Football legend who was a ‘lion’ on the pitch and a ‘private and devoted’ family man off it – tributes paid to Billy ‘Bonzo’ Bonds following his death aged 79
On the pitch he was West Ham’s “lion-hearted” captain and leader. But off the pitch Billy Bonds was a caring, gentle soul who just could’t wait to get home to his beloved wife and family. The West Ham star wasn’t one to sit drinking into the night after a match. He may have counted some of the legends of the games as his great pals like Bobby Moore, Trevor Brooking, George Best and Peter Osgood. But the bright lights of London’s nightlife weren’t for him. Described by West Ham as an “extremely private and loyal man – Billy was completely devoted to his family.” He was devastated when his wife Marilyn died in 2020.
Bonds started at 16 as a window cleaner in south east London and ended up voted as West Ham’s greatest ever player and even had a stand at their stadium named after him.
And fans still remember the compassion he showed for Moore after the 1975 FA Cup final at Wembley. Moore had left his beloved West Ham and had joined Fulham and, as fate had it, the clubs met in the that year’s final.
After West Ham won 2-0 Bonds headed straight to his old mate to console him. Hammers fan and author Joe Connolly said: “No-one will forget the compassion Billy showed to Bobby Moore at the end of the 1975 FA cup final. Moore’s Fulham had just lost to West Ham and Billy went straight over to Bobby to console him. That’s the measure of the man. “
Bonds – nicknamed Bonzo – was one of the most popular players in the game. In the fourth minute of yesterday’s match with Liverpool West Ham fans spontaneously broke into applause to recognise Bonds’ shirt number. He served the club as player and manager for over two decades.
But he had a spectacular falling out with Harry Redknapp and they never made up after a decades long bitter row. Redknapp wrote in his book Always Managing: My Autobiography, that claimed Bonds had been double-crossed were not true.
‘The break-up of our friendship still hurts,’ wrote Redknapp. ‘What pains me is that I no longer have Bill as a friend, because I loved him and there is no way on earth I would have hurt him.
‘I would swap still having Bill as a mate for all my seven years as West Ham manager.’ But Bonds hit back.
‘None of what he said is true,’ said Bonds. ‘He’s made it up as he’s gone along just to suit his story. So yes, I’m very disappointed in him to say the least. He’s been very liberal with the truth but that’s as much as I expected really.
‘I could get into everything he’s come out with but I don’t think I need to defend myself. It’s a load of nonsense and not a lot of truth about it I’m afraid.
‘It’s entirely up to you who you want to believe. Like I said, I could go into a lot of things he’s said about me in that book but I could tell you that most of it is utter nonsense.
‘I haven’t spoken to him in 20 years. How he came out with all that stuff… I found it quite pathetic really, to be quite honest.’ They still hadn’t made up until Bonds’ death at the age of 79 yesterday morning.
A statement from his family read: “We are heartbroken to announce that we lost our beloved Dad today. He was devoted to his family and was the most kind, loyal, selfless, and loving person.
“Dad loved West Ham United and its wonderful supporters with all his heart and treasured every moment of his time at the Club. He will always be in our hearts and eternally missed. We take comfort knowing that his legacy will live on forever.”
Bonds is survived by daughters Claire and Katie and granddaughters Eloise and Elissa. Boxing legend and lifelong West Ham fan Frank Bruno said: ‘Billy Bonds RIP just this second heard. ‘We met loads of times, an amazing player, could be a hard player but we had conversations about loads of different things [apart] from football. He loved Opera, old Western films and loved jogging. ‘He had a house on the south coast and used to tell me about the love he had jogging, just jogging even well after his retirement, ran for miles he made me laugh. He said: “I’m still fit as a butcher’s dog.”
‘He was more than a legend, he was immortal, very sad day for not only West Ham fan but soccer fans all over the world. Billy thank you RIP.’ Bonds went on to be their longest serving player in their club’s history and even had two testimonials.
His finest moments came when he captained the club to FA Cup glory in 1975 and then again in 1980. He also helped them win the Second Division title in the 1980/81 season.
A resolutely private man Bonds would always try to swerve his media duties, usually turning them over to his teammate Sir Trevor Brooking. After spending 17 years together in West Ham’s first team, the legendary England midfielder always used the air time to praise Bonds for more than just his invaluable work on the pitch.
Brooking once said: “Bonzo is a top-quality individual.” He added simply: “I would trust him with my life.”
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