West Ham United have confirmed that club legend Billy Bonds will have a stand named after him at the London Stadium, and fans cannot be more delighted.
Bonds is the Hammers’ current record appearance holder and was an integral part of two FA Cup wins, coming in 1975 and 1980, and he will now be immortalised in Stratford with the east stand named after him.
The four-time Hammer of the Year made 799 senior appearances in Claret and Blue, and joins a rare group of players to have stands named in their honour – Bobby Moore and Sir Trevor Brooking also have stands named after them at the London Stadium.
Along with triumph as a player, Bonds went on to manage West Ham at youth and senior levels, and guided the club to two promotions into the top flight and established the Hammers in the Premier League.
The ‘Billy Bonds Stand’ will be unveiled prior to kick-off at the Hammers’ Premier League fixture against Newcastle United on March 2, and for a lot of supporters it was a long time coming…
The Billy Bonds Stadium would be more appropriate ⚒
— David Leighton (@DavidLe48191400) February 6, 2019
Awesome… My all time favorite player
— Dragonlord (@dragonlord2912) February 6, 2019
About time !!
— Mark Cocklin (@MarkCocklin1) February 6, 2019
Is there a double like button for this????
— David Yems #StandUp4Brexit (@DJYems) February 6, 2019
About time too.. the man is a legend should have been done at Upton park
— Buzz (@Buzz42914816) February 6, 2019
Great news and long overdue. A true legend of our club. ⚒️⚒️♥️
— Michael Oaks (@mikoaks) February 6, 2019
Typical of our club at the moment, doing things late, should have had a stand named after him the day we moved into this place but better late than never ⚒
— seasidehammer ⚒ (@seasidehammer) February 6, 2019
About time to,the word LEGEND was created for this man! ????????⚒⚒⚒
— Perth Hammers supporters club (official) (@PerthHammers) February 6, 2019
Long overdue but would’ve meant a lot more if it was at The Boleyn Ground ⚒️#LongLiveTheBoleyn
— Phil Breeze ⚒ (@breezywhufc) February 6, 2019
@WestHamUtd this is long overdue, but glad we are finally recognising the ultimate legend Billy Bonds. Never has a man been more inspirational or committed that commands the ultimate respect of fans and team mates alike. What he would be worth in today’s market, cheers Bonzo ????
— Mark Taylor (@westhammarkyt) February 6, 2019
In an era when modern day mercenaries get their agents to bang on the door every week wanting more money or whinging they want to leave the club, billy bonds epitomises everything that West Ham is about. Loyalty and commitment and always gave everything….A true legend!
— A M (@AFM_WHUFC) February 6, 2019
Permanently honoured for the rest of the 99 year lease you mean
— Tony (@E16Iron) February 6, 2019