Vegas & The Aftermath - Diary

[gatso]

Bonds, was one the bench for England in one game

I didn't realise that

greatest english player to never be capped?

[TightEnd]

he is brother in law of Lampard senior? and his sister, Frank's wife, recently passed away.

I think that's right, and Redknapp and Lampard are cousins?

anyway, yes its a close footballing family tree.

[TightEnd]

Bonds, was one the bench for England in one game

I didn't realise that

greatest english player to never be capped?

got to be right up there

odd really as England manager at the time was WHU's Ron Greenwood who never picked Bonds.

I'd be interested to hear why this was

[tikay]

he is brother in law of Lampard senior? and his sister, Frank's wife, recently passed away.

I think that's right, and Redknapp and Lampard are cousins?

anyway, yes its a close footballing family tree.

Well, I was more curious really as to how Bournemouth Manager Harry Redknapp came to be West Ham Manager, & Bondsy went the other way, to Bournemouth, the circumstances of which were a little odd - Bondsy was WHU Manager at the time, & had recruited Harry from Bournemouth as Assistant Manager.

As to Lampard, my point (you gave me much more than I knew) was that Bondsy played with Lampard Senior who was himself a most impressive player. And who had a rather gifted, & much better paid, son.

[Colchester Kev]

Re. Villa ...Ask him what Keith Burkinshaw was really like ... I had him down as a no nonsense Yorkshireman, who was firm but fair with players ... Great manager imo, who never really got the respect he deserved.

Also you will know how Villa was subbed off during the Cup final, and his dejected walk around the perimeter of wembley was widely shown, how pumped up was he for the replay, and when was he told that he would deffo be given a start ?

[TightEnd]

Bonds' progress at Upton Park was recognised by the award of a couple of England under 23 caps but West Ham now spent two seasons fighting desperately to preserve their first division status. They managed to do so and showed a marked improvement in the 1971-72 season, one of the major reasons for this being a tactical switch involving Bonds.

Disturbed by his increasingly lightweight midfield, Greenwood took the decision to move Bonds into midfield. Looking back this does not come across as any particular stroke of genius on Greenwood's part but several members of the squad admitted surprise at the time, either that it was considered in the first place or that Billy Bonds had proved such a success in the role.

Bonds took to his midfield commission immediately, revelling in the opportunity to get around the pitch and more than happy to provide the tackling that his colleagues seemed to conscientiously object to making. As well as helping the team it is certain that Bonds' contribution helped several of his colleagues make strides forward, most notably Trevor Brooking perhaps.

Brooking had already shown talent but his career had stalled before the switching of Bonds gave the Hammers midfield the kind of balance which allowed the ball players to flourish.

As well as climbing into a secure mid table position, West Ham embarked on an epic League Cup campaign which took them to within a whisker of Wembley, eventually losing out to Stoke City in the fourth game of their marathon semi final.

Billy Bonds continued to add bite to the Hammers midfield for the next few seasons, performing to such a standard that many onlookers began to wonder when his call up to the full England squad would arrive. This question would continue to puzzle many even into the 1980's after Bonds had moved back to centre half and was in his mid thirties.

For some reason the call never came. It remains one of footballs' mysteries.

In 1975 Billy Bonds was probably at his peak as he led the Hammers to victory in the FA Cup final against Fulham. His combative qualities and will to win were essential as West Ham won through against Q.P.R., Arsenal and Ipswich as underdogs before securing a comfortable win as favourites in the final.

On a series of heavy, demanding pitches Bonds led from the front, awesome in victory at Highbury and immense in the two semi final games against Ipswich when West Ham backs were well and truly against the wall.

The following year Billy Bonds led his team to the Cup Winners Cup final where they lost an entertaining game to the outstanding Belgian side Anderlecht 4-2.

Bonds, who had scored the vital penalty which saw the Hammers through their quarter final tie with Den Haag on away goals, was now being employed at centre half more regularly and instantly looked at home in the position.

The switch was important as it undoubtedly prolonged Bonds' shelf life as a top flight player, indeed it began to look as though the warhorse might go on indefinitely.

West Ham began to struggle after their cup final victory of 1975 and in 1978 they were relegated to the second division.Outside the top flight, however, the Hammers were able to build an excellent side and even, for once, forge a solid defence.

Billy Bonds and Frank Lampard provided experience alongside the capable stopper Alvin Martin and the reliable Scot, Ray Stewart. Behind them was the imposing keeper Phil Parkes.

It was astonishing that it took this team three attempts to regain first division status although the Hammers became a little distracted in 1980 by an FA Cup run which took them all the way to Wembley and a famous 1-0 win over Arsenal, Bonds collecting the famous old trophy for the second time.

The following year not even a run to the League Cup final and defeat in a replay against Liverpool could stop West Ham from returning to the top flight after running away with the second division championship.

Billy Bonds was one of eight West Ham players voted into the Division Two team of the season by the players of that division, (Parkes, Stewart, Martin, Bonds, Ray O'Brien (Notts Co), Tony Currie (QPR), Brooking, Devonshire, Teerry Curran (Sheff. Wed.), Cross and Goddard) and the grizzly Hammers skipper also came in fourth in the vote to find the Footballer of the Year, beaten only by a trio of Ipswich Town players.

Even at 35 there were calls for Bonds to gain international recognition as his partnership with the eager Martin continued to impress in the first division but instead it was the younger man who gained selection.

