Daily WHUFC News - 27th September 2012

John Bond 1932-2012
WHUFC.com
West Ham United legend John Bond has sadly passed away at the age of 79
26.09.2012

Everyone at West Ham United is deeply saddened by the passing of Hammers
legend John Bond at the age of 79. Bond made 444 first-team appearances for
the Hammers between 1952 and 1965, scoring 37 goals, and was one of the
architects of the Academy of Football. A right-back, Bond was part of the
West Ham sides that won the Division Two title in 1957/58 and lifted the
club's first-ever FA Cup in 1964. Born in the north Essex town of Colchester
on 17 December 1932, Bond was spotted by West Ham while playing for local
club Colchester Casuals, joining the Hammers as an amateur in 1950. After
impressing for the club's 'A' side, a first-team debut arrived in a 2-1
Division Two victory at Coventry City on 9 February 1952.

Bond established himself as a first-team regular during the 1954/55 season,
during which he scored his maiden goal - the winner in a 1-0 Division Two
victory at Hull City on 13 September 1954. It was during the promotion
campaign, however, that the goal-scoring full-back really found his shooting
boots, netting an amazing eight in 41 appearances as West Ham won the
Division Two title in thrilling style. Bond settled into life as a Division
One player with ease, starting all 42 Division One matches in 1958/59 and
scoring seven more goals. Another seven goals followed in 1959/60.

In 1964, he was an ever-present in West Ham's unforgettable run to the FA
Cup final, starting all seven ties as the Hammers went all the way to
Wembley before beating Preston North End 3-2 in the final. The following
season - Bond's 14th and last at the Boleyn Ground - he featured four times
in the club's successful European Cup Winners' Cup campaign.

After leaving the Boleyn Ground in 1966, the defender made more than 130
appearances for Torquay United before hanging up his boots in 1969. Off the
pitch, Bond was a deep thinker about the game and was a member of the group
of players who would visit Cassettari's Cafe in Barking Road after training
to discuss tactics and innovative ideas about the game. There, he would join
the likes of Malcolm Allison, Noel Cantwell, Dave Sexton, Malcolm Musgrove,
Frank O'Farrell and Jimmy Andrews, who passed away earlier this month at the
age of 85. Like many of his Hammers team-mates, Bond went into coaching and
enjoyed great success at AFC Bournemouth, Norwich City and Manchester City,
among others. In recent years, he has been a regular visitor to the Boleyn
Ground, where he met and swapped stories with his former colleagues and
supporters alike. In November 2009, he appeared on the Sky Sports programme
'Time Of Our Lives', where he joined Ken Brown and Ronnie Boyce in looking
back on their era at West Ham. The thoughts of everyone at West Ham United
are with John's family and friends at this sad time.

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Tributes pour in for Bond
WHUFC.com
John Bond's former team-mates have shared their memories of the West Ham
United great
26.09.2012

John Bond was simply one of the finest right-backs ever to pull on a West
Ham United shirt. Bond, who passed away this week at the age of 79, made 444
first-team appearances during a 14-year career with the Hammers, winning the
Division Two title in 1958 and FA Cup in 1964. A defender blessed with
outstanding technique, Bond scored 37 goals for the club before embarking on
a successful career in management.

Joint-Chairman David Sullivan paid his own personal tribute to Bond, saying:
"It's terribly sad news to hear of John Bond's passing. John was a fabulous
player for West Ham United and one of the most loyal servants the club has
ever had. He is in the elite group of players to have played over 400 times
for West Ham and for that he will always hold a special place in supporters'
hearts. I have fond memories of going to watch the 1964 FA Cup final with my
Dad, which of course he played a big part in helping us win. All of us at
West Ham United are thinking of John's family at this difficult time."

His former team-mates and friends have shared their memories of the man
affectionately nicknamed 'Muffin' for his ability to kick the ball 'like a
mule'.
Peter Brabrook played on the right wing in front of Bond for eight seasons
and was a close friend of both the right-back and his family: "It is very
sad news. We were the best of friends. We were more friendly than anybody in
the 1964 FA Cup-winning side to be honest. John's wife Jan and my wife
Doreen were very close and we used to go around to their house and still
kept in touch with each other. They are a lovely family and John was a
really nice guy.

