Throughout West Ham United’s recently-concluded campaign, Iron Cast co-hosts Chris Scull and James Collins welcomed a variety of current and former players, as well as Hammers supporters, onto the Club’s official podcast to relive their memories of the unforgettable UEFA Europa Conference League final a year ago today, as West Ham ended a 43-year wait for major silverware by defeating ACF Fiorentina 2-1.
In the latest episode of Iron Cast, we have compiled some of the best memories and stories twelve months on from that incredible night. You can travel to Prague again with some of the key players in the squad, including match-winner Jarrod Bowen, while soaking up the celebrations in the stands with West Ham fan and well-known YouTube content creator Behzinga.
LISTEN TO THE FULL PODCAST HERE!
Indeed, there is plenty to talk about from that special night, including several untold stories and unseen photos, among others.
The victory, clinched by Jarrod Bowen's 90th-minute goal from Lucas Paquetá’s defence-splitting pass, will forever live in the memory of West Ham fans, and he spoke of his memories of the party that was held with his family and friends following the victory.
“We went to Prague two days before the final, so I told my partner I’ll be back after the final, but we had four or five weeks off afterwards, so that made up for it [the days of celebrations], he laughed. “We had a party that weekend, all my family and all Dani [Dyer’s] family. There was so many people at the house, it was mental!
“I remember being sent a photo after the final of him [Danny Dyer] rolling on the floor crying. I think how it happened, with me scoring a last-minute winner, I don’t think I could have dreamed for it to happen any other way.”
Tomáš Souček was the chief architect in the post-match celebrations having spent most of his footballing career in the Czech Republic, and gave an insight into the celebrations in Prague, which even saw then-manager David Moyes involved!
He said: “The gaffer [David Moyes] came out to celebrate with us – I was quite surprised," he said. "I put something on for the guys and suddenly the gaffer asked if he could come and then he was out with us. He was watching us and everything we were doing but it was good to have him with us for the celebrations. We were all out together until the end, which was around four of five in the morning.
“It was perfect. The second day was the open-top bus Victory Parade which was even better.”
For Michail Antonio, the dressing room celebrations were his highlight of the famous evening, closely followed by the Victory Parade around east London.
“What was crazy about that [the open-top bus parade] was that there was still 20,000 fans stuck in Prague at the time. There were so many trying to get back in time for it but couldn’t get home,” Antonio stated.
“Everyone was in the dressing room drinking, celebrating, and dancing around taking pictures with the trophy – I think that was the best highlight for me.
“So many players play football but not many win anything in their career – so that was special for me.”
Aaron Cresswell, who put pen to paper on a deal that will see him move into an eleventh season in Claret and Blue last week, gave a fascinating insight into the winning moment on the pitch.
He said: “I remember when they [Fiorentina] scored and the whole stadium went quiet as if we had gone 1-0 down," he recalled. "We were quite calm on the bench and told the lads to relax as we felt we had it.
“When you are looking for moments of genius, the one you want on the end of it is Jarrod Bowen. I remember as soon as it hit the net someone shouted 'offside'. The gaffer, like he always did, came over to me and asked if it was, and I was like “no chance”. The longer it went on, the more I was beginning to doubt myself, but by that point he was away and gone celebrating down the touchline!
As aforementioned, in the stands that evening among the sea of Claret and Blue was well-known YouTube content creator Behzinga – and like most in attendance, he was reduced to tears on what he described as one of the best nights of his life.
He said “I think it is one of those days that when I am 60 or 70, I can say I was at the last game at the Boleyn Ground and the Conference League final. Once I got into the stadium, that is when it hit home and felt real. We packed the whole stadium, and I just knew it was our night. There was no way we're packing the stadium like that to not go and win it.
“I cried like a little baby of course, but you can’t put a price on a moment like that. It might never happen again in my lifetime. Between having my daughter, scoring here at London Stadium and Prague – there isn’t much between all three.”
