captaincy to [[Alvin Martin]]. A spate of injuries to first-team players saw him return to the squad and make 26 league and cup appearances in 1984–85. He missed the entire 1985–86 season due to a toe injury but, having passed his 40th birthday, he was able to re-establish himself in the first-team during the 1986–87 season. A knee injury that forced him out of the last two games of the 1987–88 season led to a decision to finally retire in the summer of 1988, having played his last game at [[Southampton F.C.|Southampton]] in April 1988 at the age of 41 years and 226 days.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/archive/Billy-Bonds-previously-unseen-pictures-of-the-West-Ham-legend-plus-original-Daily-Mirror-features-and-stories-from-our-archive-article361.html |title=Billy Bonds 6'2", eyes of blue... Billy Bonds is after you! |publisher=Mirrorfootball.co.uk |access-date=16 May 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100828062624/http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/archive/Billy-Bonds-previously-unseen-pictures-of-the-West-Ham-legend-plus-original-Daily-Mirror-features-and-stories-from-our-archive-article361.html |archive-date=28 August 2010}}</ref>
Bonds passed Bobby Moore's club record of appearances in 1982–83 and 'officially' retired in May 1984, relinquishing the captaincy to [[Alvin Martin]]. A spate of injuries to first-team players saw him return to the squad and make 26 league and cup appearances in 1984–85. He missed the entire 1985–86 season due to a toe injury but, having passed his 40th birthday, he was able to re-establish himself in the first-team during the 1986–87 season. A knee injury that forced him out of the last two games of the 1987–88 season led to a decision to finally retire in the summer of 1988, having played his last game at [[Southampton F.C.|Southampton]] in April 1988 at the age of 41 years and 226 days.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/archive/Billy-Bonds-previously-unseen-pictures-of-the-West-Ham-legend-plus-original-Daily-Mirror-features-and-stories-from-our-archive-article361.html |title=Billy Bonds 6'2", eyes of blue... Billy Bonds is after you! |publisher=Mirrorfootball.co.uk |access-date=16 May 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100828062624/http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/archive/Billy-Bonds-previously-unseen-pictures-of-the-West-Ham-legend-plus-original-Daily-Mirror-features-and-stories-from-our-archive-article361.html |archive-date=28 August 2010}}</ref>
[[File:London Stadium East (Billy Bonds).jpg|thumb|left|Billy Bonds stand at the London Stadium.]]


Bonds had remained at the club as a player for over 20 years, scoring 48 goals in a club record 663 [[the Football League|League]] appearances. He established himself as a local hero and was the supporters' choice for [[West Ham United#Hammer of the Year|'Hammer of the Year']] in 1971, 1974, 1975 and 1987. He was appointed [[Member of the Order of the British Empire]] (MBE) in January 1988 and was presented with the [[Professional Footballers' Association|PFA]] Merit Award in April 1988 by his fellow professional players. In May 2013 Bonds was awarded West Ham United's first ever lifetime achievement award.<ref name=Lawhufc>{{cite web |title=Bonzo honoured at Awards Night |url=http://www.whufc.com/articles/20130508/bonzo-honoured-at-awards-night_2236884_3171503 |publisher=Www.whufc.com |access-date=9 May 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130511193859/http://www.whufc.com/articles/20130508/bonzo-honoured-at-awards-night_2236884_3171503 |archive-date=11 May 2013}}</ref>
Bonds had remained at the club as a player for over 20 years, scoring 48 goals in a club record 663 [[the Football League|League]] appearances. He established himself as a local hero and was the supporters' choice for [[West Ham United#Hammer of the Year|'Hammer of the Year']] in 1971, 1974, 1975 and 1987. He was appointed [[Member of the Order of the British Empire]] (MBE) in January 1988 and was presented with the [[Professional Footballers' Association|PFA]] Merit Award in April 1988 by his fellow professional players. In May 2013 Bonds was awarded West Ham United's first ever lifetime achievement award.<ref name=Lawhufc>{{cite web |title=Bonzo honoured at Awards Night |url=http://www.whufc.com/articles/20130508/bonzo-honoured-at-awards-night_2236884_3171503 |publisher=Www.whufc.com |access-date=9 May 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130511193859/http://www.whufc.com/articles/20130508/bonzo-honoured-at-awards-night_2236884_3171503 |archive-date=11 May 2013}}</ref>
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On 6 February 2019, it was announced that the East Stand at [[London Stadium]] would be renamed the Billy Bonds Stand.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/47141319|title=West Ham: Billy Bonds gets London Stadium stand named after him|date=6 February 2019|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=6 February 2019}}</ref> The unveiling took place ahead of West Ham's home fixture against [[Newcastle United F.C.|Newcastle United]] on 2 March.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/47340494|title=West Ham 2-0 Newcastle United|publisher=BBC Sport|date=2 March 2019}}</ref>
On 6 February 2019, it was announced that the East Stand at [[London Stadium]] would be renamed the Billy Bonds Stand.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/47141319|title=West Ham: Billy Bonds gets London Stadium stand named after him|date=6 February 2019|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=6 February 2019}}</ref> The unveiling took place ahead of West Ham's home fixture against [[Newcastle United F.C.|Newcastle United]] on 2 March.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/47340494|title=West Ham 2-0 Newcastle United|publisher=BBC Sport|date=2 March 2019}}</ref>