"John liked to have a laugh but when the football came along he was very,
very serious. He was also a good coach and manager. John always spoke his
mind and said what he felt and sometimes that didn't go down too well with
[manager] Ron Greenwood, but that was the way he was. He had to earn his
place in the side and he did that because he was the best right-back the
club has ever had, without a shadow of a doubt.

"I played in front of John as a right winger and we played together for
eight years and I also played against him when I was at Chelsea and had some
fantastic times together. He was a character and when he was out he was
really funny to be around. "He got a few goals and was a good footballing
right-back. He liked to play and had a fantastic shot on him. His striking
of the ball was first-class, as was his technique. He was a really, really
good player. He was 6'2 tall but really good on the ball, which is hard for
someone so tall. "He also had a great understanding of the game and was
forward-thinking. We would spend hours and hours all morning and afternoon
talking about football and he loved it, as you could see from the success he
had coaching and managing, which he did very well. John will be sorely
missed."

Ronnie Boyce lined up alongside Bond in the 1964 FA Cup final at Wembley,
scoring the winning goal as West Ham beat Preston North End to lift the
trophy for the first time in the club's history: "John was a top man and a
top player and a good manager too. When I first started at West Ham John
would help me no end with a little word of advice here and there. His
experience was second to none and I enjoyed sitting and listening to him and
I learned so much. "John was a delightful guy and a good family man with a
lovely wife. His finest moments at West Ham would have been being part of
the side that won promotion to Division One and winning the FA Cup. It was
fitting that he should win one of the major trophies. "I remember that his
striking of the ball was unbelievable. One day early in my time at West Ham
I went to watch an 'A' team match at Clacton and John struck a volley that
hit the crossbar so hard that I expect it is still rattling today! Ernie
Gregory used to say that his backpasses were so hard that John used to put
him under pressure! He did have an outstanding range of passing. "His
greatest attributes were that he never looked under pressure and always
looked comfortable on the ball. He also had a great shot and scored many
memorable goals. It is so sad that he has passed away."

Ken Brown played alongside Bond at centre-half throughout his 14 seasons at
the club, winning promotion in 1958 and the FA Cup in 1964. He later served
as Bond's assistant manager during successful spells in charge at AFC
Bournemouth and Norwich City during the 1970s: "I will miss the old guy a
hell of a lot as he was a great friend. It is funny because we played
together for West Ham - he as a right-back and me as a centre-half - for a
number of years, but weren't close pals during that time. He tended to be
with one group of players and I was with another. "But after I followed him
to Torquay United and we became great mates. We were both still living in
London and travelling to and from playing for Torquay, so we spent a lot of
time together and that is where our friendship - which lasted until John's
passing - was formed. Then of course we went into partnership together on
the managerial and coaching side. When John went to Bournemouth, he asked me
to be his assistant manager in 1970. "John then went to Norwich three years
later and I followed him there to be his assistant. I was his side-kick if
you like! But it was a partnership of friendship as well as the football
side. In our managerial roles, we then travelled even more, going to games
of teams we were playing next, so again, a lot of time spent together and
doing what we loved. "When John went to Manchester City to be their manager
in 1980, he said maybe it was time our partnership ended. not as friends,
but as manager and assistant manager. It was just time really. He went off
to Manchester City and I then persuaded the then chairman of Norwich City to
let me take the manager's role at the club, which he did. "John was a great
character. He said what he thought and, at times, he riled people. But he
was honest and felt he had to say what he felt had to be said, you always
knew where you were with him. We grew up at West Ham under Ted Fenton who
was a straight up manager. But then we had Ron Greenwood and he was not only
a manager but also a coach. I know John learnt a lot from Ron, as we all
did, and I think we definitely took that into our manager and coaching
roles. "John wasn't afraid to speak up to Ron when he was left out of the
team though, to ask him why. But he had respect and knew, as we all did,
that we had to earn our place in the team every week. "As a player, he was
strong and I loved playing alongside him - but my memories are not just of a
great team-mate but as a special friend. We all knew he had been ill for a
while - I checked in on him to see how he was doing, so it is very sad that
he has now gone, I will miss him."