Billy Bonds was left to see out his considerable time giving everything he had to the West Ham cause.

Bonds originally called it a day in 1985 but came out of retirement a year later to give the ailing Hammers two more years of service, eventually hanging up his boots for good in 1988, his last appearance coming at the age of 41 years and 225 days, a club record.

By that time Bonds had clocked up 663 league appearances for West Ham, another club record, as well as turning out in an astonishing 130 cup ties.

[Dingdell]

grrrrrrr im in london saturday night..ive only ever been there twice in my life,lol

wish id have read this earlier could have changed my plans..would have been great to see claw and the lovely ding

have a great time all

I'm afraid Ding will not be there, as it happens, she has a very big Clinic "Do" this weekend (Celebs & all sorts will be there, quaffing champers) which means she's not available, but the delightful Claw will be. Not too late to change your mind?......

Hold the front page - for the first time in a long time I will be wearing a dress    I seriously do not get out enough!! I am trying to wear my shoes in but it's difficult to do colonics in heels so tonight I will be mainly doing the ironing and playing Sky wearing stillettos. 

[Chompy]

Bonds is still going strong but did his nuts on his horse Bonzo at Kempton last night apparently. Maybe not his nuts but there was a proper each-way punt that went astray in a terrible race.
PS, stilettos are a must for doing the ironing, is there any other way?

[tikay]

Bonds is still going strong but did his nuts on his horse Bonzo at Kempton last night apparently. Maybe not his nuts but there was a proper each-way punt that went astray in a terrible race.
PS, stilettos are a must for doing the ironing, is there any other way?

Wow, that's interesting, & won't be found in any generic CV's or Bios! You should consider a career in sports writing you know.

Good to see the new slimline Chompy last night - you looked amazingly well. Have you stopped sucking those damn lolipops yet?

[Dingdell]

Bonds is still going strong but did his nuts on his horse Bonzo at Kempton last night apparently. Maybe not his nuts but there was a proper each-way punt that went astray in a terrible race.
PS, stilettos are a must for doing the ironing, is there any other way?

Wow, that's interesting, & won't be found in any generic CV's or Bios! You should consider a career in sports writing you know.

Good to see the new slimline Chompy last night - you looked amazingly well. Have you stopped sucking those damn lolipops yet?

You always look slimmer in heels - you have discovered Chompy's secret!

[tikay]

Bonds is still going strong but did his nuts on his horse Bonzo at Kempton last night apparently. Maybe not his nuts but there was a proper each-way punt that went astray in a terrible race.
PS, stilettos are a must for doing the ironing, is there any other way?

Wow, that's interesting, & won't be found in any generic CV's or Bios! You should consider a career in sports writing you know.

Good to see the new slimline Chompy last night - you looked amazingly well. Have you stopped sucking those damn lolipops yet?

You always look slimmer in heels - you have discovered Chompy's secret!

As we seem to have progressed to shoe fetish here, Compo got refused admission at Luton last night, fouling the "no-trainers" Rule. He was given a spare pair, but also warned - next time you are OUT.

Bizarrely, he tried to sneak in behind another player, but got rumbled. Even more odd, he looked like a tramp - raggy taggy t-shirt & scruffy strides, but they ignored that, & just made him remove his rather fetching & pricey trainers.

[TightEnd]

grrrrrrr im in london saturday night..ive only ever been there twice in my life,lol

wish id have read this earlier could have changed my plans..would have been great to see claw and the lovely ding

have a great time all

I'm afraid Ding will not be there, as it happens, she has a very big Clinic "Do" this weekend (Celebs & all sorts will be there, quaffing champers) which means she's not available, but the delightful Claw will be. Not too late to change your mind?......

Hold the front page - for the first time in a long time I will be wearing a dress    I seriously do not get out enough!! I am trying to wear my shoes in but it's difficult to do colonics in heels so tonight I will be mainly doing the ironing and playing Sky wearing stillettos. 

come and play the blonde league game too, 8.30pm start

you too tikay.

[tikay]

grrrrrrr im in london saturday night..ive only ever been there twice in my life,lol

wish id have read this earlier could have changed my plans..would have been great to see claw and the lovely ding

have a great time all

I'm afraid Ding will not be there, as it happens, she has a very big Clinic "Do" this weekend (Celebs & all sorts will be there, quaffing champers) which means she's not available, but the delightful Claw will be. Not too late to change your mind?......

Hold the front page - for the first time in a long time I will be wearing a dress    I seriously do not get out enough!! I am trying to wear my shoes in but it's difficult to do colonics in heels so tonight I will be mainly doing the ironing and playing Sky wearing stillettos. 

come and play the blonde league game too, 8.30pm start

you too tikay.

Sorry Rich, I'd love to, but I'm working tonight.

Mixed message warning.

Play SKY POKER tonight, & sign up via the blonde link please, it earns us a shilling.

Play the blonde League Game tonight please, it earns us a shilling.

There, everyone's a winner. And I've prob upset everyone, too.

Right, I've recorded one Show, now it's meal-break, & I'm having Goosegog Pie & runny custard. Delicious. A meal fit for a Celeb.

Off to chill with Billy & Ricky then.

[TightEnd]

sorry, should have remembered

please find out why he didn't get picked for England!

[tikay]

sorry, should have remembered

please find out why he didn't get picked for England!

How will he know the answer to that? But yes, I'll ask him.