Eddie Bovington appeared 184 times for West Ham between 1960 and 1968 after coming through the youth academy with so many other great players of that era. When Ron Greenwood replaced Ted Fenton as West Ham manager in 1961, he had an abundance of young locally born talent waiting for their chances. It was from these players that he built the side that went on to win the FA Cup in 1964. Jack Burkett, Johnny Sissons, Ron Boyce, Bobby Moore, Geoff Hurst and Eddie Bovington were all players of this same ilk and Greenwood still had Martin Peters emerging from the ranks. On Boxing Day 1963 West Ham were thrashed 8-2 by top of the table Blackburn Rovers. The return fixture at Blackburn was just two days later and how would Ron Greenwood turn things around? Well, the only change he made was by dropping Martin Peters and replacing him with Eddie Bovington. History shows the Hammers won the rematch 3-1 and that result was to prove very significant for both Peters and Bovington. Greenwood announced an unchanged side for the following weeks Cup match at Charlton and he kept the exact same side for the rest of the cup matches that season – including the FA Cup final side that beat Preston 3-2. The Hammers were trailing 2-1 at half time in the final and Ron asked both Moore and Bovington to push further forward in the second half. The tactic worked and Eddie had won himself a Cup winners medal.
Eddie had made his debut in 1960 at Old Trafford against Manchester United. Three years ago he told me; “It was a marvelous experience, although a very daunting one, to make a debut at such an iconic ground as Old Trafford and to play against such players as Denis Violet, Bobby Charlton, Bill Foulkes, Harry Gregg, all survivors of the Munich Air Crash. The pace of the game seemed so fast for the opening 20 minutes and then settled down. Although we lost 5 – 3 I think it was a fairly good debut”. He had to wait another 20 months to make his second appearance for the Hammers and another season before establishing himself in the first team.
By 1966 Martin Peters had developed into a World class player and in the 1967/68 season Eddie was limited to just six appearances. He hung up his boots at just 28 years of age but reflected “I didn’t actually miss the playing side of the game when I packed up in 1969. What I missed a lot though was the camaraderie of the players.” Eddie has been kind enough to participate in a Q&A for the site and as you can see his answers pull no punches.
Q. Can you tell us about the time you were first scouted and approached to join West Ham?
A. I was playing for a youth team on Saturday afternoons in the Edmonton League and one of the team was spotted by a West Ham scout and went for a trial. West Ham asked our manager if he had anyone he could recommend and he said me. I played in a game against Fulham Youth at Green and Silley Weirs ground at Wanstead on a Friday night in April 1957. I was asked next season after a few more games if I would like to join the ground staff at West Ham which I did.
Q. What type of manager was Ron Greenwood? Did you have a good relationship with him?
A. Technically very good but lacked man management skills. I had a poor relationship with him.
Q. You made your debut at Old Trafford against Manchester United in a 5-3 defeat despite leading 3-1 at one stage. What can you remember from that day?
A. Being on the field with Manchester United players such as Bobby Charlton and Dennis Violet and not believing I was with these great players
Q. Playing with legends like Bobby Moore, Geoff Hurst and Martin Peters must have been something special. Outside of those three who was the best West Ham player you ever played with?
A. Johnny Byrne
Q. What about Bobby? Were you good friends with him and what sort of team spirit was there amongst the lads?
A. I was good friends with him. We roomed together for a while. The team spirit was pretty good.
Q. If the team played badly what was Ron Greenwood like? He seemed like a philosophical type of man but was he always like that in the dressing room?
A. He rarely showed any emotion.
Q. Who were the best players you ever played against?
A. Jimmy Greaves and Dennis Law
Q. I’d imagine Moore, Hurst, Byrne, Peters may be amongst the best you played with but of the others, when one was unavailable, who did the team miss the most?
A. When fully fit – Johnny Byrne
Q. You played in an era where there were plenty of noted hard men in the game. Who was the hardest you ever played against and was there any player you liked to give some back too?
A. One of the hardest was Andy Lockhead of Burnley. Would like to have given some back to most of the Leeds United Team of the 60’s.
Q. I guess the 1964 FA Cup final was the highlight of your career? What were the special moments of that day that you remember most fondly?
A. Seeing Ronnie Boyce’s winner go in so late in the game and also the lap of honour. The parade on the Sunday morning in the East End of London was also one of the best highlights.
Q. What’s your view on the possible future use of video technology?
A. I think video technology is inevitable but am concerned it may mean more interruptions in the game.
Q. What do you like the most about the modern game of football and what do you dislike the most?
A. The level of skill is so good today. Dislike the constant passing back and across the field. So many touches but no closure.
Q. Ed, why do you think there are so few players coming through our academy into the first team nowadays? Most of the promising ones seem to go out on loan and rarely make it back into the Premier League.
A. Probably because the clubs demand instant success and can’t wait for the youngsters to develop.
Q. Have you been to the Olympic Stadium to watch West Ham yet and if you have what are your first impressions? What are your thoughts on the move?
A. I have been to the stadium but not to watch a match. It is a wonderful venue for what it was intended to be which is athletics and not football. Unfortunately I am stuck in the past and yearn for Upton Park.
Q. Last time I spoke to you, nearly three years ago, you were cycling 125km a week and doing 5km of rowing in the gym. How is that all going and what do you enjoy most about your retirement?
A. I am still exercising but after not being well in January have cut back to 100kms per week.
Phew – I am quite exhausted just thinking about cycling 100kms a week. Obviously Eddie has kept himself very fit. I would like to thank Eddie for the giving of his time to give the readers on the site some insight on his playing days and his views on today’s football. His honest admission of a poor relationship with Ron Greenwood is interesting. Other players from that era have also said that despite Greenwood being a great tactician, he was quite aloof with his players which didn’t help with his cool relationship with Bobby Moore. Interestingly, Eddie like so many of the senior gentleman on this site, had great admiration for what a wonderful player Budgie Byrne was when fully fit. I saw Eddie play on many occasions when I was a nipper in the North Bank. It was an iconic time to watch West Ham play and Eddie certainly played his part.
Thanks again Eddie.