Dicky Bond facts for kids
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Richard Bond | ||
| Date of birth | 14 December 1883 | ||
| Place of birth | Preston, England | ||
| Date of death | 25 April 1955 (aged 71) | ||
| Place of death | Preston, England | ||
| Height | 5 ft 6+1⁄2 in (1.69 m) | ||
| Playing position | Outside right | ||
| Youth career | |||
| –1901 | Royal Field Artillery | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 1902–1909 | Preston North End | 148 | (34) |
| 1909–1922 | Bradford City | 301 | (60) |
| 1922–1923 | Blackburn Rovers | 24 | (2) |
| 1923–1924 | Lancaster Town | ||
| Garstang Town | |||
| National team | |||
| 1905–1910 | England | 8 | (2) |
| Football League XI | 1 | ||
|
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Richard Bond (born December 14, 1883 – died April 25, 1955) was a famous English footballer. He played as an outside right, which is a forward player on the wing. Dicky Bond played for the England eight times. Most of his career was spent at Bradford City, where he played over 300 games.
Contents
Dicky Bond's Football Journey
Starting at Preston North End
Richard Bond was born in Garstang, England. He began his football journey with the Royal Artillery team. In August 1902, he signed his first professional contract with Preston North End.
He quickly became a key player. In the 1903–04 season, he helped Preston win the Division Two championship. Two years later, he was a regular player when the club finished as runners-up in The Football League.
Time at Bradford City
In May 1909, Bond moved to Bradford City. The transfer fee was £950, which was a record for Preston at that time. Bond joined City during one of their most successful periods in history.
He played a big part in the team's success. However, he missed out on the club's 1911 FA Cup triumph. This was because he was suspended after an incident during a game against Woolwich Arsenal. He had already scored two goals in three matches earlier in that cup run.
In total, Dicky Bond played 301 league games for Bradford City. He scored 60 goals, all in the top division of English football. He also played in 32 FA Cup games, scoring 12 times. In 1999, he was chosen for City's "Team of the Millennium" by a sports reporter.
His football career was paused by the First World War. He served in the Bradford Pals regiment. After the war, he returned to Bradford City in 1919. In 1920, he was made club captain. However, the team was relegated in the 1921–22 season. This led to his transfer to Blackburn Rovers.
Later Career and Retirement
Bond played for Blackburn Rovers for one season. Then, in August 1923, he made his final move to Lancaster Town for one last season. He officially retired from professional football in 1924. However, he did return to play for Garstang Town two years later.
Throughout his entire league career, he scored 96 goals in 473 appearances. After retiring from football, he became a publican. He passed away in Preston at the age of 71.
Playing for England
Dicky Bond made his first international appearance for England on February 25, 1905. At the time, he was still playing for Preston North End. His first game for England was against Ireland.
He played a total of eight times for England. He scored two goals, both of which were against Ireland in 1906.
Achievements
Preston North End
- Football League Second Division: 1903–04
Life Outside Football
Dicky Bond's football career was interrupted by the First World War. He served as a sergeant in the Prince of Wales's Own (West Yorkshire Regiment). In July 1916, he was taken as a prisoner-of-war.
He was released on November 18, 1918. More than two years after the war ended, he placed a special wreath at the Cenotaph in London. This was before Bradford City's game with Arsenal on January 1, 1921. After he retired from football, Bond owned a fish and chip shop in Garstang. Later, he became a publican, running a pub.
