Ahead of Non-League Day on Saturday 25 March, Jarrod Bowen spoke to Premier League Productions about his formative years at boyhood club Hereford United.
When Bowen was a 17-year-old playing in a Conference National relegation battle for The Bulls, the prospect of playing in the Premier League and England must have seemed a million miles away.
He had already faced the disappointment of unsuccessful trials at Aston Villa and Cardiff City, so to make his senior breakthrough at Hereford was testament to his hard work and resilience.
It also provided the former Hull City winger, who joined West Ham United in January 2020, a pathway into the professional game.
“I only ever wanted football,” says Bowen, who has gone on to make 120 Premier League appearances and score 25 goals in the competition.
“I didn’t like school, I didn’t really listen in school...I always wanted to be a footballer. I didn’t want to do my GSCEs but I did them – it was just football, football, football!
“To then be told that football’s not happening, of course, it’s difficult, and it’s hard, but it gets you ready for almost the real world of football as well because there’s always so many disappointments in football with the highs [and lows] that you have.”
Recalling his first senior goal for Hereford in a 3-2 home win over Alfreton Town, he adds: “It was a dream... my boyhood club. I used to go there every week, and to play and score at the famous Meadow End was special for me because all my friends were watching.
“It was only eight games, but the situation that Hereford were in at the end, a relegation battle, for me at the age of 17, it stood me in good stead because I had that non-league changing-room feel, what it means to win games and what’s at stake.”
With West Ham currently embroiled in a battle to avoid dropping out of the Premier League, Bowen’s past experience could prove crucial with 12 matches remaining.
“I think anything that happens now you are ready to deal with it,” he adds.
Hereford United are no longer in existence, but a new “phoenix” club, Hereford FC, formed in 2014, now play at the same Edgar Street stadium where Bowen made his first impact.
They play in the sixth tier of the English football pyramid, the National League North, and will be facing King’s Lynn on Non-League Day, 25 April.
For West Ham fans living in the east London and Essex area, there are dozens of games to choose from, including:
- Athletic Newham v White Ensign, Essex Senior League, Terence McMillan Stadium, Newham Way, Plaistow, E16 3LN, 3pm
- Sporting Bengal v May & Baker, Eastern Counties League Division One South, Mile End Stadium, Limehouse, E14 7SX, 3pm
- West Essex v Southend Manor, Essex Senior League, Wadham Lodge Sports Ground, Brookscroft Road, Chapel End, Hale End, E17 4TA, 12.30pm
- Ilford v Takeley, Essex Senior League, Green Lane, Seven Kings, IG1 1XW, 3pm
- Newbury Forest v Burnham Ramblers, Eastern Counties League Division One South, Redbridge FC & Barkingside FC, Station Road, Barkingside, IG6 1NA, 3pm
- Buckhurst Hill v Saffron Walden Town, Essex Senior League, Roding Lane, Buckhurst Hill, Epping Forest, Essex, IG7 6BH, 3pm
- Hornchurch v Margate, Isthmian League Premier Division, Hornchurch Stadium, Ingrebourne Way, Upminster, RM14 2LS, 3pm
- Aveley v Brightlingsea Regent, Isthmian League Division One North, Parkside, Lance Corporal Nicky Mason Way, Aveley, Thurrock, RM15 4EF, 3pm
- Brentwood Town v Grays Athletic, Isthmian League Division One North, Brentwood Centre Arena, Doddinghurst Road, Brentwood, Essex, CM15 8SA, 3pm
- Billericay Town v Carshalton Athletic, Isthmian League Premier Division, New Lodge, Blunts Wall Road, Billericay, Essex, CM12 9SA, 3pm
- Basildon United v Felixstowe & Waltham United, Isthmian League Division One North, The Hive, Gardiners Close, Basildon, SS14 3AW, 3pm
For more information about Non-League Day 2023, click here.