{{clear}}
==International career==
==International career==
Bonds was capped twice at England Under-23 international level and was on the bench as a non-playing substitute for the senior international team for a [[FIFA World Cup|World Cup]] qualifying match against [[Italy national football team|Italy]] in November 1977. A collision with goalkeeper [[Phil Parkes (footballer born 1950)|Phil Parkes]] in the last game of the [[1980–81 in English football|1980-1981 season]] broke two of Bonds' ribs, and ruled him out of selection for England against [[Brazil national football team|Brazil]] in May 1981. Bonds and [[Alvin Martin]] were in line to make their England debuts in that game.
Bonds was capped twice at England Under-23 international level and was on the bench as a non-playing substitute for the senior international team for a [[FIFA World Cup|World Cup]] qualifying match against [[Italy national football team|Italy]] in November 1977. A collision with goalkeeper [[Phil Parkes (footballer born 1950)|Phil Parkes]] in the last game of the [[1980–81 in English football|1980–1981 season]] broke two of Bonds' ribs, and ruled him out of selection for England against [[Brazil national football team|Brazil]] in May 1981. Bonds and [[Alvin Martin]] were in line to make their England debuts in that game.{{cn|date=December 2025}}


==Managerial career==
==Managerial career==
After Bonds retired as a player in 1988, West Ham manager [[John Lyall]] appointed him as youth coach. He unsuccessfully applied for the manager's post when Lyall left the club in July 1989 after West Ham had been relegated. However, when new manager [[Lou Macari]] resigned seven months later, Bonds was appointed manager in February 1990. In his first full season in charge, he took the club to promotion, when they finished as runner-up to [[Oldham Athletic F.C.|Oldham Athletic]] in [[1990–91 West Ham United F.C. season|1990-91 season]], also reaching the semi-finals of the [[FA Cup]] where they lost to [[Nottingham Forest F.C.|Nottingham Forest]]. He was awarded a second testimonial in the same season.
After Bonds retired as a player in 1988, West Ham manager [[John Lyall]] appointed him as youth coach. He unsuccessfully applied for the manager's post when Lyall left the club in July 1989 after West Ham had been relegated. However, when new manager [[Lou Macari]] resigned seven months later, Bonds was appointed manager in February 1990. In his first full season in charge, he took the club to promotion, when they finished as runners-up to [[Oldham Athletic F.C.|Oldham Athletic]] in the [[1990–91 West Ham United F.C. season|1990-91 season]], also reaching the semi-finals of the [[FA Cup]] where they lost to [[Nottingham Forest F.C.|Nottingham Forest]]. He was awarded a second testimonial in the same season.{{cn|date=December 2025}}
 
