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.

[XKhammer]

The tributes online from other fans of clubs up North like Man Utd/Liverpool and ALL London clubs is amazing and shows what the true fans fans thought of King Billy...a true legend 

[North Bank]

I believe the reason Bonzo was so iconic for us, is that as supporters we could all identify with many of his character traits, always gave 100%, talented player but not blessed with the skill of a Brooking, he would never let a mate down, flawless honest character with morals to go with it, we could all be that player, tackling. heading, marking, tracking runs and scoring the odd goal, but we could rarely copy someone like Brooking on the pitch, hopefully off it though.

I grew up with Bonzo and Trevor and loved them both in equal measure, Bonzo always had Trevor's back because he was that kind of man, like many I shed a tear yesterday when hearing the sad news, we will all miss Bonzo in our own way, but the sign of the man he was, is the awe we all hold him in.
 

[only1billybonds]

Been thinking a lot about what he meant to us and the reasons why. For me, it goes beyond football, even beyond the club. His time with us was a permanent reminder of a different time and way of life and a much different East End. My pride in my ( Limehouse,Poplar,Stepney) roots is absolute and unshakeable but that relates to what it was, not what its become. Bill was integral to the very fibre of our club and that club was a massive part of loving East London. The clubs demise seems to be a reflection of the times we live in and the decaying of a predominantly working class fan base. When I say demise, I mean from a non football perspective. As a kid, teenager and young man, to me, the club always seemed like something to hold on to, it would always be there as mates came and went, girlfriends/boyfriends moved on and parents split up. The club had a quality about it that you could trust and be immensely proud of being part of and your support and love for the club seemed genuinely appreciated. How times change.
Of course,all the above is just my personal feeling,some may say its all bollox and the club is still the beacon it always was.
Anyway, Bill, like the club as we knew it have gone and for me,what it once was is greater than it could ever become again.

[Lato]

i am not ashamed to admit i shed a tear yesterday when I heard Billy had passed away. Stupid as it sounds it feels like a death in my family as well as his own and the West Ham family. Mr West Ham, a Legend, my hero and simply the best.

RIP Bonzo⚒

[zico]

I know it seems difficult to believe or accept right now considering our current shower in the Team but just how lucky as a Football Club have we been blessed with some true greats in the game as we have with the likes of our Billy. Not just the quality of the player either but the exemplary character to go with it as well. A reassuring reminder of what we used to have that represented our Club with real distinction. Makes me proper proud to be a Hammer to be associated with such a man.

 

I was thinking that as well which is why it's so sad at what the club has become these days.  Sadly I never met Billy, but have had the pleasure of meeting Sir Trevor, Ken Brown Snr, Julian and Frank and all of them were more than happy to chat and were total gentlemen to a tee, plus they had such a love for the club and the fans.  I suspect Billy would say a lot of it was down to the foundation of good habits laid down by Ron and John.  Especially John who possibly was a better man manager.  Yes, the football under Harry was typical West Ham but I think the family club started to go after Billy left.  This has hit hard, I really thought he would be around forever.

[oh dear II]

So, so sad.

When the news broke, I was getting ready to take Mrs Oh Dear II out to lunch. I started to explain to her just how good he was, how much he meant to every West Ham supporter lucky enough to have watched him. Not that I needed to, she already knew. She simply said, quite innocently, “When West Ham were great, he was the greatest.” With that, I had to leave the room and pretend I’d misplaced something, just so I wouldn’t shed tears in front of her.

Billy Bonds, the man who, during an injury crisis, once offered to have a toe amputated because the recovery time would be shorter than letting it heal naturally.

In your youth, watching Billy and Trev, you’re spoilt without realising it. You tell yourself that when they stop playing, there’ll be others who’ll step in and take their place. How wrong you can be.

Billy Bonds: working class and West Ham to the core. Resolute, fearless, and absolutely robust.

If the family allow it, I’ll find a place to stand along the funeral route and pay my respects.

R.I.P. Billy Bonds, a legend not just remembered, but felt!.

[Noah]

RIP Billy Bonds.