Tim Crane is the editor of EX, the magazine that focuses on former West Ham
players and staff, and has been in regular contact with Bond and his family
in recent years: "Everybody loved John Bond. Last season, the club invited
John, Ron Boyce, Ken Brown, Eddie Bovington and Brian Dear for a tribute to
Ron Greenwood and John got on the stage and he was gushing about Ron. He was
a huge fan of Ron, who had a huge influence on John as a player, as a coach
and as a manager. "John was a big personality and he always used to tell me
some wonderful colourful stories. He had time for everyone. We had a dinner
for the players from the 1960s FA Cup and European Cup Winners' Cup-winning
sides at the Britannia Hotel in Docklands. The players were the last people
standing and they spent all night signing memorabilia, posing for
photographs and telling stories until the sun came up. John was about
giving, giving, giving. He was warm and friendly and generous. "John made a
fantastic contribution at West Ham and was one of the best right-backs the
club has ever produced. He was called 'Muffin' because of his huge kick like
Muffin the Mule. Anybody you speak to about John would only have glowing
things to say about him. "I have kept in touch with John and I spoke to him
a few months ago on the phone when Harry Redknapp was being linked with the
England job. John's son Kevin has been Harry's long-time assistant and I
suggested it would be wonderful for his son to be involved with England. He
replied 'Wouldn't that be exciting!'. I then mentioned his old club
Manchester City, who he managed and Kevin played for, and talked about how
Kevin would have difficulty getting into the side nowadays. John said: 'Not
if I was manager. He'd be the first name on the sheet'. That was John. Loyal
and warm. A huge, proper West Ham legend has passed away."

Ken Dyer has covered West Ham United for the Evening Standard for more than
30 years and is a lifelong Hammers supporter: "A friend of mine has just
called to tell me of the passing of John Bond. 'Muffin', as he was
universally known by Hammers fans of that time, was his first boyhood
football hero and, as my mate said: 'He had the low-cut boots, the shortest
shorts, in fact, as they say these days, he was 'too cool for school.'' I
remember John as a tall, elegant full-back with a shot like a mule, hence
his nickname. He had a particular adversity to speedy little wingers and
when he tackled them - they stayed tackled. I can still see him dancing
around Wembley after the 1964 FA Cup final, grinning from ear to ear. My
thoughts are with his family at this time."

Kris Slaven worked for West Ham United as the club's former player liaison
officer and arranged for John Bond to return to the Boleyn Ground as a guest
on many occasions: "In my role at the club I had the great pleasure of
meeting John and speaking to him on the phone many times and he was always a
real gentleman. He had never lost the rapport he had with fans and even at
the Ron Greenwood tribute evening I arranged at the Bristol City match last
season, after all the years since he had played, people absolutely loved
seeing him and listening to his stories. He was always very chirpy and had
such a presence that you knew you were in the company of a legend."

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Sam Allardyce condemns West Ham defending as 'rubbish'
BBC.co.uk

West Ham manager Sam Allardyce is angry at his team's "rubbish" and
"comical" defensive performance in their 4-1 Capital One Cup thrashing by
Wigan.
Striker Mauro Boselli scored twice for the Latics against a West Ham team
showing nine changes from the side that drew 1-1 with Sunderland on
Saturday.
"We couldn't defend a fish supper," Allardyce said.
Team that angered Allardyce : Henderson; McCartney, Tomkins, Spence, Potts;
Jarvis, Noble, O'Neil, Hall; Maiga, Vaz Te.

"There were howling errors in all four goals, it was comical. I never
expected us to defend so poorly." Allardyce added: "All the good work we
might have done with the ball meant nothing because out of possession we
were just rubbish." Allardyce has warned his stand-in players they have
blown their chances of pushing for a place in his Premier League line-up.
"It was an embarrassing defeat. They can't come knocking on my door about
not playing now," he added.

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John 'Muffin' Bond
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 26th September 2012
By: Paul Walker

Paul Walker reflects on the passing of former West Ham United defender John
Bond, who died today at the age of 79.... He will always be 'Muffin' to me,
a child of the '60s who idolised the famous FA Cup winning side in 1964, of
which John Bond was a major player. When you are not really expecting
something, to turn on the lap top and discover one of your boyhood heroes
has passed away, comes as a shock. I can still recite the '64 cup heroes by
heart; Standen, Bond, Burkett, Bovington, Brown, Moore, Brabrook, Boyce,
Byrne, Hurst, Sissons. Now three are gone, Bond joining Bobby Moore and
Johnny Byrne on high.

