Tottenham Hotspur and Watford midfielder who played until he was 55 dies

Ex-Tottenham Hotspur and Watford midfielder who played until he was 55 dies

Ex-Tottenham and Watford star Dennis Bond has died at the age of 77 as his boyhood club Spurs paid tribute to their former midfielder

Former Tottenham Hotspur and Watford midfielder Dennis Bond has died aged 77.

Bond began his career at Watford in 1964, with the midfielder later joining Tottenham in 1967 and Charlton Athletic in 1970 before returning to Watford two years later, where he played until 1977.

Spurs led the tributes to their former player with a statement on social media which read: "We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of our former midfielder Dennis Bond at the age of 77.

"The thoughts of everyone at the Club are with Dennis’ friends and family at this impossibly sad time."

Bond, who grew up in Walthamstow, played 27 times and scored once for his boyhood club Spurs, but he spent the majority of his playing days at Vicarage Road, playing 301 games and scoring 42 goals for the Hornets.

The midfielder officially hung up his boots at the age of 55 after featuring for Boreham Wood, Waltham Abbey and Potters Bar Town.

Bond signed for Spurs for £30,000, a record fee for Watford at the time. He went on to play for the Lilywhites in the Cup Winners’ Cup.

In an interview with the Hornets, he spoke of his pride in featuring for Tottenham in Europe, he said: “It was a big game but the way the manager spoke to us calmed us all down and so by the time we went out it was just another game of football. By having us all relaxed we enjoyed our football a lot more.”

Fans took to social media to pay their own tributes to Bond. One user wrote: “Rest in peace,” as a second echoed: “RIP Dennis.” A third fan wrote: “Awful news. Rest in peace.” While a fourth added: “Rest in peace legend.”