The great and the good of football and British sport have come together to pay powerful, heartfelt tributes to West Ham icon Billy Bonds following his passing aged 79, including classy Arsenal star Declan Rice.
West Ham are mourning the loss of their legendary former captain and manager Billy Bonds after his death on Sunday.
With 799 appearances, Bonds played more games for the Hammers than any other player in the club’s 130-year history.
He is widely regarded as West Ham’s greatest ever player alongside Bobby Moore and Sir Trevor Brooking.
Bonds was a very private figure away from football.
But when word emerged among Hammers fans that he had been suffering ill health for some time, they planned to chant in his honour from the fourth minute against Liverpool.
Tributes pour in after the passing of West Ham legend Bonds
Then just hours before kick-off came the news Bonds had sadly passed away.
It made for a sombre atmosphere at the London Stadium as West Ham lost to Liverpool.
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Meanwhile, former Hammers captain Declan Rice was preparing to play for Arsenal in a draw at Chelsea.
Rice has divided opinion among West Ham fans since his £105m move to the Gunners.
Some in east London see Rice as one of their best players for generations and the first captain to deliver a major trophy at West Ham since 1980.
Others cannot make peace with the fact Rice snubbed Man City and Bayern Munich as he pushed to join Arsenal while stating he wanted to go and win all the top trophies in the game.
On the whole, though, the majority of supporters made peace with the move and still hold Rice in high regard for what he did for West Ham.
Billy Bonds is honoured by West Ham at the London Stadium in 2019
Photo by Jon Bromley/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images
That has been on display since the switch, with Rice applauding Hammers fans and being clapped back after the usual pantomime banter during the game.
There have been messages of love from Rice about West Ham since he left.
But when he was taunted by West Ham fans during the defeat at Arsenal before the October international break, Rice stared them down after opening the scoring.
He then posted a picture of the moment on his social media.
Since then Rice has posted about West Ham’s Europa Conference League victory after returning to the scene of that triumph when Arsenal played at Slavia Prague’s Europa Park.
Rice shows he’s a Hammer at heart with classy Bonds post
Now classy Arsenal star Rice has joined the great and good in paying tribute to West Ham legend Bonds.
As a player and captain, Rice very much did justice to \Bonds’ West Ham legacy. Tough, athletic and uncompromising on the pitch while a complete gentleman loved by all off it.
They say once a Hammer, always a Hammer.
And Rice has showed why with his touching tribute to Bonds on his Instagram Stories.
Rice re-posted West Ham’s tribute to Bonds on Instagram with his own message, saying: “Rest in peace to one of the greats.
“You will always be remembered.”
Declan Rice tribute to West Ham legend Billy Bonds
Declan Rice tribute to West Ham legend Billy Bonds Credit Declan Rice Instagram Stories
Other sporting figures from champion boxer and West Ham fan Frank Bruno to fellow Hammer and Ryder Cup legend Paul McGinley have also been paying tribute to Bonds.
So too have Peter Shilton, Rodney Marsh and a host of others.
The outpouring underlines that Bonds was one of the most beloved and respected figures ever to wear claret and blue.
He continues to command admiration across generations, reflecting the legacy of a man who defined what it means to be a West Ham legend.
Billy Bonds in action for West Ham in the 1970s
Photo by Express/Express/Getty Images
From McGinley to Bruno, sports stars share love for Bonds
“Very sad to hear that Billy Bonds has passed away, I played against him on many occasions a great player, a great gentleman sending my condolences to Billy’s family, friends and fans,” legendary England goalkeeper Shilton said on X.
McGinley shared a picture of himself with Bonzo and Sir Trevor Brooking as he paid his own beautiful tribute.
“Sad news today. RIP Billy,” McGinley said.
“We all have boyhood heroes and I so remember the day I met two of mine as Billy was honoured with a Stand named after him at West Ham. It brought back so many happy boyhood memories. Billy represented every trait that drew me in as a West Ham fan.”
Sad news today.
RIP Billy
We all have boyhood heroes & I so remember the day I met 2 of mine as Billy was honoured with a Stand named after him at West Ham. It brought back so many happy boyhood memories.
Billy represented every trait that drew me in as a West Ham fan.
ð⚒️ pic.twitter.com/anOV0Yv6Ec
— Paul McGinley (@mcginleygolf) November 30, 2025
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Former Hammers midfielder Don Hutchison added: “What a man! An absolute ROCK! I Had the pleasure of meeting him at Chadwell Heath a few times, such a nice man. Also what a player.”
Chris Hughton – who was signed by Billy Bonds in 1990 – added his own tribute to his former West Ham manager, saying he had a special aura.
“I found him a very humble, down-to-earth professional,” Hughton said.
“When you were in his presence, you knew.”
"I found him a very humble, down-to-earth professional. When you were in his presence, you knew."
Chris Hughton – who was signed by Billy Bonds in 1990 – pays tribute to his former #WHUFC manager. pic.twitter.com/bD7RcxL0yx
— BBC 5 Live Sport (@5liveSport) November 30, 2025
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Frank Bruno recalled his regular meetings with Bonds and their great friendship, calling him ‘immortal’.
“Billy Bonds RIP just this second heard we met loads of times an amazing player could be a hard player but we had conversations about loads of different things from Football he loved Opera, old Western films and loved jogging,” Bruno said on X.
“He had a house on the south coast and used to tell me about the love he had jogging just jogging even well after his retirement ran for miles he made me laugh he said: “I’m still fit as a butchers dog”.
“He was more than a legend: he was immortal very sad day for not only West Ham fan but soccer fans all over the World. Billy Thank you RIP.”
Former footballer and pundit Rodney Marsh described Bonds as a ‘proper football player’.
BBC Five Live commentator Jonathan Pearce counted Bonds among his friends and shared an emotional tribute on air, which is best listened to below.
"He was honest as the day is long. He was West Ham through and through, and he loved the game of football"
Jonathan Pearce pays tribute to his friend, the legendary Billy Bonds MBE. pic.twitter.com/N0mB7zveOj
— BBC 5 Live Sport (@5liveSport) November 30, 2025
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Last word to West Ham legend Mark Noble, the club’s sporting director, who paid a lengthy and wonderful tribute to Bonzo on the club’s official website.
“Billy Bonds epitomised everything that West Ham United Football Club stands for,” Noble said.
“Honesty, integrity, commitment, courage and character. He was a gentleman off the pitch and a warrior on it, and we all loved him for that.
“His outstanding contribution over so many years, and the legacy he leaves, will never be forgotten.”
Billy Bonds was voted West Ham’s greatest-ever player in 2018
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