John Bond, who passed away today aged 79, acquired the Muffin nickname for
his cannonball shot as much as his slightly awkward style. A big man, tough
full back, he was never elegant. But by God he could hit a shot. I recall
standing against the wall of the Chicken Run, my old man just behind, the
day Bond raced down the line and smashed a 30 yard angled shot from the
touch line, high into the Sparta Prague net. I was so close to him I could
almost touch him. It was the second round of the European Cup Winners' Cup
tie with the Czech side, and we were not doing that well. We had struggled
through in the first round against La Gantoise, 2-1 on aggregate, and we
needed a shot in the arm against Prague. Bond's goal set us on the way to a
2-0 win, Alan Sealey - also now sadly departed - scored the other goal that
night and although we lost the second leg 2-1 John Sissons, an old school
mate of mine, scored our goal in a bruising match… We were through to the
quarter finals. But it was Muffin's goal that was crucial. It kick-started
our European campaign at a crucial moment, and although he did not play in
the Final, he had done his bit for West Ham's history.

Bond was transferred to Torquay the following season, having played over 400
games for the Irons. He was one of the 'left-overs' from the early '50s when
things really started to happen at our club, and was to be replaced by Joe
Kirkup as Ron Greenwood's squad started to evolve. Bond joined the club in
1951, having signed as an amateur from home town club Colchester Casuals,
and he left a huge mark on West Ham. Most of our younger fans will know Bond
as a flamboyant manager at Norwich, Manchester City,, Bournemouth, Burnley,
Swansea and Birmingham. But to me he will be the giant full back who could
liven up a drab day at the Boleyn with his commitment, strength and
shooting.

RIP Muffin.

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Allardyce on... Wigan Athletic
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 26th September 2012
By: Staff Writer

Sam Allardyce held his hands up in last night's press conference - which we
bring you exclusively in full - and admitted he got it wrong on a night when
West Ham suffered only their second home defeat of 2012...

Sam: the first 25, 30 minutes looked good but then what happened?

Well you don't have to be in my position to see what happened; we couldn't
defend a fish supper could we? There were so many howling errors from our
defenders in all four goal situations; it was comical in terms of what they
did. That made life extremely easy for Wigan after we made life very
difficult for them at the start by doing the right things. It was a super
goal to get us off the mark.

You take a massive risk when you're in my position when you make so many
changes. You've got to have a look at what your squad looks like and you've
got to look at some of the young'uns who have been playing well.
Unfortunately tonight, from 15 minutes on, we weren't good enough. Our
defending just wasn't good enough and then, in the end, we've got beat 4-1.

It's very disappointing for me to have to sit there and watch that because I
didn't expect us to defend so poorly. I don't really want to say any more
than that because that's exactly what happened tonight - just really, really
poor defending and all the good work we might have done with the ball meant
nothing in the end.

Do you regret making so many changes?

I don't regret it but I'm bitterly disappointed and upset by an embarrassing
defeat. That's what it was; am embarrassing defeat playing at home. But it
tells me about the players I've got, doesn't it? That means they can't come
knocking on my door saying "I should be playing" after a performance like
that, can they? They've got to take responsibility for their own
performances and when they get the opportunity, like they did today, they
need to perform to their level and make life easier for me to put them in
the team when we need to.

There was disappointment before we started the game that I couldn't play
Alou Diarra, who picked up an injury, nor Yossi Benayoun as that would have
made it a lot better today. They needed the game but unfortunately through
Yossi's religious beliefs and Alou picking up an injury...

[Allardyce interrupted by tannoy announcement that Mr Moon is in the ground]

He'll leave in a minute! So... I can't even remember where I was? [laughs]

The fact that you moved McCartney to the middle suggested that you were
unhappy with the way things were going?

Yeah, because Danny - a young man who's still gaining experience - has
learnt a lesson tonight. We moved him back to left back and put a bit more
experience in the middle which was alright in the second half, because it
never really looked like they were going to score again until we gave a
stupid penalty away. We were hoping that we could make the game interesting
going into the last 20, 25 minutes by scoring a goal - but when the
opposition are 3-1 up they can sit back and defend in numbers and that's
difficult to break down. It's a disappointing night all round.

You haven't left many fish suppers unguarded; that was only your second home
defeat in 2012?

It is, yeah. I have to bear the brunt as manager for making a lot of changes
but I needed to. I would like to have been sat here in a much better mood
praising my team for its efforts but unfortunately I can't defend them today
in any way, shape or form. I can take a bit of joy out of blooding a few
youngsters and having the opportunity to test them at this level as they
have got good ability and hopefully that will develop over the future.

