sport news Billy Bonds given heroes welcome as West Ham unveil stand at London Stadium in ...

Billy Bonds given heroes welcome as West Ham unveil stand at London Stadium in name of legendary former captain, who played an incredible 799 games for them West Ham renamed a stand at the London Stadium after club icon Billy Bonds  Bonds was a former captain and is the club's record appearance holder (799)  The East Stand has been renamed after him and was unveiled on Saturday night He was given a heroes welcome as he was welcomed on the pitch pre-match  

By Nathan Salt For Mailonline

Published: 17:29 GMT, 2 March 2019 | Updated: 17:34 GMT, 2 March 2019

1

View
comments

West Ham welcomed Billy Bonds on the pitch ahead of their match with Newcastle as the club unveiled a stand at the London Stadium named in honour of their legendary former captain.

The current east stand, which holds 20,000 home supporters, is now the Billy Bonds Stand as the club looked to pay tribute to their record appearance holder.

Bonds, who twice lifted the FA Cup, in 1975 and 1980, joins fellow Hammers greats Bobby Moore and Sir Trevor Brooking in being immortalised at the stadium.

Billy Bonds was given a heroes welcome as West Ham unveiled a stand named after him

Billy Bonds was given a heroes welcome as West Ham unveiled a stand named after him

Bonds was left overcome by emotion as the crowd roared when he was welcomed to the pitch

Bonds was left overcome by emotion as the crowd roared when he was welcomed to the pitch

Ahead of facing Newcastle, the club showed off the East stand which now holds Bonds' name

Ahead of facing Newcastle, the club showed off the East stand which now holds Bonds' name

Special flags were placed in the newly-named Billy Bonds stand for fans to raise pre-match

Special flags were placed in the newly-named Billy Bonds stand for fans to raise pre-match

The Billy Bonds Stand was unveiled in a prestigious ceremony prior to kick-off on Saturday ahead of thePremier League fixture against Newcastle.

Billy, who was in attendance with his family and joined by a number of his former Hammers team-mates on the day, said earlier this week: 'I have so many great memories of this club and this really is the icing on the cake. It's a great honour and means so much to me and my family. 

'To think that I am only the third West Ham player to receive this honour after Bobby Moore and Trevor Brooking - you can't get better than that. Two people that I admire, two great footballers, and two great friends.

'I am very lucky - I have had such great support at this club over the years. The fans

read more from dailymail.....

PREV Three down, two to go: Florent signs long-term extension with Swans mogaznewsen
NEXT sport news Piers Morgan names two current stars in his greatest Arsenal XI of all time... ... trends now