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West Ham United Signed Billy Bonds Photo Framed Beautiful 16 x 12 montage of West Ham great Billy Bonds, personally signed by the Upton Park legend. About Billy Bonds, Born in south east London in 1946, Billy Bonds came through the ranks at his local club Charlton Athletic but it was in the famous claret and blue of West Ham United that he made his name over three decades of loyal service. Signed by Hammers manager Ron Greenwood for pound50,000 in the summer of 1967 and he made his first team debut against Sheffield Wednesday in the opening game of the 1967 68 season. It was to be the first of a phenomenal 793 appearances for West Ham and Bonds soon became a firm favourite with the Upton Park faithful. Athletic, whole heartedly committed and tough tackling, Bonds started out at right back but moved to midfield and finally centre half later in his career. A natural leader on the pitch, Bonds was appointed club captain in 1974 in succession to Bobby Moore and a little over a year later, he led the team out at Wembley for the FA Cup final against Fulham, which the Hammers won 2 0. West Ham went onto to reach the final of the 1976 European Cup Winners39 Cup and although they were beaten by Anderlecht, the team bounced back from the disappointment to lift the 1980 FA Cup after beating London neighbours Arsenal, making Bonds the only Hammers captain to lift the famous old trophy twice. His last game for the club came against Southampton in April 1988 at the age of 41. He was awarded the MBE in the same year and went to manage the club between 1990 and 1994.
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