Was this the most disappointing result for you since coming to West Ham?

No, no. The Reading result last season was more disappointing for me than
this, when we had the chance to beat them which would probably have seen us
finish in the top two. But it's a disappointing performance and a
disappointing result. It's very upsetting for me but I have to take it on
the chin because I picked the team, so it's my fault.

Do you intend to send out some of your youngsters on loan?

Well the difficulty about going out on loan is that we've started this new
under 21s development league so I have to keep enough players for Ian Hendon
to play in that league. So letting them out on loan? It might be one of the
restrictions that we might have to look at in the future. I have to leave
Ian with enough players to actually play in that team and we are doing very,
very well at that level which is always very good to see. But that can only
develop them so far so ultimately; if not the first team then a loan is the
next step for them. We'll eventually let some of them out on loan.

Nearly 26,000 people turned up tonight and the Capital One Cup is often the
game where you get poor crowd figures - but a fantastic crowd tonight...

It was a great crowd because the owners made it cheap enough to make people
want to come out and watch it, but they'll go home disappointed like I am
disappointed. At the end of the day I can't defend me and I can't defend the
team today; they've let the supporters down, there's no doubt about that and
we should have given a better account of ourselves.

So I've got no excuses and neither have any of the lads who played tonight.
They should have given a lot more value for money than they did but they
haven't. We have to move on and make sure that we send them all home happy
on Monday night when we get a result against QPR.

One positive point was Mark Noble signing a new deal?

Yes, I'm very happy to have that sorted. He's a big signing for us and a lad
who's born and bred West Ham. As we continue in the Barclay's Premier League
there's not too many home grown players developed today. We've got Mark
Noble tied up now who's home grown, we've got James Tomkins and hopefully
we'll find one or two more as time goes on. But we're really glad he's
signed his contract.

How bad was the injury to Gary O'Neil?

A bad knee; he'll have a scan to assess the extent of the damage.

Did he go over or did he get a kick?

No, he got a kick. You don't know whether the kick has opened up the joint;
rather than just a bruise there might be more damage but we won't know until
we get the results.

Thank you.

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West Ham boss Sam Allardyce wants youngsters reaction
Last Updated: September 26, 2012 7:12pm
SSN

Sam Allardyce hopes Tuesday night's thrashing at the hands of Wigan will act
as a wake up call to some of his young players. Teenagers Dylan Tombides,
Daniel Potts, Robert Hall and Matt Fanimo were all given a chance to impress
Allardyce on Tuesday in the Capital One Cup clash against Wigan, but they
all left Upton Park in disappointment after a 4-1 defeat. All four have
helped West Ham climb to the top of National Group One of the newly-formed
Under-21 Premier League, but Allardyce left it clear that they did not play
up to the required standard for first-team football. The West Ham boss fumed
at his side's "comical" defending in what was an "embarrassing" result, but
the 57-year-old thinks the experience of a heavy defeat, which was followed
by loud booing from the home fans, might prove beneficial to the youngsters
in the long term. "With a result like that it can help them find out that
they have to make massive leaps and strides to play consistently at this
level," Allardyce said. "They do have ability and that will develop over the
future hopefully. "We have Mark Noble and James Tomkins in the squad who are
home-grown and hopefully we will find one or two more who can make the step
up as time goes on."

Loan moves

The under-21 league, which began this season as a means of trying to help
bridge the gap between academy and first-team level, has helped the young
players develop, Allardyce says. But the former Bolton boss is still a firm
believer in the loan system as a way of developing players and he is
therefore likely to allow some of his current crop to leave on a temporary
basis. He said: "We are doing very well at under-21 level, which is always
nice to see, but it can only develop them so far, so a loan is the next step
for some of them so we will let some of them go out."

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The missing trio: So far so good for West Ham, but is it time for Allardyce
to find room for Jarvis, Tomkins and Benayoun?
The Mirro
In his latest column, Steve Stammers says it might just be the moment for
the Hammers to be a little more expansive - and argues it's hard to see how
the inclusion of that trio will make ANY side weaker

You have to say that it is so far, so good. The opening fixtures have not
been the most exacting for West Ham but the points still need to be gathered
and Sam Allardyce has ensured that slip-ups have been at a premium. Ninth
place at the start of autumn is more than acceptable. But it may be time for
some adjustment. Not a major overhaul but a little re-vamp would not go
amiss. There must be a place, sooner rather than later, for James Tomkins.
He is one of the most gifted young defenders in the country and his constant
omission is something of a mystery. He may lack the physical presence of the
likes of James Collins and Winston Reid but he is only 23 and he will only
get stronger. He can pick a pass and he has rarely been exposed in the
tackle or in any aerial challenge.

