He made his senior debut in a Football League match against Manchester United on 18 April 1960, although it was to be another 18 months before his second game. His cup debut was in the Football League Cup against Rotherham United on 16 October 1962. Bovington made a total of 138 League appearances for West Ham, scoring a single league goal (against Nottingham Forest on 26 October 1966 at Upton Park). He made another 46 senior appearances for the Hammers in other competitions, including the 1964 FA Cup Final and eight European Cup Winners Cup matches. His only cup goal was against Cardiff City, in a 5–2 home win on 20 December 1965 in the League Cup semi-final.