Smith chose cricket rather than football as a career, but his beloved Hammers is where the heart is

AS Jarrod Bowen raced through on goal in the final minute to win the 2023 UEFA Conference League for West Ham, a fellow England international was running for a bus so he could tune in.

- BY KEITH WEBSTER

Jamie Smith once entertained thoughts of a football career but instead dons the gloves and pads for Ben Stokes’ cricket team that will soon be heading Down Under for the Ashes.

But two years ago, he had professional duty on the night his beloved Hammers were in Prague, taking on Fiorentina, when Bowen's (far right) late goal ensured a famous 2-1 win.

Smith told the West Ham club website: “I was playing for Surrey in a T20 Blast game in Cardiff and for county T20 games you have to hand your phones in, like you do at international level, so I didn't actually have my phone. I came off halfway through our game and was told we were 1-0 up. So I was obviously pretty pleased with that while we were out fielding.