Cherries: Redknapp pays tribute to former boss Bond (From Thisisdorset)
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Cherries: Redknapp pays tribute to former boss Bond
7:00am Thursday 27th September 2012 in Latest Sport
By Ian Wadley
POPULAR FIGURE: Former Cherries boss John Bond, who died yesterday aged 79
HARRY Redknapp last night joined the footballing world in remembering the life and career of “lovely man” John Bond.
Redknapp led the tributes to his fellow ex-Cherries boss, who died at the age of 79.
The duo first met when Redknapp was a 10-year-old autograph hunter and Bond a well-known star at West Ham United.
They went on to play together for the Hammers before joining forces at Cherries when manager Bond brought Redknapp to Dean Court in August 1972.
Mr Bond is credited with attracting bumper crowds to Dean Court as his exciting brand of football sparked one of the most memorable periods in the club’s history.
He guided Cherries to promotion from Division Four in 1970-71 and narrowly missed out on repeating the feat in Division Three before leaving to take charge of Norwich City.
Redknapp told the Daily Echo: “They were great times and great days. MacDougall and Boyer up front together – what a partnership – and he got those two playing.
“He brought so many good players to the club and built a fantastic team, which would probably have got promoted if John had stayed here.
“I am very proud that I was the first manager to ever take Bournemouth into the old second division. But I wouldn’t have been if John had stayed here. He’d have done that before me – no doubt about that.”
In an interview with the Daily Echo in 2010, Mr Bond recalled his Cherries reign when he said: “The stands were there but they didn’t get any crowds in them.
“They were averaging 3,000 when I took over and we finished up getting 18,000 and 21,000. I thought it was a very exciting time in the town. It was brilliant.”
Born in Essex, Mr Bond made his name during a distinguished playing career with West Ham.
The Hammers legend then played for Torquay United before moving into management with clubs including Cherries, Norwich City and Manchester City. He led Norwich to a League Cup final and also collected an FA Cup runners-up medal with Man City.
Redknapp added: “John had a great personality and he was flamboyant. Players wanted to play for him and he had a way of getting the best out of people.
“John knew the game and he did a great job at Bournemouth. He had a great career in football – as a player and managing.
“John was a fantastic coach, a real football man and a real family man. Above all else, they are a lovely family. You couldn’t dislike them. They are an absolutely proper, lovely, class family.
“I loved his company and I always loved being around him and talking football with him.”
Comments(7)
AFCBade
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8:30am Thu 27 Sep 12
Square Old Codger
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9:13am Thu 27 Sep 12
Square Old Codger
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9:13am Thu 27 Sep 12
Square Old Codger
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9:13am Thu 27 Sep 12
sussexcherry
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11:50am Thu 27 Sep 12
Square Old Codger wrote:SOC- I went to my first match in the John Bond era as a 6 year old but missed the Margate game as I had been naughty that week and my Father said "no football for you on Saturday!" My point is that many more people, especially Dads, did not have to work on Saturdays then, there were to my memory many more children at DC in those days. We could argue all day long about all seater stadiums but as a kid I was down the front of the New Stand with the other nippers, leaning over the railings and banging the hoardings until I got the 'glare' from my old man, terrifying! There are so many other things to occupy parents time these days, that spending a fortune to go and watch a game is fairly low on the priority list for most Dads now. Where is the next generation of supporters coming from, they are being priced out to a certain extent which is sad. Yes, this was a football area, but sadly now I think not. You may argue that we took 35000 to Wembley, I am sure that we could do the same again, but they are not hardcore, go to every match supporters. The support may be there and irrespective of current performances and woes, the club really needs to do something to attract the next generation, starting with pricing as I have 3 children and it is too expensive for me to take them all. RIP John Bond, thanks for giving me my love of AFCB.
The "Glory" days for the Cherries under both men and the gates their teams attracted, belies the perception that this is not a football area. They are probably the reason that we have so many mature people supporting the Club, they have memories of the great days it had in the past. R.I.P. John.
Regards.
Afcbpete
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12:30pm Sat 29 Sep 12
RIP John, my sincere condolences to all his family and many friends.
His was without doubt the most exciting era OUR Club has known in all the years I've supported AFCB, one incident in particular showed JB for the Man he was. Having been soundly thumped I think the 1st game of a new season at Bolton 3-0, the supporters coach was outside the ground and not far away the players were getting on their coach, JB who filled the front of our coach as he stepped up inside, not just his size, but the man's aura and he went on to apologise for the rubbish we'd paid good money to travel 100's of miles to endure and promised it would never happen again while he still managed the club. He SO impressed me, I'd of forgiven him anything(OK, except taking half the team to Norwich, anyway the Directors fault), he just gave me total belief in HIM and the team I'd just seen walked all over.
Thank you John for all those wonderful memories you've left me with, ones that make it seem as though it was only a few weeks ago.
You can make comparisons ofcause you can, but you REALLY had to be around then to understand the colossal change around in both the club and it's fortunes on the pitch.....
DansAFCB says...
7:35am Thu 27 Sep 12