Lost 6-0…..But Bonzo Made Up For It Big Time

Visitor Submit by John Bayfield

The Soham Town Rangers youth soccer group boarded a coach early on Saturday January 12th 1974 for a day (particularly for me) to not overlook. We have been enjoying a West Ham United youth eleven in a friendly at the Chadwell Heath training ground later that morning. We have been outplayed by the standard of the young Hammers as we anticipated and I had the pleasure of choosing the ball out of our internet six occasions. I might have appreciated us to attain just as soon as but high quality proved an excessive amount of for us. I can’t keep in mind exactly who was within the Hammers aspect we played that day (David Danson rings a bell in the previous gray cells although) but the picture under may embrace some who in all probability did. At the time the younger Hammers have been enjoying within the South East Counties Youth League and Soham played in an East Anglian youth league performed on Sundays. We had a few lads who later joined decrease league golf equipment and our commonplace of play was pretty good however a good bit lower than our hosts.

After the sport we had some lunch before making our method to Upton Park for the battle that was West Ham United at residence to Manchester United. It had been organised as part of our day that we might enter the ground by means of one of many foremost entrances, not the standard turnstiles, swiftly passing the crowds outdoors. We ended up standing close to the entrance of the west stand, a number of steps up from pitch aspect and close to the customer’s bench. Both groups have been struggling within the league that season which led to relegation for the Reds after the well-known Denis Regulation again heel objective for Manchester Metropolis at Previous Trafford.

The home crowd was up for it huge time. I had been to Upton Park as soon as earlier than (Liverpool, Jan. 1970) however this time it was the combination of a giant dose of excitement, pressure and anticipation within the floor that I hadn’t felt on my final go to. Alas, on account of injuries we had Bobby Moore, Trevor Brooking, Kevin Lock, John McDowell and ‘Pop’ Robson missing for the game.

West Ham United; Mervyn Day, Keith Coleman, Alan Wooler, Tommy Taylor, Frank Lampard, Mick McGiven, Billy Bonds, Graham Paddon, Bertie Lutton, Pat Holland and Clyde Greatest.

Manchester United; Alex Stepney; Alex Forsyth, Martin Buchan, Jim Holton, Stewart Houston, Bryan Greenhoff, Willie Morgan, Tony Young, Brian Kidd, George Graham and Lou Macari.

The participant that defined that recreation to me was Billy Bonds. Enjoying in a midfield position, Bonzo was mesmerising. The standard 100% of graft, operating, tackling, including some pretty passes sprayed around, he had the all spherical recreation and deservedly scored our first objective. For the guests Jim Holton was a troublesome tackling, no holds barred centre half who didn’t take any prisoners and seconds after the kick off Billy intercepted a cross and as he took the ball forwards Holton went straight via him. The sample had been set. Holton then continued making an attempt to take lumps out of varied opponents for a lot of the recreation. After being booked in the first half, by some means he stayed on the pitch till the top. My overriding reminiscence of the game was late in the second half and we have been forward 2-1, the eventual rating. Simply yards in entrance of me, Bonds and Holton have been concerned in a problem and briefly, the purses appeared, shortly adopted by some robust verbals. I might hear them shouting at one another however not what they stated, because of the vociferous voices round me telling Billy to provide Holton one thing they thought he nicely deserved. During their ‘dialog’ I observed what appeared like Holton was lacking his prime entrance tooth just like Nobby Stiles and Joe Jordan. Perhaps Billy was considering he might make the gap a bit wider? We have been the higher aspect on the day and deserved the win. Pat Holland obtained our second with substitute Sammy McIlroy replying for the visitors. First video clip ends with Bonds scoring the first aim.

This second video clip has our second aim and Malcolm Allison’s tackle the game highlighting Billy Bonds.

Through the years watching Bonds play for us, to me he was the epitome of what we needed our footballers to be once they pulled on any shirt with the West Ham United badge on it. He set the STANDARD. He was the LEADER. He was and nonetheless is WEST HAM UNITED. Having been a goalkeeper myself and having a bias for Phil Parkes as my favorite Hammer, Billy was my favourite outfield participant, the primary engine within the heart of the 70/80’s teams that helped us to success.

William Arthur Bonds MBE. I doubt I will ever see the likes of him in certainly one of our shirts once more.
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