There was a time when Pete Beadle knew he couldn't help him anymore.
The rest of the callow kids were trying to force their way out of the youth team and into the big time, while watching him on the training pitch.
The 16-year-old from nearby Leominster was a member of the first team at the time.
Nine years later, he could be playing for England.
Beadle told the radio station that he was privileged to have played a part in his pathway.
It is nice to see that he has gotten the rewards he has deserved.
Thanks to his outstanding form with West Ham, Bowen is preparing for a potential debut for his country in Hungary on Saturday in the Nations League.
The teenager was different when Beadle was his academy coach.
Billy Murphy went to Bristol City from us but was the stand out of that academy side, which also included Jamie Gregory and Owen Evans.
He needs to step up to the first team after about five months of training with us.
We spoke to the manager and he said that he was not getting anything from us. Martin took him.
A few of the first-team players came up to me and said he was going to be a player. He is better than some of the players we have.
The Bulls were in a fight to stay in the Conference premier division, which meant that the first-team chance for Bowen didn't materialise under Foyle.
The elevation of Beadle to the hot seat changed that.
The Bulls went on to secure their survival on goal-difference against the backdrop of major financial problems, thanks in part to the first goal scored by a teenager in front of the fans in the Meadow End.
When Martin left, I had no hesitation in putting him in because he made us better.
He has supported the club he played for as a young boy. He scored his first goal at the Meadow End and celebrated with his mates that were jumping up at the wall.
At the end of the previous year, the club was able to survive on the field, but not off it.
The financial issues deepened and they were wound up in the High Court over a six-figure tax debt.
After returning to Edgar Street to play a pre-season friendly against the newly formed Hereford FC, his career blossomed as he moved on to Hull City.
He joined West Ham in January 2020 for a fee of around 20m and this season has been a revelation.
His 18 goals and double-figure assists propelled the Hammers to the semi-finals of the Europa League and, after mixing it with the top-four contender for much of the season, a seventh-place finish in the league.
Now to England.
He's been knocking on the door of the England set-up and I think this season he's become someone West Ham can't do without.
His whole career has been a fairytale.
The rise of the player who dragged tractor tires across a potato field as a kid to find an edge in his strength and stamina has been some rise. The way it has given him an attitude to hard work is what Beadle is not surprised about.
I think that comes from his humble background. He is a very humble boy and his philosophy is that you have to work, according to Beadle.
When he was in the youth team, his work-rate was amazing. He covered a lot of ground when he played Bournemouth in the second round of the FA Cup.
It would be close to 15 kilometres if we had a gps device. He was happy to do it because he knew what the team needed.
He is an infectious character and when he closes down and does the work it spurs other people on.
If he can show it on the highest stage, he will be a top top player.
From Hull to the Hammers, Bowen has forced his way into the big time. Now for Hungary.
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