West Ham were relegated in the [[1991-92 West Ham United F.C. season|1991–92 season]] in bottom place, but the board kept faith in Bonds and he led them to promotion the [[1992-93 West Ham United F.C. season|following season]], when they finished as runners-up to [[Newcastle United F.C.|Newcastle United]].<ref name="BelfastT">{{cite web | title=Billy Bonds honoured with stand named after him at West Ham | website=BelfastTelegraph.co.uk | date=6 February 2019 | url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/billy-bonds-honoured-with-stand-named-after-him-at-west-ham/37787801.html | access-date=11 November 2023}}</ref> Bonds guided West Ham to a 13th-place finish in the [[1993–94 Premier League]].<ref name="BelfastT"/> He resigned in August 1994, just before the new season began, when he was replaced by [[Harry Redknapp]].<ref name="BelfastT"/> He had spells in coaching at [[Queens Park Rangers F.C.|Queens Park Rangers]] and [[Reading F.C.|Reading]] before making a return to management with [[Millwall F.C.|Millwall]] in May 1997. He managed 53 games before being sacked by the club<ref>{{cite web|url=https://metro.co.uk/2014/06/20/the-ten-most-bizarre-uses-for-a-retired-west-ham-united-footballer-4769428/|title=The ten most bizarre uses for a retired West Ham footballer|date=20 June 2014|access-date=3 March 2019}}</ref> the following year as they finished in the bottom half of Division Two.


West Ham were relegated in the [[1991-92 West Ham United F.C. season|1991–92 season]] in bottom place, but the board kept faith in Bonds and he led them to promotion the [[1992-93 West Ham United F.C. season|following season]], when they finished as runner-up to [[Newcastle United F.C.|Newcastle United]].<ref name="BelfastT">{{cite web | title=Billy Bonds honoured with stand named after him at West Ham | website=BelfastTelegraph.co.uk | date=6 February 2019 | url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/billy-bonds-honoured-with-stand-named-after-him-at-west-ham/37787801.html | access-date=11 November 2023}}</ref> Bonds guided West Ham to a 13th-place finish in the [[1993–94 Premier League]].<ref name="BelfastT"/> He resigned in August 1994, just before the new season began, when he was replaced by [[Harry Redknapp]].<ref name="BelfastT"/> He had spells in coaching at [[Queens Park Rangers F.C.|Queens Park Rangers]] and [[Reading F.C.|Reading]] before making a return to management with [[Millwall F.C.|Millwall]] in May 1997. He managed 53 games before being sacked by the club<ref>{{cite web|url=https://metro.co.uk/2014/06/20/the-ten-most-bizarre-uses-for-a-retired-west-ham-united-footballer-4769428/|title=The ten most bizarre uses for a retired West Ham footballer|date=20 June 2014|access-date=3 March 2019}}</ref> the following year as they finished in the bottom half of Division Two.
==Death==
Bonds died on the morning of 30 November 2025, at the age of 79, following a long illness.<ref>{{cite news |title=West Ham legend Bonds dies aged 79 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cy47lde523zo |access-date=30 November 2025 |publisher=BBC Sports News |date=30 November 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Martin |first=Andy |date=2025-11-30 |title=Billy Bonds, West Ham legend as a player and manager, dies aged 79 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2025/nov/30/billy-bonds-legendary-west-ham-player-and-manager-dies-aged-79 |access-date=2025-12-29 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>


