More than a week might have passed since West Ham United’s UEFA Europa Conference League triumph over Fiorentina, but the achievement is still to sink in for everyone in Claret and Blue.
Not least for Jarrod Bowen, whose 90th minute strike settled the final on a dramatic, tense evening in the Czech capital of Prague.
Bowen’s heroics capped a steady climb up up the football ladder, which began in non-league with Hereford, took in a successful spell at Hull City in the EFL Championship and saw him move to the Hammers in early 2020.
A little over three years later, the 26-year-old possesses four England caps and now has his hands on a winners’ medal for a major European competition – a feeling he will never forget.
“It was a dream to win it," he beamed. "I’ve never experienced anything like this feeling, and then the bus parade after.
“When you saw how many turned out, like I said after the game, you can see how much it means to the fans.
“That’s why we wanted to win it, for the fans, and to celebrate with them on the parade was top.
“I just keep smiling, it’s the best feeling and I never thought I’d win a European trophy.
“I’d never won a trophy before, so to win it in Prague was the best night of my career so far.
“We’ve got the best group and we’ve got the best fans, so to do it all together as one big family is special.”
