King Billy

[violator]

Rumours circulating on FB that he's not too good at the moment and in hospital, not sure how true they are.

[northbankfrank]

Out of respect, the team needs to play in the style of Bonzo today.

[yngwies Cat]

Bill was every thing that is good about West Ham and football in general.

His legacy should be ingrained.

Warrior on the pitch and a gent of it.

Rip Billy.



 

[only1billybonds]

For so long he was the beating heart of our club. 
I've said before that far more talented players have worn our shirt but not one player had the heart and commitment of Bill. Genuinely sad day.
The first real hero of mine and though there have been others, no one will ever come close to being as special to me as Billy Bonds.


RIP

[Pshyco scored all 4]

RIP Bonzo. The ultimate west ham united hero . 

[happygilmore]

A genuine legend. played with his heart on his sleeve. A model professional and unassuming with it.
Rest in Peace Billy

[THUNDERCLINT]

Blessed to have shaken the man's hand.

The very definition of a working class gentleman. Quietly dignified but as tough as granite.

RIP.

I pray the team turns up for him today.

[Takashi Miike]

I avoided commenting on this thread as didn't want to jinx the great man. met him a few years back at isla's fundraising night, and he's the only (and I've met loads) player I was nervous to talk to. only caught the last few years of his career, but a memory sticks with me from a game at plough lane. those cunts would bully the opposition if allowed, and on this particular day Fashanu was doing his usual piss taking, throwing elbows, etc. Billy comes on as a sub and it's not long before he catches up with the fucker, grabs him by the throat, and of course the bully bottles it. even in his late 30s, Bill was probably the fittest player in the team. a great family man, and one of the few things I'll give our scum owners credit for was naming a stand after Bill, and honouring him that day. we'll never see his like again and I'm absolutely gutted 

[Pentonville]

RIP BILLY. LEADER AND LEGEND.
PLEASE GIVE HIM A PERFORMANCE WORTHY OF THE GREAT MAN TODAY

[Eerie Decent]

Billy Bonds IS West Ham. Absolutely devastating news.

Him, Bobby Moore & Trevor Brooking, the 3 untouchable legends of our club.

RIP

[Bungo]

Really sad to hear this. Billy was in the team at my very first match in 1978 along with Sir Trevor, Curbs, Frank Sr, Pike, Cross, Hales etc.

The word legend is used far too frquently these days but he was one, football royalty.

RIP Billy Bonds

[twoleftfeet]

Tickets purchased for Villa game, let’s give him the send off he deserves. 

[cup of tea]

Don't post any more as life is busy and I can't be arsed reading through the repetitive name calling on every thread, but, for something like this I had to come on and pay my respects 

This has hit me hard, Bonzo was genuinely a West Ham legend. The word legend is banded around far too much these days but in this instance legend is the only way to describe Bonzo.

I hope that the club do everything right today. It needs to be respected properly and it would be lovely to hear Billy Bonds claret and blue army for the whole 90 minutes on TV whatever the score is. Think back to that semi final.

I'll raise a glass to Bonzo later.

RIP Bonzo

[Iron Duke]

I’m not one to usually show emotion, but I’ve been bawling like a baby at this news. Proper snotty crying.

Not our Billy. Too soon.

[joe royal]

The chances of getting a minutes silence today is zero.

ZERO.

Someone will shout Billy Bonds claret & blue army. 

Not sure if the silence or the chant is more fitting . 

[kinglewy]

I was lucky enough to have a pint and good chat with Billy after a match at Upton Park in the players bar. He and Cyrill Regis were real gentleman.

[Manuel]

Terribly sad news. A proper player and a proper bloke. They don't make them like that anymore.

RIP Billy.

[Sir Alf]

My first game over at UP, we’d just bought Billy from Charlton as a RB. What a player, lovely, humble man with it and a proper family man.  Up there now with Bobby and one of the few worthy of that over used term “legend”.

A very sad day for all of us West Ham fans. Lets hope the fans and team give everything today.  

RIP

[MaryMillingtonsGhost]

Haven't been too many players that've worn the claret and blue for whom the term legend is appropriate.
Billy was certainly one of those few.
How the fuck he was only called up once for the national team, God only knows.
Heartwarming to read some of the tributes left on the Beebs HYS.

RIP to a great man, and great player⚒

[Massive Attack]

He still looked as fit as fiddle for his age at 79. Wonder whether it was something like pneumonia. 

[BillyJenningsBoots]

This is an absolutel sickener. An actual legend has passed and Im not embarrassed to say that this has brought tears to my eyes. 

The image of him in the middle of the park head up, socks rolled down, no shin pads looking like a warrior is iconic and epitomised the grit we as fans crave from a captain. 

I was there at Villa Park singing my heart out for what seemed like an hour "Billy Bond's claret n blue army!" Sing it loud today guys. I will be in floods of tears.

Gone but never forgotten.

RIP Skipper!

[El Scorchio]

So sad. RIP Bonzo. 

Let’s be fucking loud later. 

[Mad Dog]

Absolutely gutted by this 

[Iron Duke]

I’m totally devastated about this. A superb captain, a true gentleman, and a great man.

A very sad day for West Ham United FC.

Only Sir Trev left of the Holy Trinity

[Percy Dalton]

I'm still in shock he always seemed indestructible an absolute giant of West Ham and along with Bobby a real legend. 
RIP LEGEND. 

[GreenStreetPlayer]

Such a gentleman and lovely fella too if you ever heard him talk about his time at the club.

Shocked by this right now, came right out of the claret and blue.