==Career statistics==
==Career statistics==
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|-
|-
|rowspan="4"|[[Charlton Athletic F.C.|Charlton Athletic]]  
|rowspan="4"|[[Charlton Athletic F.C.|Charlton Athletic]]  
|1964–65
|1964–65<ref name="stats CAFC">{{cite web |title= Billy Bonds: Sporting Heroes |url= https://www.sporting-heroes.net/football/west-ham-united-fc/billy-bonds-5218/league-appearances-for-the-hammers_a13059/ |access-date= 30 November 2025 }}</ref>
|[[Football League Second Division|Second Division]]  
|[[Football League Second Division|Second Division]]  
|||||||||||||||||||
|13||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||13||0
|-
|-
|1965–66
|1965–66<ref name="stats CAFC"></ref>
|Second Division   
|Second Division   
|||||||||||||||||||
|40||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||40||0
|-
|-
|1966–67
|1966–67<ref name="stats CAFC"></ref>
|Second Division   
|Second Division   
|||||||||||||||||||
|42||1||0||0||0||0||0||0||42||1
|-
|-
!colspan="2"|Total   
!colspan="2"|Total   
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!95!!1!!0!!0!!0!!0!!0!!0!!95!!1
|-
|-
|rowspan="22"|[[West Ham United F.C.|West Ham United]]<ref name="stats">{{cite web |title= Billy Bonds: Profile of Bonzo |work= Wonderful World of West Ham Statistics |url= http://www.westhamstats.info/westham.php?west=2&ham=66&united=Billy_Bonds |access-date= 21 September 2007 }}</ref>
|rowspan="22"|[[West Ham United F.C.|West Ham United]]
|1967–68
|[[1967–68 Football League First Division|1967–68]]<ref name="stats">{{cite web |title= Billy Bonds: Profile of Bonzo |work= Wonderful World of West Ham Statistics |url= http://www.westhamstats.info/westham.php?west=2&ham=66&united=Billy_Bonds |access-date= 21 September 2007 }}</ref>
|[[Football League First Division|First Division]]
|[[Football League First Division|First Division]]
|37||1||3||0||2||0||0||0||42||1 <ref name="stats"/>
|37||1||3||0||2||0||0||0||42||1
|-
|-
|1968–69
|1968–69<ref name="stats"/>
|First Division
|First Division
|42||1||3||0||2||0||0||0||47||1 <ref name="stats"/>
|42||1||3||0||2||0||0||0||47||1
|-
|-
|1969–70
|1969–70<ref name="stats"/>
|First Division
|First Division
|42||3||1||0||2||0||0||0||45||3 <ref name="stats"/>
|42||3||1||0||2||0||0||0||45||3
|-
|-
|1970–71
|1970–71<ref name="stats"/>
|First Division
|First Division
|37||0||1||0||2||0||0||0||40||0 <ref name="stats"/>
|37||0||1||0||2||0||0||0||40||0
|-
|-
|1971–72
|[[1971–72 West Ham United F.C. season|1971–72]]<ref name="stats"/>
|First Division
|First Division
|42||3||4||0||10||2||0||0||56||5 <ref name="stats"/>
|42||3||4||0||10||2||colspan="2"|–||56||5
|-
|-
|1972–73
|[[1972–73 West Ham United F.C. season|1972–73]]<ref name="stats"/>
|First Division
|First Division
|39||3||2||0||2||0||0||0||43||3 <ref name="stats"/>
|39||3||2||0||2||0||colspan="2"|–||43||3
|-
|-
|1973–74
|[[1973–74 West Ham United F.C. season|1973–74]]<ref name="stats"/>
|First Division
|First Division
|40||13||2||0||1||0||1||0||44||13 <ref name="stats"/>
|40||13||2||0||1||0||1{{efn|Appearance in [[Watney Cup]]}}||0||44||13
|-
|-
|1974–75
|[[1974–75 West Ham United F.C. season|1974–75]]<ref name="stats"/>
|First Division
|First Division
|31||7||8||0||3||2||3||2||45||11 <ref name="stats"/>
|31||7||8||0||3||2||3||2||45||11
|-
|-
|1975–76
|[[1975–76 West Ham United F.C. season|1975–76]]<ref name="stats"/>
|First Division
|First Division
|18||1||0||0||5||1||10||2||33||4 <ref name="stats"/>
|18||1||0||0||5||1||10||2||33||4
|-
|-
|1976–77
|[[1976–77 West Ham United F.C. season|1976–77]]<ref name="stats"/>
|First Division
|First Division
|41||3||2||0||3||0||3||2||46||3 <ref name="stats"/>
|41||3||2||0||3||0||3||2||46||3
|-
|-
|1977–78
|[[1977–78 West Ham United F.C. season|1977–78]]<ref name="stats"/>
|First Division
|First Division
|29||1||3||1||0||0||3||2||32||2 <ref name="stats"/>
|29||1||3||1||0||0||3||2||32||2
|-
|-
|1978–79
|[[1978–79 West Ham United F.C. season|1978–79]]<ref name="stats"/>
|Second Division
|Second Division
|39||4||1||0||1||0||0||0||41||4 <ref name="stats"/>
|39||4||1||0||1||0||0||0||41||4
|-
|-
|1979–80
|[[1979–80 West Ham United F.C. season|1979–80]]<ref name="stats"/>
|Second Division
|Second Division
|34||1||5||0||9||0||0||0||48||1 <ref name="stats"/>
|34||1||5||0||9||0||0||0||48||1
|-
|-
|1980–81
|[[1980–81 West Ham United F.C. season|1980–81]]<ref name="stats"/>
|Second Division
|Second Division
|41||0||3||0||8||1||7||1||59||2 <ref name="stats"/>
|41||0||3||0||8||1||7||1||59||2
|-
|-
|1981–82
|[[1981–82 West Ham United F.C. season|1981–82]]<ref name="stats"/>
|First Division
|First Division
|29||1||2||1||4||0||0||0||35||2 <ref name="stats"/>
|29||1||2||1||4||0||0||0||35||2
|-
|-
|1982–83
|[[1982–83 West Ham United F.C. season|1982–83]]<ref name="stats"/>
|First Division
|First Division
|34||3||1||0||4||0||0||0||39||3 <ref name="stats"/>
|34||3||1||0||4||0||0||0||39||3
|-
|-
|1983–84
|[[1983–84 West Ham United F.C. season|1983–84]]<ref name="stats"/>
|First Division
|First Division
|27||0||1||0||2||0||0||0||30||0 <ref name="stats"/>
|27||0||1||0||2||0||0||0||30||0
|-
|-
|1984–85
|[[1984–85 West Ham United F.C. season|1984–85]]<ref name="stats"/>
|First Division
|First Division
|22||3||0||0||4||0||0||0||26||3 <ref name="stats"/>
|22||3||0||0||4||0||0||0||26||3
|-
|-
|1985–86
|[[1985–86 West Ham United F.C. season|1985–86]]<ref name="stats"/>
|First Division
|First Division
|0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0 <ref name="stats"/>
|0||0||0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|–||0||0
|-
|-
|1986–87
|[[1986–87 West Ham United F.C. season|1986–87]]<ref name="stats"/>
|First Division
|First Division
|17||0||4||0||3||0||0||0||24||0 <ref name="stats"/>
|17||0||4||0||3||0||colspan="2"|–||24||0
|-
|-
|1987–88
|[[1987–88 West Ham United F.C. season|1987–88]]<ref name="stats"/>
|First Division
|First Division
|22||0||2||0||0||0||0||0||24||0 <ref name="stats"/>
|22||0||2||0||0||0||colspan="2"|–||24||0
|-
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!colspan="2"|Total
!663!!48!!48!!2!!67!!6!!21!!5!!799!!61 <ref name="stats"/>
!663!!48!!48!!2!!67!!6!!21!!5!!799!!61
|-
|-
!colspan="3"|Career total
!colspan="3"|Career total
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!758!!49!!48!!2!!67!!6!!21!!5!!894!!62
|}
|}
{{notelist}}


