United legend Billy Bonds has handed away peacefully aged 79.
Bonds stays the longest-serving participant in West Ham’s historical past and made 799 look for the membership throughout a 21-year profession (1967-1988) and twice received the as captain.
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He additionally received the Second Division title, 4 Hammer of the 12 months awards, had two testimonials, and claimed each a PFA advantage award and an MBE for providers to soccer.
The membership shared a press release from Bonds’ household on Sunday afternoon which reads: “We’re heartbroken to announce that we misplaced our beloved Dad immediately. He was dedicated to his household and was essentially the most sort, loyal, selfless, and loving particular person.
“Dad liked West Ham United and its fantastic supporters with all his coronary heart and treasured each second of his time on the Membership.
West Ham legend Billy Bonds has died aged 79 (Getty Photos)
“He’ll all the time be in our hearts and eternally missed. We take consolation figuring out that his legacy will stay on eternally.”
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The membership added it shared the information “with deep unhappiness and the heaviest of hearts”, and paid tribute to “our brave, inspirational, lion-hearted chief”.
Following his enjoying profession, Bonds grew to become first-team supervisor in 1990 and led West Ham to promotion from Division Two in addition to to the FA Cup semi-final in 1991.
Bonds additionally introduced the membership again to the highest flight in 1993 following their relegation the earlier yr, changing into their first Premier League supervisor after the division was renamed.
In 2013 he was introduced with the membership’s first-ever Lifetime Achievement award and he was voted by followers as West Ham United’s greatest-ever participant 5 years later, having devoted 27 years of service to the Irons.
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The London Stadium named the Billy Bonds Stand in his honour in 2019.
Bonds is survived by daughters Claire and Katie, and grand-daughters Eloise and Elissa.
West Ham additionally confirmed {that a} interval of appreciation to honour Bonds can be held earlier than kick-off at immediately’s Premier League house fixture towards Liverpool, with full tributes to come back.
Billy Bonds lifted the FA Cup twice with the Hammers (PA Archive)
The membership mentioned: “A particularly non-public and dependable man, Billy was fully dedicated to his household – spouse Marilyn, who sadly handed away in 2020, daughters Claire and Katie, and grand-daughters Eloise and Elissa.
“By no means one to crave the limelight, he was universally liked, revered and admired by his team-mates, gamers and supporters, who will eternally take into account themselves ‘Billy Bonds’ Claret and Blue Military’.
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“The ideas and honest condolences of everybody at West Ham United are with Claire, Katie, Eloise and Elissa as they arrive to phrases with their loss, and we kindly ask that the household’s privateness is revered at this unhappy and tough time.
“Relaxation in peace Billy, our brave, inspirational, lion-hearted chief.”