Following the sad news of the passing of legendary West Ham United hero Ronnie Boyce on Thursday afternoon at the age of 82, tributes have been pouring in for the 1964 FA Cup final match-winning hero and much-loved Hammer, who gave 34 years of dedicated service to the Club as a player and coach.
Not many in the West Ham family knew Ronnie better than Brian Dear – the pair met at primary school in East Ham in the early 1950s and progressed through the youth ranks together at Upton Park, before sharing the Club’s finest hour together at Wembley in 1965 – the European Cup Winners’ Cup final triumph.
Here, Brian pays tribute to his team-mate and close friend for more than 75 years…
“I first met Ron when we were both just eight-years-old, attending Brampton Road primary school in East Ham, where we lived just a few hundred yards from each other,” he reminisced. “He was a school year older than me – he was born in January 1943 while I was born in the September, but as we got older I often played a year up for East Ham schoolboys, and so we were often on the same team together before both joining the groundstaff at West Ham.
“We played together for England schoolboys, and he also represented south England schoolboys at cricket. He was such a talented sportsman and a real athlete, but he never got carried away or arrogant about his ability. He met his wife Dawn at the local youth club that we used to go to, and his dad Bill used to own a shop in East Ham, standing outside in his brown coat like Ronnie Barker in ‘Open All Hours’!
“Boycey was always the same, he never changed. Quiet, unassuming, modest, never one to make a fuss about anything, and just a decent honest man. We were very different characters – I was always the loud, confident one – but we just got on so well and looked out for each other, as did all the lads who grew up in that area and went on to play together for the Club.
“He was one of those players that everyone loved. His team-mates, the manager, the staff, the supporters – everyone thought the world of him, because he was so easy-going, modest, hard-working and reliable. He hardly ever missed a game, and the ‘Ticker’ nickname came because he was just the heartbeat of the team that kept us ticking along. He is the only player in that I time I ever remember wearing the number eight shirt – he was just always there without making a fuss or shouting about it – our quiet hero.
“People obviously talk about his winning goal in the 1964 FA Cup final, but you have to remember he also scored two in the semi-final up at Hillsborough against Manchester United – on a pitch that was like a quagmire. And then he scored our first ever goal in European competiton, against La Gantoise later that year. He did all that at 21 years of age. He was always a great finisher and could easily have played as a forward.
“Like all top players, he had a determination and real competitiveness about him on the pitch, but he also enjoyed having a laugh with the lads and we always had fun together. I remember once, we were messing about in the dressing-room, and Boycey whipped me with a towel, so I whipped him back and sent him flying over a table in the middle of the room, and he ended up suffering an ankle injury that ruled him out of the next game. Ron Greenwood had a go at me, so I said: ‘Oh come on Ron, it was an accident’. Ron just replied: ‘But the accidents always involve you!’
“Boycey just laughed it off and carried on. He took everything in his stride. He was good enough to have earned full international honours, or even have moved on to a top, top team, but he loved West Ham and he was just happy being in the team and, later, helping out as a coach. We always stayed friends and I loved seeing him at all our get-togethers.
“When you think about it, it’s quite remarkable that we playing together for our primary school East Ham, winning the Schools League in 1954 and then, just eleven years later, we were walking out at Wembley next to each other to win the European Cup Winners’ Cup final. Wonderful times.
“I’ve been in tears thinking about Ron today, and all the happy memories and moments that we shared together. We knew each other for more than 75 years, and shared such a similar journey, and I’m just very sad that I’ve lost my mate and we’ve all lost such a lovely man, one of the very best.”
'A proper legend'
After playing his final competitive match for the Hammers against Leicester City in December 1972, Ronnie stayed on at the club in a coaching capacity, helping the schoolboy and youth team players – including the side that reached the 1975 FA Youth Cup final – before eventually stepping up to become John Lyall’s trusted First Team Coach, and in 1980 becoming the only man to win the FA Cup for West Ham as both a player and a coach.
Here a selection of former Hammers who were coached by Ronnie and worked with him at the Club pay their respects and tributes…
Geoff Pike
I played with Boycey in his very last game for the Club in a reserve team fixture, he helped me so much and when he became first team coach he was my go to person. RIP Ron.
Tony Carr MBE
Great player, great colleague and West Ham through and through. Ronnie will be sadly missed.
Ray Stewart
What a great man he was, he’ll be sadly missed.
Keith Robson
What a wonderful man, Ronnie was a great person. May he rest in peace.
Alan Taylor
What a down to earth, lovely person. Thinking of Dawn and the family, rest in peace Ronnie.
Tony Gale
What a lovely man. Great player and always there with words of advice as a coach
George Parris
What a man, always available to help and care not just for me but others too, honoured to know him, RIP Ron.
Stuart Slater
Fantastic person. Helped and cared for me so much on and off the pitch. RIP Ronnie.
Alan Dickens
Really sad news, a wonderful player, great coach and lovely person, a real West Ham legend.
Mark Ward
RIP Boycey. He worked on improving me for months. Took me to a different level with his dedication and patience. And always did it with a smile and understanding. A lovely man.
Martin Allen
What a special man! Humble, nice to everyone, so kind and always there to help and support in testing times. A proper Legend.
Allen McKnight
Sad news, Ron was a great man and genuinely cared about West Ham and everyone involved with the Club.
Steve Jones
Was great to me when I signed and was finding it tough. A West Ham legend, RIP.
Mark Robson
Great bloke Boycey, RIP mate.
Kenny Brown Jr
A legend both on and off the pitch.
John Moncur
A real Diamond, one of West Ham’s greats. Loved being at the Club with him always wanted to bring joy and good news, a top man Boycey.