==Honours==
==Honours==
'''West Ham United'''
'''West Ham United'''
*[[FA Cup]]: [[1974–75 FA Cup|1974–75]],<ref>{{cite book |first1=Leslie |first2=Jack |last1=Vernon |last2=Rollin |title=Rothmans Football Yearbook 1977–78 |year=1977 |publisher=Brickfield Publications Ltd |location=London |isbn=0354-09018-6 |page=491}}</ref> [[1979–80 FA Cup|1979–80]]
*[[FA Cup]]: [[1974–75 FA Cup|1974–75]],<ref>{{cite book |first1=Leslie |first2=Jack |last1=Vernon |last2=Rollin |title=Rothmans Football Yearbook 1977–78 |year=1977 |publisher=Brickfield Publications Ltd |location=London |isbn=0354-09018-6 |page=491}}</ref> [[1979–80 FA Cup|1979–80]]
*[[Football League Second Division]]: [[1980–81 Football League#Second Division|1980–81]]
*[[Football League Second Division]]: [[1980–81 Football League#Second Division|1980–81]]{{cn|date=December 2025}}
*[[Football League Cup]] runner-up: [[1980–81 Football League Cup|1980–81]]
*[[Football League Cup]] runner-up: [[1980–81 Football League Cup|1980–81]]{{cn|date=December 2025}}
*[[UEFA Cup Winners' Cup|European Cup Winners' Cup]] runner-up: [[1975–76 European Cup Winners' Cup|1975–76]]
*[[UEFA Cup Winners' Cup|European Cup Winners' Cup]] runner-up: [[1975–76 European Cup Winners' Cup|1975–76]]{{cn|date=December 2025}}


