Former Hereford United forward Jarrod Bowen has been included in England’s final 26-man squad for UEFA Euro 2024.
Jarrod Bowen with director Dave Preedy in 2014
And Bowen, who made his senior debut with Hereford at Barnet in 2014, has spoken about his pride and how he remembers watching European Championships and World Cups at home in Leominster - never dreaming he would get to play in them.
But hard work paid off for the 27-year-old, earning himself a move to Hull from Hereford before reaching the dizzying heights of the Premier League with West Ham.
He was named in Gareth Southgate’s provisional list of 33 players in May, having impressed during a 2023/24 campaign in which he was crowned Hammer of the Year, netted 20 times in all competitions and equalled Paolo Di Canio’s Club record for goals in a Premier League season, with 16.
The 2023 UEFA Europa Conference League final matchwinner also registered 10 assists in the season just ended, proving his worth and versatility, while his non-stop energy and work-rate have never been in question.
And, after completing the full 90 minutes of the Three Lions’ 3-0 friendly win over Bosnia and Herzegovina on Monday 3 June, he has secured a seat on the plane to Germany for what will be his first senior major international tournament.
“I’m so proud,” Bowen, who has eight caps to his name, told the official West Ham website.
“Any callup for your country is amazing, but to go to a major competition like the Euros is so special, and I’m so excited.
“I’ve watched European Championships and World Cups at home [in Leominster in Herefordshire] and in the local pub as a fan, and I never dreamed that I would get the chance to play at a tournament like that. It’s going to be incredible.
“I’m confident I can make a difference to the team, though. Every time I’ve played for England I’ve tried to show what I can do, and ultimately you get picked for playing well consistently.
“We’ve got so many good players, and it’s up to me and the rest of the boys to go over to Germany and show what we can do.”
A final warm-up friendly clash against Iceland at Wembley Stadium lies in store for Bowen and the other 25 members of the final England squad - including former West Ham captain Declan Rice - on Friday 7 June (7.45pm BST), before they travel to their Euros base near Blankenhain in the east of Germany.
Southgate’s charges are set to take on Serbia in the opening fixture of their Euro 2024 Group C campaign in Gelsenkirchen on Sunday 16 June (8pm BST), ahead of clashes against Denmark in Frankfurt (Thursday 20 June, 5pm BST) and Slovenia in Cologne (Tuesday 25 June, 8pm BST).
England are hoping to go one step further than their runners-up finish last time out at the Euros, when they were beaten on penalties by Italy in London a little under three years ago.