The Evening Standard's Ken Dyer catches up with Billy Bonds ahead of Saturday's Brooking & Bonds Day
Evening Standard correspondent Ken Dyer talks Arsenal with West Ham United legend and long-time friend Billy Bonds MBE.
One of the great joys of the last couple of seasons has been the regular visits to matches at the Boleyn by a true and authenticated West Ham legend – Billy Bonds MBE.
I’ve been fortunate enough to meet up frequently with Billy and his lovely family in the lounge which bears his name. His granddaughters, in particular, thoroughly enjoy their trips through the Blackwall Tunnel to games and hopefully they will maintain that association with the Club for many years to come.
With Billy and his old mate Sir Trevor Brooking the subjects of today’s theme, I spoke to him this week about his memories of West Ham versus Arsenal games down the years.
When that final whistle blows time on the Boleyn Ground, every Hammers’ fan will be left with rich memories of the old place.
Prominent in my recollections this place will be Billy, marauding forward, launching himself into tackles and generally playing his heart out in each and every game.
As for games against the Gunners, the stand-out match still has to be the 1980 FA Cup final but there have been others, as the man himself recalls.
“I go back to when Arsenal won the League and FA Cup double in 1970/71,” says Billy. “That was a real good team which include players such as Frank McLintock, Peter Storey, George Graham, George Armstrong, goalkeeper Bob Wilson, Ray Kennedy and John Radford.
“In matches against Arsenal around that time we usually came off second best but I have fonder memories of playing them in the FA Cup, particularly a few years later in 1975.
“We were drawn away to them in the quarter-finals and nobody really expected us to win that game.
“The one Arsenal player who I especially remember from that game was Alan Ball. I was having a pop at one of our players, telling him to keep going and he sidled up to me and said ‘You don’t have to worry Bill, it’s your day’.
“Alan Taylor was our secret weapon in that match. It was his first full game and he scored both goals. It poured with rain during the game, the pitch was heavy and his pace caught them out.
“We had one scare when our goalkeeper Mervyn Day came out and clobbered Radford, I think it was. It was a certain penalty and today Merv would probably have been sent-off but the ref waved play on and Alan Ball was right – it was our day.”
One of the great joys of the last couple of seasons has been the regular visits to matches at the Boleyn by a true and authenticated West Ham legend – Billy Bonds MBE.
I’ve been fortunate enough to meet up frequently with Billy and his lovely family in the lounge which bears his name. His granddaughters, in particular, thoroughly enjoy their trips through the Blackwall Tunnel to games and hopefully they will maintain that association with the Club for many years to come.
With Billy and his old mate Sir Trevor Brooking the subjects of today’s theme, I spoke to him this week about his memories of West Ham versus Arsenal games down the years.
When that final whistle blows time on the Boleyn Ground, every Hammers’ fan will be left with rich memories of the old place.
Prominent in my recollections this place will be Billy, marauding forward, launching himself into tackles and generally playing his heart out in each and every game.
As for games against the Gunners, the stand-out match still has to be the 1980 FA Cup final but there have been others, as the man himself recalls.
“I go back to when Arsenal won the League and FA Cup double in 1970/71,” says Billy. “That was a real good team which include players such as Frank McLintock, Peter Storey, George Graham, George Armstrong, goalkeeper Bob Wilson, Ray Kennedy and John Radford.
“In matches against Arsenal around that time we usually came off second best but I have fonder memories of playing them in the FA Cup, particularly a few years later in 1975.
“We were drawn away to them in the quarter-finals and nobody really expected us to win that game.
“The one Arsenal player who I especially remember from that game was Alan Ball. I was having a pop at one of our players, telling him to keep going and he sidled up to me and said ‘You don’t have to worry Bill, it’s your day’.
“Alan Taylor was our secret weapon in that match. It was his first full game and he scored both goals. It poured with rain during the game, the pitch was heavy and his pace caught them out.
“We had one scare when our goalkeeper Mervyn Day came out and clobbered Radford, I think it was. It was a certain penalty and today Merv would probably have been sent-off but the ref waved play on and Alan Ball was right – it was our day.”
Billy and his West Ham team-mates enjoyed an even better afternoon five years later, when they came against Arsenal, again in the FA Cup – but this time it was the big one – the final at Wembley.
“Arsenal were even hotter favourites for that one,” recalls Billy. “They were a top side and we a Second Division outfit, albeit a very good one.
“They had some terrific players in their team, particularly in midfield with Liam Brady, Graham Rix and Brian Talbot plus one of the all-time great goalkeepers in Pat Jennings.
“I have to say it was one of the great pleasures of my career that I got to play in the same team as Liam a few times when he came to West Ham. I already knew how great he was by playing against him over the years and that opinion was only reinforced when we were in the same team.
“We beat them 1-0 and I know it sounds a bit silly but it was fairly comfortable on the day.
“The first goal was always going to be vital and we scored it through Trevor. I hadn’t seen any video of the match since but someone gave me one years later and I watched it.
“It proved what I thought at the time, once we scored the goal we were comfortable. Alvin Martin and I knocked the ball across the back and Arsenal never really looked as though they would get that equaliser.
“I am sure the West Ham fans wouldn’t have felt as confident as I did on the day but we defended well and John Lyall had that little tactical ploy where David Cross played up front on his own with Stuart ‘Pancho’ Pearson playing off him. It worked a real treat.
“That was probably the best back four I’ve played in during my time –big Phil Parkes in goal, Ray Stewart at right-back, myself and Alvin as central defenders and Frank Lampard left-back.