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}
==Sources==
*{{cite book | last =Northcutt | first =J. |author2=R. Shoesmith | title =West Ham United: A Complete Record | publisher =Breedon Books | year= 1993 | location =Derby | page =110  | id = OCLC: 30031590 | isbn =1-873626-44-4 }}
*{{cite book | last =Northcutt | first =J. |author2=R. Shoesmith | title =West Ham United: A Complete Record | publisher =Breedon Books | year= 1993 | location =Derby | page =110  | id = OCLC: 30031590 | isbn =1-873626-44-4 }}
*{{cite book | last =Hayes| first =D.| title =The Upton Park Encyclopedia: an a-z of West Ham United| publisher =Mainstream | year= 1998 | location =Edinburgh| pages =24–25  | id = OCLC: 60220812 | isbn =1-84018-043-9 }}
*{{cite book | last =Hayes| first =D.| title =The Upton Park Encyclopedia: an a-z of West Ham United| publisher =Mainstream | year= 1998 | location =Edinburgh| pages =24–25  | id = OCLC: 60220812 | isbn =1-84018-043-9 }}
Line 196: Line 209:
==External links==
==External links==
* {{cite news | last =Viner | first =Brian | title =Kevin Beattie and Billy Bonds: '30 grand a week and they can't kick the ball properly' | work =The Independent | date =6 April 2007 | url =http://sport.independent.co.uk/football/news/article2426196.ece | access-date =18 September 2007 | url-status =dead | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20070908004516/http://sport.independent.co.uk/football/news/article2426196.ece | archive-date =8 September 2007 | df =dmy-all }}
* {{cite news | last =Viner | first =Brian | title =Kevin Beattie and Billy Bonds: '30 grand a week and they can't kick the ball properly' | work =The Independent | date =6 April 2007 | url =http://sport.independent.co.uk/football/news/article2426196.ece | access-date =18 September 2007 | url-status =dead | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20070908004516/http://sport.independent.co.uk/football/news/article2426196.ece | archive-date =8 September 2007 | df =dmy-all }}
*{{cite web | title =Billy Bonds: Profile of Bonzo | work =Wonderful World of West Ham Statistics | url =http://www.westhamstats.info/westham.php?west=2&ham=66&united=Billy_Bonds| access-date =21 September 2007 }}
* {{cite web | title =Billy Bonds: Profile of Bonzo | work =Wonderful World of West Ham Statistics | url =http://www.westhamstats.info/westham.php?west=2&ham=66&united=Billy_Bonds| access-date =21 September 2007 }}
*{{cite web| title =Billy Bonds| publisher =football-england.com| url =http://www.football-england.com/billy_bonds.html| access-date =21 September 2007| url-status =dead| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20130703155116/http://www.football-england.com/billy_bonds.html| archive-date =3 July 2013| df =dmy-all}}
* {{cite web| title =Billy Bonds| publisher =football-england.com| url =http://www.football-england.com/billy_bonds.html| access-date =21 September 2007| url-status =dead| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20130703155116/http://www.football-england.com/billy_bonds.html| archive-date =3 July 2013| df =dmy-all}}
*{{IMDb name| 8509737}}


{{Navboxes
{{Navboxes
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Bonds, Billy}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bonds, Billy}}
[[Category:1946 births]]
[[Category:1946 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:2025 deaths]]
[[Category:People from Woolwich]]
[[Category:English men's footballers]]
[[Category:English men's footballers]]
[[Category:Footballers from the Royal Borough of Greenwich]]
[[Category:Men's association football defenders]]
[[Category:England men's under-23 international footballers]]
[[Category:England men's under-23 international footballers]]
[[Category:English Football League players]]
[[Category:Charlton Athletic F.C. players]]
[[Category:Charlton Athletic F.C. players]]
[[Category:West Ham United F.C. players]]
[[Category:West Ham United F.C. players]]
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[[Category:Premier League managers]]
[[Category:Premier League managers]]
[[Category:English Football League managers]]
[[Category:English Football League managers]]
[[Category:English football coaches]]
[[Category:West Ham United F.C. managers]]
[[Category:West Ham United F.C. managers]]
[[Category:Millwall F.C. managers]]
[[Category:Queens Park Rangers F.C. non-playing staff]]
[[Category:Queens Park Rangers F.C. non-playing staff]]
[[Category:Millwall F.C. managers]]
[[Category:Reading F.C. non-playing staff]]
[[Category:West Ham United F.C. non-playing staff]]
[[Category:Members of the Order of the British Empire]]
[[Category:Members of the Order of the British Empire]]
[[Category:Footballers from the Royal Borough of Greenwich]]
[[Category:People from Woolwich]]
[[Category:English Football League players]]
[[Category:English Football Hall of Fame inductees]]
[[Category:English Football Hall of Fame inductees]]
[[Category:Men's association football defenders]]
[[Category:English football coaches]]
[[Category:Reading F.C. non-playing staff]]
[[Category:West Ham United F.C. non-playing staff]]

