THIS BOND IS... STIRRED NOT SHAKEN
SPECTRE OF VARDY DOESN’T WORRY HIM
THE name is Bond. Jonathan Bond. Peterborough’s goalkeeper is used to the wisecracks and braced for more if he thwarts Leicester’s 009 Jamie Vardy in one of the FA Cup fourth round’s most intriguing games this weekend.
‘It’s an everyday thing, going to the bank or Post Office. People can’t help themselves,’ smiles the Man with the Golden Glove.
‘It’s either “Ah, Mr Bond” or when I give my initial, they say it must be James. I play along with it. The only place it’s not mentioned is the dressing-room. I’m Bondy in there; half the players don’t seem to know my first name!’
For the record, 24-year-old Bond is a massive fan of the films. ‘I’ve watched every one, maybe as a kid I thought I should have an affiliation,’ he says. ‘ The Living
Daylights with Timothy Dalton is my favourite. But Roger Moore is the best Bond.’
Certainly, Peterborough will need their No 1 agent to be at his most alert when Leicester arrive.
Posh are eighth in League One, 45 places below their visitors. On the plus side, Bond has kept three clean sheets in a row, helped his side win 3-1 at Aston Villa in the previous round and boasts remarkable FA Cup experience for an emerging goalkeeper.
In three consecutive seasons before the age of 22, he played for Watford when they were drawn at Manchester City ( twice) and Chelsea. Though he conceded 10 goals in that hat-trick of defeats it means he’s unlikely to be overawed by today’s opponents in the live lunchtime TV match.
‘I was only 19 when I first played at City — thrown in at the deep end for only my fourth game for Watford,’ says Bond. ‘ Playing against Carlos Tevez, Edin Dzeko and Mario Balotelli was massive for a young keeper and I did well, though we lost 3-0.
‘Luckily, I got a touch straight from the kick-off, booted it away with a good connection and that settled any nerves right away.
‘The following year (2014) we went to the Etihad again, in the fourth round, and led 2-0 at halftime. Then Sergio Aguero came out with this really determined look on his face and the whole mindset changed. From my first goal-kick, he was running to get the ball, putting it down, making sure I couldn’t waste time. He ended up with a hat-trick and City won 4-2. For one of the goals, our defenders tried to force him on his right, so he cut inside and smashed a left-footer past me into the stanchion.’
Bond got a boost afterwards from City goalkeeper Joe Hart, who had been rested that afternoon. ‘He came over and gave me his shirt. It was a huge thing for me, he was the England goalkeeper,’ recalls Bond.
‘There was an awkward moment when I wondered if I should offer him mine in return! But in the end I left it.’
Bond’s trip to Stamford Bridge in 2015 was special because he had been a Chelsea season ticket holder from the age of five.
‘Carlo Cudicini was the reason I wanted to be a goalkeeper and Gianfranco Zola was another idol,’ he says. ‘Zola ended up being my manager at Watford. It was like a dream to have him taking free-kicks at me in training. He didn’t sky many!’
Slavisa Jokanovic had taken over at Vicarage Road when Bond faced Chelsea. ‘Unlike the City games, we sat in deep for an hour and I had nothing much to do,’ says Bond. ‘They finally got the first goal and it ended up 3-0.
When Watford beat Leicester in a dramatic Championship playoff semi-final win in 2013, Bond and Vardy were unused subs on opposing benches.
‘Leicester must have felt absolutely sick, but that hasn’t stopped Vardy, has it? He’s gone on to be one of England’s best strikers — so quick and sharp. He will be a threat if he plays.’
Posh have their own danger-men in 24-goal Jack Marriott, whose league tally of 18 is bettered only by Harry Kane. ‘Jack is really similar to Vardy — very quick and plays off the shoulder,’ explains Bond. ‘He gets a lot more chances in a game than your average striker because of his pace and he’s a good finisher as well. He hassles defenders and creates chances for himself.
‘It will be a really good experience for our lads, some of them from non-League, to play against Premier League footballers. And we’ve got half a chance at home.’
They also have a secret weapon in larger-than-life director of football Barry Fry. ‘ As soon as he walks into a room, you know he’s there,’ says Bond. ‘ And if you don’t see him first, you’ll hear his
Match of the Day ringtone.’ Bond has been on loan at Peterborough since the start of the season and is unlikely to return to Reading with only six months left on his contract. He had options to sign for Championship clubs this month but wants to help Peterborough to promotion.
As a free agent in the summer, he is aware a stand-out performance against Leicester won’t do his prospects any harm. But there are no signs of nerves as the big game approaches. This Bond is stirred, not shaken.