“Teams had to earn their goals against us but we played well as a team that day.
“In fact, we could well have won more convincingly. Paul Allen, who was only 17 at the time, went through near the end and was brought down from behind by Willie Young, who should have been sent-off, even back then before the professional foul rule came in.
“I’m not saying he would have scored but he was clean through and the chances are he would have made it 2-0.
“That team had a lot of leaders in it. The entire back four had that quality while, further up the pitch Trevor, in his own way, was also a leader and the less experienced players looked up to him.
“You also had tried and tested strikers in Stuart Pearson and David Cross while around them were the younger players, Paul Allen, Alan Devonshire, Geoff Pike, so it was a real good mix.”
SO what are Billy’s impressions of the modern-day Arsenal and their manager of the last 20 years, Arsene Wenger?
“Since Arsene has been at the club, they have been terrific,” he says. “When I was doing radio work and watching their games, they had a fantastic side – Tony Adams, Steve Bould, Patrick Vieira, Emmanuel Petit, Thierry Henry, Dennis Bergkamp.
“It was a pleasure then to go to Arsenal and watch them play – they were something really special, a dominant defence, power in midfield and frightening ability up front.
“You look at Arsenal now and they are still a terrific side to watch under Arsene but they’ve lost a little bit of that bite in midfield. What would they give now for a Vieira or a Petit alongside some of their ball players – and an Adams or a Bould at the back?
“This season Arsene has had his critics but sometimes you have to be careful what you wish for. He’s helped their new stadium become reality, he’s brought in some wonderful players to the club and made a profit most of the time on those who have left the club.
“He’s not a manager who spends loads of the club’s money if he doesn’t believe it is necessary. If he can’t bring in someone who is better than he’s got already, he doesn’t do it.
“Having said that, I can see why Arsenal fans would like him to buy a defender and perhaps a couple of midfield players who can put themselves about a bit.
“As for this season though, we had a great start when we beat them in the opening match of the season at The Emirates and now we have a great chance of doing something similar today.
“Like most West Ham v Arsenal games over the years, I’m really looking forward to it.”
“Arsenal were even hotter favourites for that one,” recalls Billy. “They were a top side and we a Second Division outfit, albeit a very good one.
“They had some terrific players in their team, particularly in midfield with Liam Brady, Graham Rix and Brian Talbot plus one of the all-time great goalkeepers in Pat Jennings.
“I have to say it was one of the great pleasures of my career that I got to play in the same team as Liam a few times when he came to West Ham. I already knew how great he was by playing against him over the years and that opinion was only reinforced when we were in the same team.
“We beat them 1-0 and I know it sounds a bit silly but it was fairly comfortable on the day.
“The first goal was always going to be vital and we scored it through Trevor. I hadn’t seen any video of the match since but someone gave me one years later and I watched it.
“It proved what I thought at the time, once we scored the goal we were comfortable. Alvin Martin and I knocked the ball across the back and Arsenal never really looked as though they would get that equaliser.
“I am sure the West Ham fans wouldn’t have felt as confident as I did on the day but we defended well and John Lyall had that little tactical ploy where David Cross played up front on his own with Stuart ‘Pancho’ Pearson playing off him. It worked a real treat.
“That was probably the best back four I’ve played in during my time –big Phil Parkes in goal, Ray Stewart at right-back, myself and Alvin as central defenders and Frank Lampard left-back.
“Teams had to earn their goals against us but we played well as a team that day.
“In fact, we could well have won more convincingly. Paul Allen, who was only 17 at the time, went through near the end and was brought down from behind by Willie Young, who should have been sent-off, even back then before the professional foul rule came in.
“I’m not saying he would have scored but he was clean through and the chances are he would have made it 2-0.
“That team had a lot of leaders in it. The entire back four had that quality while, further up the pitch Trevor, in his own way, was also a leader and the less experienced players looked up to him.
“You also had tried and tested strikers in Stuart Pearson and David Cross while around them were the younger players, Paul Allen, Alan Devonshire, Geoff Pike, so it was a real good mix.”
SO what are Billy’s impressions of the modern-day Arsenal and their manager of the last 20 years, Arsene Wenger?
“Since Arsene has been at the club, they have been terrific,” he says. “When I was doing radio work and watching their games, they had a fantastic side – Tony Adams, Steve Bould, Patrick Vieira, Emmanuel Petit, Thierry Henry, Dennis Bergkamp.
“It was a pleasure then to go to Arsenal and watch them play – they were something really special, a dominant defence, power in midfield and frightening ability up front.
“You look at Arsenal now and they are still a terrific side to watch under Arsene but they’ve lost a little bit of that bite in midfield. What would they give now for a Vieira or a Petit alongside some of their ball players – and an Adams or a Bould at the back?
“This season Arsene has had his critics but sometimes you have to be careful what you wish for. He’s helped their new stadium become reality, he’s brought in some wonderful players to the club and made a profit most of the time on those who have left the club.
“He’s not a manager who spends loads of the club’s money if he doesn’t believe it is necessary. If he can’t bring in someone who is better than he’s got already, he doesn’t do it.
“Having said that, I can see why Arsenal fans would like him to buy a defender and perhaps a couple of midfield players who can put themselves about a bit.
“As for this season though, we had a great start when we beat them in the opening match of the season at The Emirates and now we have a great chance of doing something similar today.
“Like most West Ham v Arsenal games over the years, I’m really looking forward to it.”