My favourite player of all time. 

[Massive Attack]

I know it seems difficult to believe or accept right now considering our current shower in the Team but just how lucky as a Football Club have we been blessed with some true greats in the game as we have with the likes of our Billy. Not just the quality of the player either but the exemplary character to go with it as well. A reassuring reminder of what we used to have that represented our Club with real distinction. Makes me proper proud to be a Hammer to be associated with such a man.
 

[Lee Trundle]

RIP to my West Ham United HERO.

[ATHammer]

Leader. Warrior. Gentleman. The world is a lesser place without him. RIP King Billy.

[easthammer]

I remember Billy joining from Charlton and the probably apocryphal story that accompanied the event. It was claimed that he had turned up to his first training session in his carpet slippers eating pie and chips.

I choose to believe it.

May he Rest in Peace and Rise in Glory

[El Scorchio]

It's something else when the stadium announcer gets choked up and can't get the words out when making the tribute announcement before the game. What an impact and a legacy the man has.

[Tomshardware]

A legend in the game,  read a few tributes from all sorts of club forums throughout the football league.   

[Monsieur merde de cheval]

Underrated commentator in my opinion, always speaks so well and a touching speech there I'd expect nothing less from him. Nice one Galey.

 

 Tony needs to lay off the pies .he's piling it on
I sent him the wrong way once when he made the mistake of asking me for directions.



 

[Monsieur merde de cheval]

Choked me up that .
Stretch  will be in pieces today ..as all that played with him

[Monsieur merde de cheval]

[Massive Attack]

Underrated commentator in my opinion, always speaks so well and a touching speech there I'd expect nothing less from him. Nice one Galey.

[Takashi Miike]

[Pi Alpha Nu]

I heard that he was ill a few days ago but was shocked to hear that he had passed away just as I was leaving for the game.
RIP Billy⚒

[Monsieur merde de cheval]

Devastated. Had the honour of meeting Bill a few times. A full-blooded working class hero, a superb player, exceptional leader and a thoroughly decent man. No BS or backstabbing from Bill - he told you straight to your face, good or bad.

RIP Bonzo.


 

Spot on... Proper old school  in every way you like..

[Monsieur merde de cheval]

Bonzo stands with sir Bobby Moore and Sir Trevor Brooking  as one of our holy trinity.
Weve now lost our second one.
I'm proud to be old enough to have seen him play regularly in his latter years(  80- 88)...
I was in the north bank the day  he was the manager when we played Wolves after the passing of Sir Bobby..
It's poignant that lads in their 30s even 40s were too young to have seen  Billy playing for us...like I was too  young to have seen Bobby ...but l knew the significance and massive loss , just like these younger lads now understand in the same way with king Billy.
what a colusses of a man.
GOD needs to tread carefully or Bill will see him in the Gym on monday morning

[Nutsin]

[Monsieur merde de cheval]

RIP Billy Bonds. A great honest hard working fella. Dare i suggest out of all your bretherin this man was easily the most respected by us across the water. Almost the 'acceptable' face of your club. Perhaps thats becuase he was a Sarf London lad (Cripps the east end boy)?

From a personal point of view was a little late on the Moore & Husrt thing so i would say Bonds in the early to mid 70's was the first player i always associated with West Ham as a kid - with Clyde Best, Pop Robson, Lampard and Brooking just beneath.

So when i heard of his passing today, there were no thoughts of enemies or contempt, just a very very repectful nod and thank you to a decent working class hero. Another decent one gone, who played a small part in forming my and as i suspect loads of people of a certain vintage on here's childhood memories. 






 

A bit of class there from the other side.

Indeed...nice to see.

[southbankbornnbred]

Devastated. Had the honour of meeting Bill a few times. A full-blooded working class hero, a superb player, exceptional leader and a thoroughly decent man. No BS or backstabbing from Bill - he told you straight to your face, good or bad.

RIP Bonzo.

 

[,]

RIP Bill, you were always the man.

I am lucky to have been able to watch from the beginning to the end of your WHU playing career.