Matt Jarvis is the latest guest to feature on the official West Ham United podcast, Iron Cast.
The pacey winger spent four years on the books with the Hammers and was the Club’s then-record signing when he moved to east London from Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2012.
Having retired in 2021, Jarvis represented the Irons in The Soccer Tournament at the WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, North Carolina, earlier this year and is regularly seen at London Stadium in an ambassadorial role on home matchdays.
The 37-year-old now makes his first appearance on the podcast, returning to the iconic Chadwell Heath training ground to sit down with hosts Chris Scull and James Collins and discuss his career.
Jarvis reflects on his involvement in The Soccer Tournament in the United States alongside other West Ham legends and celebrity supporters, and clarifies rumours he got injured during the competition.
Getting into his upbringing, the winger talks about his professional table-tennis player parents and his own ability with the paddle!
Discussions then turn to his footballing development and his call up to the England squad in 2011, with Jarvis finding out about his involvement with a text message from the Football Association. He reflects on working under Fabio Capello in the Three Lions camp and the rules implemented by the Italian on international duty.
Collins had just returned to West Ham for his second spell with the Club, moving back to east London a few days before Jarvis signed from Wolves, and ‘Ginge’ offers an insight into the squad morale and environment at the time the pacey winger joined the Hammers.
Jarvis talks about his first time meeting Sam Allardyce at West Ham, having been signed for his speed and prolific crossing ability, and playing in a team alongside the likes of Andy Carroll, Yossi Benayoun, Kevin Nolan, Mohamed Diamé and Mark Noble.
The winger’s most famous goal in Claret and Blue was an equaliser away to Tottenham Hotspur in the Capital One Cup, with the Irons going on to win 2-1 at White Hart Lane, and Jarvis fondly recalls that special night for the team.
Collins and Jarvis also discuss the Christmas parties and team bonding, instigated by captain Nolan during that time, before ending the conversation reflecting on Slaven Bilic’s time in charge at the Club.
