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| Jarrod Bowen playing for Hereford United in 2014, left, and scoring the winning goal in West Ham's Europa Conference League final tonight. Picture: Bulls News/BT Sport |
Herefordshire-born footballer Jarrod Bowen has surely just written his name into the West Ham United history books.
A far cry from Edgar Street where he started his career, Bowen has just netted the winner in West Ham's UEFA Europa Conference League final against Fiorentina in Prague.
Said Benrahma's spot kick put West Ham ahead in the second half of Wednesday night's game, but only for five minutes as Giacomo Bonaventura's strike levelled the score.
But then that's where the Leominster lad comes in.
In the 90th minute, Bowen burst through the Fiorentina defence, latching onto the end of a through ball, and found the back of the net in sensational style.
UNBELIEVABLE SCENES!! 💥
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) June 7, 2023
Jarrod Bowen writes himself in West Ham history to surely clinch glory with the last kick of the game!! 🤩#UECLfinal pic.twitter.com/W2b8zqfR8W
Bowen's composure was superb and the travelling fans in Prague erupted - manager David Moyes was on the pitch as the team surrounded Bowen after what will prove to be an historic goal.
And that goal from Bowen means West Ham will lift their first European silverware since 1965.
JARROD! 😍 pic.twitter.com/8yqE3UJn8i
— West Ham United (@WestHam) June 7, 2023
A truly historic win, and let's not forget where Bowen scored his first professional goal - in front of the Meadow End for Hereford United in 2014. He was a product of the Bulls' youth team under Peter Beadle.
He then progressed to the first team as Beadle became caretaker manager at the end of the 2013/14 season as the Bulls tried to escape relegation from the Conference.
Bowen's goal in a 3-2 home win against Alfreton helped United initially escaped the drop, a goal which came less than a month after his first senior appearance at Barnet.
Of course, Hereford United were still relegated - kicked out of the Conference - and wound-up by the end of the year.
By then, Bowen had already signed for Championship side Hull City who then sold him to West Ham for an initial £18 million in 2020.