Former Hereford manager thinks Jarrod Bowen could move from West Ham

Former Hereford United manager Peter Beadle has been remembering coaching the forward

Jarrod Bowen, who scored the winner for West Ham United in the Europa Conference League final, had humble beginnings.
Author: James ThomasPublished 9th Jun 2023

There were big celebrations in east London last night as West Ham celebrated their first major trophy in 43 years.

Thousands of fans lined the streets to welcome the team back from their Europa Conference League final victory.

But for the people of Herefordshire, it means a little bit more to them - as one of their own scored the decisive goal to see the hammers lift the trophy.

Jarrod Bowen came from humble beginnings. As a kid, he watched Hereford United from the Meadow End terrace before starting out at his home city's youth team.

He made his first senior appearance for the club in 2014, a 2-0 defeat at Barnet in the Conference, and weeks later scored his first senior goal.

That was the winner in a 3-2 home victory against Alfreton as the Bulls tried to escape relegation from non-league's top flight.

His youth team manager - and first team caretaker manager - at the time was Peter Beadle, who went on to manager phoenix club Hereford FC.

He said Bowen was a hard-worker and could still move to another club after West Ham.

Beadle said: "The good thing about Jarrod always played better when he played with better players.

"Jarrod was exceptional and I still believe he's got another move in him. I know West Ham are a big club, but I still think that he could go a little bit higher."

He added: "He seems content, he seems to be enjoying what he's doing and he's still got that hunger.

"There was no surprise that West Ham picked up when he signed because he has got that infectious desire.

"He's prepared to put a shift in so."

And, despite the celebrations in Stratford, West Ham chairman David Sullivan expects captain Declan Rice to leave this summer.

With Bowen though, his under-16s coach at Hereford Andy Bevan said Bowen had one thing other young players sometimes don't.

He said: "Jarrod had a wonderful left foot, but the biggest thing for me that he had was something that I don't think you can teach. I'd love to say it was me, but he had a work ethic.

"And to me, that comes from the family. You can't teach that they've either got that they haven't."

Despite Bowen's success and reality TV star girlfriend Dani Dyer - who has just had twins, Bevan said people sometimes forget the sacrifices he had to make, moving to Hull at 17.

"They forget the off season work that he did, pushing (tractor) tyres up hills on his uncle's farm near Leominster.

"All those stories are brilliant and that comes from his work ethic, that he wanted to get where he's got."

The last time the Hammers won major silverware - was in 1980. They won the FA Cup.

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