Jimmy Bonds

DOB: 21st May 1924

Position: Midfielder

Season of first appearance: 1953/54

Season of last appearance: 1959/60

Full Appearances: 263

Substitute: 0

Goals: 10

Also played for:

Tottenham Hotspur (0), Millwall (0) and Ramsgate Athletic.

Player Profile:

Tough, battling Greenwich-born midfielder who started his career at Tottenham where he played in the club's junior sides.

In 1945, Jimmy signed for Millwall, joining the Lions as a professional immediately after World War II ended. He was a regular in Millwall's London Combination side for two seasons and made one first team appearance in a Kent Senior Cup tie against Charlton on 8.5.50 before moving to Ramsgate for the start of the 1950/51 campaign.

Jimmy spent three seasons with the Rams, two as captain, before signing for Margate in June 1953.

He made his debut in a 3-0 defeat against Dover at Hartsdown Park on 22.8.53 and went on to be a virtual ever-present during the 1953/54 campaign, making a total of 39 appearances without scoring. The local press rated Jimmy as the pick of Margate's midfielders during the campaign.

He was also a vital part of the Margate side during the 1954/55 season and played in every one of Margate's 46 matches. Jimmy scored his first goal for the club in a 4-0 win over Sheppey at Hartsdown Park on 28.8.54 and he was on target twice more before the end of the campaign.

Jimmy was a fixture in the side again during the 1955/56 season and his 44 appearances took him past 100 for the club. He also scored twice - getting both of his goals in a 3-1 win at Epsom in the FA Cup on 22.10.55. On 19.11.55, Jimmy was in the Margate side that drew 2-2 with Walsall at Hartsdown Park in the FA Cup 1st Round and he also played in the replay at Walsall on 24.11.55 that the home side won 6-1.

During the 1956/57 season, Jimmy didn't miss a match and made a total of 47 appearances, scoring three times. He continued to be the 'engine room' of the side and was described as "a human dynamo" by the local press. On 17.11.56, Jimmy was part of the Margate side that beat Dunstable 3-1 at Hartsdown Park in the FA Cup 1st Round and he also played in a 4-0 defeat at Millwall in the 2nd Round on 8.12.56.

Jimmy started the 1957/58 season as a makeshift centre-back in the absence of Brian Moffatt and did so well that Moffatt was initially unable to get back into the side. On 16.11.57, Jimmy wore the number five shirt as Margate lost 3-2 to visitors Crystal Palace in the FA Cup 1st Round but in December 1957 he returned to the midfield and continued in his usual efficient way for the remainder of the season, making 43 appearances in total and scoring twice.

During the 1958/59 campaign, Jimmy made his 200th appearance for the club and played 39 times in all without scoring. On 15.11.58, he was in the side that lost 3-2 at Headington in the FA Cup 1st Round. He spent the majority of the season at centre-back but also had spells in the reserves. Jimmy scored a hat-trick for them in a 7-1 win over Chatham Reserves at Hartsdown Park on 4.5.59 when playing as a makeshift centre-forward.

The 1959/60 campaign turned out to be Jimmy's last at Hartsdown Park and he spent almost the whole season in the reserves as their captain. However, he also made five first-team appearances, filling in at right-back, left-back and centre-back. Jimmy's final appearance for Margate's first-team was in a 3-1 defeat at Sittingbourne on 28.12.59. At the end of the season he was released by the club and in honour of his long service he was given a selection of household goods as a farewell gift. The club chairman described Jimmy as a "grand servant" to Margate.

Jimmy worked as a bricklayer during his time with the club and helped construct Margate library as well as working on projects in and around London. By the end of his spell with Margate, Jimmy lived in Cuthbert Road, Westgate, in a house owned by the club.

In 1971, Jimmy moved to Bromley with his wife and two daughters and retired from work in 1994 aged 69.

He died in Bromley aged 87 on 2.3.12.

Jimmy's second cousin (once removed) was Billy Bonds of West Ham fame.