A series of tributes will take place, giving supporters the opportunity to pay their respects to the former player, coach and manager, following his passing on, at the age of 79.
At London Stadium, the Club has created a temporary memorial area on the podium level, directly outside Turnstile J of the Billy Bonds Stand. This is located next to the European Champions statue, close to Billy’s panel in the Champions Place stones.
After his passing club captain Jarrod Bowen said: “He’s probably going to go down as West Ham’s biggest legend – the best captain that the club have had.”
“He achieved so much and I’ll never emulate that success, but to put on the captain’s armband like he did, for me, is a big thing.”
West Ham manager Nuno Espirito Santo, who was appointed in September following the departure of Graham Potter, said hearing the news of Bonds’ death was a “sad moment for all of us at the club”.
Santo said: “Billy Bonds represented what West Ham is all about.”
Bonds joined West Ham in 1967 and went on to make record 663 league appearances, scoring 48 goals. He also lifted two F.A Cup for the Hammers.
After Bonds retired as a player in 1988, West Ham manager John Lyall appointed him as youth coach. Bonds was appointed manager in February 1990. In his first full season in charge, he took the club to promotion to the First Division and also reaching the semi-finals of the FA. Cup.
He resigned in August 1994, just before the new season began, when he was replaced by Harry Rednapp. He had spells in coaching at Queens Park Rangers and Reading before making a return to management with Millwall in May 1997.
