Just back from an excellent night’s entertainment at the Queen’s Theatre, Hornchurch.
Five West Ham legends of the past – Billy Bonds, Geoff Pike, Billy Jennings, Keith Robson and Alan Taylor gave a Full House crowd a superb trip down memory lane aided by the stunningly witty Tony Gale who MC’d the evening with a professionalism every bit as good as his playing style.
Galey’s cutting humour and stage presence was superb as he enticed the five Hammers to serve up some great notes, quotes and anecdotes from their time at Upton Park.
Galey is one of the great piss takers and he was in top form as he put the boys through their paces. No-one was spared, but poor old Alan Taylor came in for some heavy stick when he couldn’t remember the name of the most talented player he had ever played with. Turned out to be Johann Cruyff . Oops.
Bonzo was in top form and received a standing O when he walked on stage.
He looked magnificent. Still at his old fighting weight with the same powerful presence. His tale of how he decked team mate Ted McDougall will live long in the memory.
Pikey, who now works for the FA, was an entertaining, confident performer who regaled the audience with excellent behind the scenes tales.
As for Robbo…well nothing has changed. He is still a gregarious, soppy, likeable Geordie who had the crowd in stitches with his stories. Galey reminded us that Alvin had dubbed him the greatest drinker, gambler and womaniser in West Ham’s history. Some title, considering the opposition.
Billy J looked trim and sharp and the sight of him and Alan Taylor together brought back a million memories from out FA Cup and Cups Winners’ Cup glory days of the 70′s.
Great night and great memories. Try and catch the boys if they repeat the experience.
Lofty Perch
Lofty sounds like a superb evening mate, thanks for the report. It must have been fantastic listening to all the old war stories while surrounded by fellow Hammers fans.
Sounds like the next one would well be worth the flight and hotel cost.
What came through loud and clear, Celts, was the sense of team spirit that existed back in the day.
When Bonzo spoke about joining West Ham from Charlton and walking into a dressing room that had Mooro, Hurst and Peters and how they treated him as one of the gang from day one was pretty cool.
Let's hope our current crop of young Hammers can bond like that and get us out of our current mess.
Sad to say none of the boys on stage tonight sounded that optimistic that we would turn things around any time soon.
Let's hope they are wrong about that, eh!
Loft it is very hard to find that kind of team spirit in the modern game. There is too much money around to inspire loyalty. Its one of the things about the project that endeared the idea to me, the thought of bringing our talented young players through together so they develop a bond before contracts, endorsements and agents get in the way.
Ironically enough I think Chelski have the best teamspirit in the league, much as it annoys me to say it.
Sounds like a great night Lofty..dead jealous. Will have to try to get to one of these functions one of these days…will have to sweet talk the missus..wish me luck! Glad you had a good evening
Geoff Pike stayed with the Hammers for 12 years, Billy Bonds clocked up 21 years and Trevor Brooking 17 years.
How many of our current squad will even get close to spending five years at the club? Not many, sadly.
It's amazing, and a sign of the times, that 22 year old Mark Noble is our current longest-serving player having made his debut in 2004.
God knows what that stat means, but it doesn't sound right to me.
How many new players in this day and age would last at one club for that time shame Bonzo managed Millwall that was obviously the lowest of the low point in his life but Alan taylor won us the Fa Cup bless him and Robson and Jennings deserved Cup Winners cup medals especially after we took the bloody lead and got beat4-2 what a night that was,thanks to Sir Trev genius love your work Champ!
Today will be a very sad day for us if Dean Ashton retires will will never know how great he would have been.Trying to sue Chelski and Wright-Phillips will be very interesting I hope he screws em for plenty,Good Luck Deano you will be sorely missed!
Agree Aussie, such a shame, Deano could have been one the greats of English football. How cruel fate is.
Had I of known about last night I would have love to have gone along. Although they were all at the end of their playing careers when I first strated supporting the club, it would have been great to hear some of the stories they told.
Tony Gale’s nickname is Reggie, this being because of his sharp wit. I have seen him at the Boys of 86 nights he does from time to time with Tony Cottee, Alvin Martin, Phil Parkes etc. All of them together is an absolute classic evening.
Thanks for the post, Lofty, just gutted I didn't even know this was taking place.
Some of my favourite performers and 3 of our most underrated players: Jennings, Robson & Pike.
Football belonged to the people in those days and not the corporations.
I'm becoming an old git!
Can anyone who attended please post some pics, if possible?
Cheers.
Sounds like it was a good night for everyone. Lets hope that someone has had the sense to record the show and it will be available later.
yet again theres talk about deano retiring ! this time i fear it maybe true.gutted for him.sad day so maybe the travelling boys can give the man a deanoooooo song tmoro?
Off topic and to this years best kept secret:;- Dean Ashton is set to retire and it is now official as confirmed by WHUFC official site. I hope that he may stay in football in some degree and I wish him well for the future.
He probably was the best England/WH striker we never had.Lol!
sky sports confirm he has retired.gutted.
Sounds a great night Lofty, I still see Billy Bonds as he lives near me and reckon he could still turn out for the 1st team he looks so fit.
Feel sad for Dean Ashton, what an unfulfilled talent, but I think we all knew it was coming…good luck Dean.
Again….why have I dropped down to a 1p from my "lofty perch"
Oh! blimey that was a quick promotion!
Geoff Pike – 25 – yarder at Old trafford early eighties ish – memories, hard graft we sort of miss these days!
Kieth Robsons million yard screamer against Eintracht Frankfurt 1976 cupwinners cup semi final. Surely King Trevs finest 90 minutes in claret and blue.
an honour to be there that night