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John BondFormer football player, coach
Date of Birth: 17.12.1932
Country:  Great Britain |
Content:
Biography of John Bond
Early Life and Playing CareerJohn Bond, whose full name was John Frederick Bond, was born in Dedham, Essex, England in 1932. He began his football career in the English club 'West Ham United' in 1950, after transferring from 'Colchester Casuals'. Bond quickly gained popularity for his ability to score goals from the right flank, forming a formidable partnership with his teammate Noel Cantwell. In the 1957-1958 season, Bond and 'West Ham United' became champions of the Football League Second Division. Bond played in all but one match and scored eight goals during the season.
FA Cup Champions and Retirement
In 1964, Bond won the Premier League as part of 'West Ham United', defeating 'Preston North End F.C' with a score of 3-2. However, he was unable to play in the 'European Cup Winners' Cup Final' the following year, despite participating in all previous rounds. In January 1966, after playing 381 matches and scoring 32 goals for 'West Ham United', Bond decided to join 'Torquay United', where his former teammate Frank O'Farrell was the coach. Bond played approximately 130 matches for the club and scored 12 goals. He also helped the team establish themselves in the league. Bond retired from playing in 1969 and had saved money throughout his career to invest in a business. By the time he retired, he was the owner of a sweet shop called 'Bondy's Tuck Shop' near Torquay.
Coaching Career
In May 1970, Bond became the coach of 'Bournemouth' after being denied a similar position at 'Torquay United'. In just one season, he transformed the team, which had previously struggled, and they finished in third place in Division Three. Bond's success caught the attention of 'Norwich City', and after several meetings, he replaced Ron Saunders as the head coach. Under Bond's leadership, the team significantly improved their performance, achieving numerous victories and returning to the top half of the league table. They reached the final of the League Cup but were defeated by 'Aston Villa' with a score of 1-0. Bond then worked with 'Manchester City' from 1980 to 1983, leading them to the FA Cup Final. Despite losing 3-2 to 'Tottenham Hotspur', Bond's coaching talent was evident.
Later Career and Legacy
Bond's son Kevin played for 'Norwich City', and during a match against his father's team, Kevin's side lost 6-0. It is said that John felt so sorry for his son that he blocked his entrance to the dressing room and expressed condolences in front of thousands of fans. In 1983, Bond took over as the manager of 'Burnley', but the team finished the season in 12th place, failing to meet their goals. Bond struggled to achieve success in subsequent coaching positions with clubs like 'Birmingham City', 'Swansea City', 'Shrewsbury Town', and finally 'Witton Albion'. However, he was able to lead 'Witton Albion' to an 8th place finish in the league table. In November 2009, Bond appeared as a guest on the program 'Time Of Our Lives', where he discussed the past and present state of 'West Ham' with other veteran footballers. John Bond passed away on September 25, 2012, at the age of 79.