Latest revision as of 16:53, 29 December 2025

Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:Use British English Template:Infobox football biography

William Arthur Bonds Template:Post-nominals (17 September 1946 – 30 November 2025) was an English professional footballer and manager, who was most often associated with West Ham United with whom he spent 27 years as player and manager. He played 799 first-team games for West Ham in a career spanning 21 seasons, winning two FA Cups with them. He died peacefully on 30 November 2025 whilst sleeping.

Background

Born in Woolwich, south-east London, Bonds grew up in nearby Eltham, where he played for a Sunday boys' team, Moatbridge, and Kent Schoolboys and joined the groundstaff at Charlton Athletic after leaving school at 15.[1] He played in the youth and A team and occasionally in the reserves before joining the playing staff shortly before his 18th birthday in September 1964.[1][2]

Club career

Bonds made his League debut for Charlton against Northampton Town in February 1965 and became a regular in the first team, going on to make 95 League appearances, scoring one goal, before being signed by Ron Greenwood for West Ham United for a fee of £50,000 in May 1967.[2][3] He made his first appearance for West Ham in a testimonial match for Ken Brown in the same month and made his League debut against Sheffield Wednesday in the opening game of the 1967–68 season.[4] He was ever-present in the 1968–69 and 1969–70 seasons and played 124 consecutive league games until injury ended his run of appearances in October 1970.[2][5]

Bonds played his first three seasons as a right-back before Greenwood switched him to midfield in the 1970–71 season where he counterbalanced the skills of Trevor Brooking.[5] Bonds was at his peak in the early 1970s, helping West Ham to the semi-final of the Football League Cup in the 1971–72 season, where they lost to Stoke City after a second replay, and topping the scorers list at West Ham in the 1973–74 season with 13 goals, including a hat-trick against Chelsea.[5][6] After the departure of Bobby Moore in March 1974, Bonds was appointed to the captaincy and led the club to an FA Cup final victory over Fulham, for whom Bobby Moore was playing, in 1975 and to the final of the 1976 European Cup Winners' Cup despite a groin injury that interrupted the latter half of the 1974–75 season and part of the 1975–76 season. Greenwood moved Bonds from midfield to the back four as centre-half alongside Tommy Taylor shortly before the end of the 1976–77 season, where he was able to come out from defence with the ball.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".

Bonds experienced relegation with West Ham at the end of the 1977–78 season but led West Ham to a second FA Cup victory over First Division club Arsenal in 1980, becoming the only West Ham captain to lift the FA Cup on two occasions. In 1980–81, he led West Ham to the final of the League Cup, which was lost to Liverpool after a replay, and to promotion back to the First Division.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".

Bonds passed Bobby Moore's club record of appearances in 1982–83 and 'officially' retired in May 1984, relinquishing the captaincy to Alvin Martin. A spate of injuries to first-team players saw him return to the squad and make 26 league and cup appearances in 1984–85. He missed the entire 1985–86 season due to a toe injury but, having passed his 40th birthday, he was able to re-establish himself in the first-team during the 1986–87 season. A knee injury that forced him out of the last two games of the 1987–88 season led to a decision to finally retire in the summer of 1988, having played his last game at Southampton in April 1988 at the age of 41 years and 226 days.[7]

File:London Stadium East (Billy Bonds).jpg
Billy Bonds stand at the London Stadium.

