John Bond

Date Hired : January 1987 Fired : May 1987 First Game : xx-xx-xxxx (H - xxxx) Last Game : xx-xx-xxxx (H - xxxx) Success Rate : xx.xx%

Comments John Bond found Birmingham City in dire straights. Prior to his arrival the Blues has gone 18 matches without a win and no-legaue Altrincham had knocked them out of the FA Cup; they were next to bottom of Division One and home attendances had dropped alarmingly - 4,832 for the Milk Cup tie against Southampton, 6,856 for the League match with Ipswich Town. Bond made it clear that he would not tolerate 'slackers' and for his first game in charge, the Blues reacted in splendid style, winning 1-0 at Oxford United. Alas, it proved an uphill battle and blues were relegated at the end of the season. Changes were made in the playing staff. David Seaman went to QPR, Ken Armstrong moved to Walsall, and Billy Wright was sold to Carlisle United. Vince Overson was brought in from Burnley and Dennis Mortimer was recruited from Brighton to add experience to the midfield. Steve Whitton was also signed from West Ham on a permanent basis. There was a pormising start as the Blues won two and drew on of the opening three League matches at the start of 1986-87. Gradually, though, despite using 30 players during the season, the team slithered down the table toward the Third Division. They narrowly avoided the drop and it came as no surprise when Bnd lost his job. Bond, born in Colchester on 17 December 1932. He joined West Ham United in March 1950 from Colchester Casuals, his league debut coming 2 seasons later. His ability as a goal-scoring right back soon resulted in him gaining a regular place in the Hammers side, his partnership with Noel Cantwell proving particularly useful. As West Ham won the Second Division title in 1957-58, Bond missed only one game, and scored 8 goals. He also played in the 1964 FA Cup Final win at Wembley towards the end of his Upton Park career, but missed out on the European Cup Winners' Cup Final victory the following season, despite playing 4 times in the earlier rounds of the competition. In January 1966, after 381 league games for the Hammers, in which he scored 32 times, Bond left to join Torquay United, then managed by his former West Ham team-mate Frank O'Farrell. He played 130 league games for the Gulls, scoring 12 goals, and helped Torquay to promotion at the end of his first season. He retired in 1969, having already opened a sweet shop (Bondy's Tuck Shop) in the Torre area of Torquay. Managerial Career Competition Played Won Lost Drawn For Against Perf % League 58 14 19 25 63 95 40.5% FA Cup xx 33 xx xx xx xx xx.x% League Cup xx xx xx xx xx xx xx.x% Other xx xx xx xx xx xx xx.x%