A winning night: for David Moyes, for Hammers fans and for our star turn Jarrod Bowen, says Mickey Ambrose
Wednesday 7 June 2023 is a date all Hammers fans will never forget, when the club defeated Fiorentina 2-1 in a tense Europa Conference League victory in the beautiful city of Prague.
Declan Rice now joins a special club of just two West Ham captains who have lifted silverware – Bobby Moore and Billy Bonds. It had been a 43-year wait, since their 1980 FA Cup Final victory.
Nor will the wild and heart-felt celebrations on the Slavia Prague Pitch ever be forgotten, as the tears flowed from an ecstatic David Moyes and Mark Noble.
The most touching part of the evening came with the very final humongous club photo, not just with players, but including the entire backroom staff – trainers, admin staff and even the club’s tea-lady. They were all there, all equal, all hugging each other enjoying the greatest moment of their lives.
The Hammers fans quickly developed an endearing chant begging Declan Rice to stay at the club for just one more year. It’s not to be, but Declan’s future return visits to the London Stadium will be something to savour.
Finally, I would like to remember David Gold, who sadly passed away in January, followed by the untimely death of his daughter Jacqueline. Many of the Hammer’s fans would have felt their presence on the night and have to thank him and his board for holding their nerve and standing behind David Moyes. They didn’t follow the likes of Leeds and Leicester and sack their manager. They know David Moyes is building something special at the Olympic Stadium.
Unlike Leicester and Leeds West Ham not only survived the drop but went on to achieve their greatest triumph of modern times, whilst David Moyes joins another prestigious club – Scottish Managers to lift European Silverware. The list now reads: Sir Matt Busby, Jock Stein, William Waddell, Bill Shankly, George Graham, Sir Alex Ferguson AND David Moyes.
Bowen, a hero of our time, makes West Ham bubble again
Players like Jarrod Bowen are not supposed to exist in the modern age of football, where complex IT driven scouting systems hoover up the future football superstars by the hundreds for Premier League academies, before they even have a wisp of hair on their young impressionable chins.
After unsuccessful trials with both Aston Villa and Cardiff City a young Jarrod began his career at non-league Hereford United, making just 8 appearances with a single goal, before moving to Hull City for six years, where he played just 124 games scoring 52 goals.
I cannot remember the last time any player had such a burden of expectation, hope and history bearing down on them in open play. It will be fascinating to see how far Jarrod, now 26 and approaching his peak, can now go in his career.
However, like Arsenal and West Ham Legend Sir Ian Wright, Jarrod has proven that non-league players can succeed on the largest of stages and they do not get much bigger than a major European final.
The hardest goal for any striker to score is when you have time to think – after all, the instinctive header, touch or volley are second nature.
However, in the final minute of the match, with 30 yards to run, a world class defender snapping at your heels, and the keeper narrowing the angle, all the while knowing you can win West Ham’s first major trophy in 43 years – that is real pressure, under which only the finest of players do not crack.
As for the game itself, West Ham’s only efforts of note in the first half came from Antonio, who drew a routine save in the first minute, and Rice, who flashed an effort wide when a long throw by Vladimir Coufal spilled to the edge of the penalty box.
Fiorentina created little either, until the fourth minute of added time at the end of the first half when they had a goal ruled out for offside.
Christian Kouame climbed above Coufal to head against a post and Luka Jovic was first to the rebound, heading it over the line as he was accidently kicked in the face by Soucek. The flag went up, backed by VAR and the teams trailed down the tunnel for half-time.
Jovic did not return for the second half, replaced by Arthur Cabral. The game did not change until Benrahma’s penalty jolted the match into life. It was given for a remarkably lame handball against Biraghi.
The referee checked the touchline monitor, made the infamous square in the air and pointed to the spot. Benrahma held his nerve, to send Terracciano the wrong way.
Fiorentina hit back quickly, whilst producing their best football of the final. Gonzalez headed a high ball down into the penalty area and Giacomo Bonaventura hit an unstoppable shot into the corner, 1-1.
The theatrics increased. From the Italians, rolling around as if they had been shot, and some West Ham fans started throwing plastic cups onto the pitch. Fiorentina striker Nico Gonazalez, having won a corner, caught one and pretended to take a drink.
The mood turned when a vape hit Cristiano Biraghi on the back of his head. He needed treatment and a bright purple bandage was wrapped around his head.
Suddenly the final was uncorked. And then it came, the moment for Jarrod Bowen to write his name into West Ham folklore. He did not disappoint.
He gathered the perfect pass from Lucas Paqueta, then somehow managed a super-human burst amongst a field of tiring legs. Bowen powered into midfield, leaving two defenders in his wake, as the goalie came out, he powered a controlled drive, that just clipped the legs of the Fiorentina keeper. David Moyes could not believe his eyes and bounced onto the pitch like Zebedee from the Magic Roundabout.
This time, West Ham protected their lead for eight long, long minutes. At last came the final shrill of the referee’s whistle and West Ham United’s long wait for a new glory day was over and they became the 2023 Europa Conference League champions. Then came the celebrations which were as memorable as the match itself.
After 48 years in Professional Football, something tells me the story does not end in Prague. West Ham are back and the prospects of more success in the 2023/24 season will see the London Olympic Stadium bursting at the seams.
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