Bonds had remained at the club as a player for over 20 years, scoring 48 goals in a club record 663 League appearances. He established himself as a local hero and was the supporters' choice for 'Hammer of the Year' in 1971, 1974, 1975 and 1987. He was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in January 1988 and was presented with the PFA Merit Award in April 1988 by his fellow professional players. In May 2013 Bonds was awarded West Ham United's first ever lifetime achievement award.[8]

On 6 February 2019, it was announced that the East Stand at London Stadium would be renamed the Billy Bonds Stand.[9] The unveiling took place ahead of West Ham's home fixture against Newcastle United on 2 March.[10]

International career

Bonds was capped twice at England Under-23 international level and was on the bench as a non-playing substitute for the senior international team for a World Cup qualifying match against Italy in November 1977. A collision with goalkeeper Phil Parkes in the last game of the 1980–1981 season broke two of Bonds' ribs, and ruled him out of selection for England against Brazil in May 1981. Bonds and Alvin Martin were in line to make their England debuts in that game.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".

Managerial career

After Bonds retired as a player in 1988, West Ham manager John Lyall appointed him as youth coach. He unsuccessfully applied for the manager's post when Lyall left the club in July 1989 after West Ham had been relegated. However, when new manager Lou Macari resigned seven months later, Bonds was appointed manager in February 1990. In his first full season in charge, he took the club to promotion, when they finished as runners-up to Oldham Athletic in the 1990-91 season, also reaching the semi-finals of the FA Cup where they lost to Nottingham Forest. He was awarded a second testimonial in the same season.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".

West Ham were relegated in the 1991–92 season in bottom place, but the board kept faith in Bonds and he led them to promotion the following season, when they finished as runners-up to Newcastle United.[11] Bonds guided West Ham to a 13th-place finish in the 1993–94 Premier League.[11] He resigned in August 1994, just before the new season began, when he was replaced by Harry Redknapp.[11] He had spells in coaching at Queens Park Rangers and Reading before making a return to management with Millwall in May 1997. He managed 53 games before being sacked by the club[12] the following year as they finished in the bottom half of Division Two.

Death

Bonds died on the morning of 30 November 2025, at the age of 79, following a long illness.[13][14]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Charlton Athletic 1964–65[15] Second Division 13 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 13 0
1965–66[15] Second Division 40 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 40 0
1966–67[15] Second Division 42 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 42 1
Total 95 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 95 1
West Ham United 1967–68[16] First Division 37 1 3 0 2 0 0 0 42 1
1968–69[16] First Division 42 1 3 0 2 0 0 0 47 1
1969–70[16] First Division 42 3 1 0 2 0 0 0 45 3
1970–71[16] First Division 37 0 1 0 2 0 0 0 40 0
1971–72[16] First Division 42 3 4 0 10 2 – 56 5
1972–73[16] First Division 39 3 2 0 2 0 – 43 3
1973–74[16] First Division 40 13 2 0 1 0 1Template:Efn 0 44 13
1974–75[16] First Division 31 7 8 0 3 2 3 2 45 11
1975–76[16] First Division 18 1 0 0 5 1 10 2 33 4
1976–77[16] First Division 41 3 2 0 3 0 3 2 46 3
1977–78[16] First Division 29 1 3 1 0 0 3 2 32 2
1978–79[16] Second Division 39 4 1 0 1 0 0 0 41 4
1979–80[16] Second Division 34 1 5 0 9 0 0 0 48 1
1980–81[16] Second Division 41 0 3 0 8 1 7 1 59 2
1981–82[16] First Division 29 1 2 1 4 0 0 0 35 2
1982–83[16] First Division 34 3 1 0 4 0 0 0 39 3
1983–84[16] First Division 27 0 1 0 2 0 0 0 30 0
1984–85[16] First Division 22 3 0 0 4 0 0 0 26 3
1985–86[16] First Division 0 0 0 0 0 0 – 0 0
1986–87[16] First Division 17 0 4 0 3 0 – 24 0
1987–88[16] First Division 22 0 2 0 0 0 – 24 0
Total 663 48 48 2 67 6 21 5 799 61
Career total 758 49 48 2 67 6 21 5 894 62

Template:Notelist

Honours

West Ham United

References

<templatestyles src="Reflist/styles.css" />

  1. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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  13. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  14. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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Sources

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External links

Script error: No such module "navboxes". Template:1974–75 Football League First Division PFA Team of the Year Template:1979–80 Football League Second Division PFA Team of the Year Template:1980–81 Football League Second Division PFA Team of the Year Template:West Ham United F.C. Player of the Year Template:English Football Hall of FameScript error: No such module "navboxes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Script error: No such module "navboxes". Script error: No such module "Football manager history". Script error: No such module "Football manager history".Script error: No such module "navboxes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".

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