Then there is Yossi Benayoun. He gives West Ham that unknown factor- great
touch, great vision and a nightmare to mark. He has imagination and the
experience to pose problems for any defence no matter how well they are
organised. Sunderland made an immediate team change when the skillful Israel
international came on for the last half-hour at Upton Park on Saturday.

Then there is Matt Jarvis. Presumably, he is fit now. If he is okay for the
bench then he should be ready to start. He is another who made an impact on
Saturday. He gave West Ham the kind of dimension that an authentic winger
can bring.

Three interesting options for Allardyce who, it must be said, has done more
right than he has made mistakes in his time at the club. He brought
discipline and organisation where it was badly needed. He brought in Mohamed
Diame who has been a revelation with his industry and power in central
midfield. He has managed to coax Mark Noble into accepting the deep-lying
role that is somewhat alien to his nature and Noble is emerging as one of
the most consistent and effective West Ham players of the season. But it
might just be the moment to be a little more expansive. Tomkins, Benayoun
and Jarvis .... it is hard to see how the inclusion of that trio will make
any side weaker.

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Opinion Football Opinion John Bond
26 Sep 2012 13:29
The Mirror
By
Steve Stammers

JOHN BOND 'A football man to the end': Steve Stammers remembers former West
Ham, Norwich and Manchester City man John Bond

Football was his life. But more than just providing a living it was almost a
reason for living for Bond It was just over six years ago, at the funeral of
former West Ham manager John Lyall, that I last saw John Bond. There were a
number of former Upton Park heroes in the ensemble as you can imagine. Age
had not been too kind to one or two. But not John Bond. His shock of hair
was grey but in plentiful supply and his unmistakable Mid-Essex accent made
him instantly recognisable. He had hardly put on an ounce from when he used
to maraud up the touchline as a West Ham full-back. He called me over. "Come
on then " he said. "Tell me what's happening." After he had been duly
updated he spoke glowingly about Lyall. "He loved his football and I loved
him for that." The next 30 minutes were taken up talking about England, West
Ham, World Cups, Euros - you name it, he wanted to talk about it, analyse
it, debate it. That was John Bond. Football was his life. But more than just
providing a living it was almost a reason for living for Bond. He was part
of the original academy at the club. Under Charlie Paynter, Ted Fenton and
then Ron Greenwood, Bond and his contemporaries were encouraged to think
about the game and discuss it among themselves. He would sit with the likes
of Malcolm Allison, Ken Brown, Noel Cantwell and Ronnie Boyce at the famous
Cassettari's Café just round the corner from the ground, just past the
Boleyn pub. There, salt cellars and sauce bottles became players as they
talked tactics and formations. That Bond enjoyed a long managerial career
was no surprise. And there was one hallmark of a John Bond team – they could
play and he relished an open, attractive style. "You have to entertain
people," he would say. And his most successful stints were at Norwich and
then Manchester City after he had served his apprenticeship at Bournemouth.
He worked under severe financial restraints at Carrow Road but produced a
team that was always positive and easy on the eye. He created a great
rivalry with Bobby Robson at Ipswich and Lawrie McMenemy at Southampton. The
games between them were enthralling.

At Maine Road, Bond ironically succeeded Allison. But under his guidance,
City improved and reached the 1981 FA Cup Final. They played Tottenham and
after a turgid 1-1 draw in the first encounter, the replay featured a
classic five days later. Tottenham won it 3-2 and the game is always
remembered for Ricardo Villa's stunning winning goal. But the match also
featured a stunning volley from Steve Mackenzie,a teenager at Crystal Palace
when Bond played a remarkable £1million for a youngster untested at first
team level. He did not let him down that Thursday night at Wembley. But that
was John Bond. He was always ready to take a gamble on youth but, more
importantly to him, on young players with vision and ability. "You have to
entertain." That was his credo. And he did that with the teams he managed
and later as a radio and television pundit.

A football man to the end.

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