Bowen Bangs the answers in
an interview with jason bowen
This season ATFV will be concentrating its fundraising efforts on helping Jason Bowen through our ‘Bang em in for Bowen’ campaign. The Editor couldn’t resist the opportunity to pose the former Swans a few questions just before the season started…and here’s Bowen banging in his answers…
“I feel okay in myself, but unfortunately the disease has taken hold of my left arm and hand. I remain positive and throw myself at all treatments available to me.”
“The fundraising has been going extremely well. I can’t thank my friends, family and former clubs enough I never thought I would get this much support it has been overwhelming. To see faces I have not seen in such a long time and to catch up with old team mates has been brilliant and mentally has really brought me so much strength and happiness. It makes things not seem so bad when you have a good support system around you.”
“Just brilliant to catch up, although emotional! They have all given up so much time for me they are all just amazing, I can’t thank them enough. I love just talking about our old playing days together we all have such a bond that can never be broken.”
“Myself and my family were all invited down to watch the last game of the season against West Brom, from start to finish we were treated like royalty. They had me on the pitch and fans all clapped for me it was a very emotional experience for myself and family. It was a day that will always be remembered. Also for my parents to be part of that was wonderful.”
“Ron Walton was my coach at Georgetown Boys Club, Merthyr Tydfil. Steve Jenkins and myself were going back n forth with Ron for a number of years before we signed our YTS forms. So we got to know the club and players who made us feel really welcome. It was one of the easiest decisions I’ve ever made!”
“Yes he was scary, but also very fair and honest! That’s what you want from a Manager as a player…. He was the best Manager I have ever played under by a mile. A few years ago he actually turned up at my home and unfortunately I wasn’t in but he got to meet my sons which was great, he was staying in a local hotel and remembered where I lived. I was gutted I didn’t get to see him, although he filled my boys in on a few stories about me.”
“It was amazing it holds so many great memories for me that I will never forget. My professional football career started at the Vetch. I always loved to play on the side of the North Bank because of the atmosphere. The fans were brilliant!!”
“Steven Jenkins we have been best mates since we were 5 years old and I hold him in such high regard as a friend and footballer… I could always rely on Jenks as we played for such a long time together. Every time a left back lost me Jenks would always be there to get me out of trouble.”
“No not really all the lads and supporting staff were great, there wasn’t one bad egg amongst us!”
“Yes it was amazing to play at Wembley in front of 50k fans and the win on the day was just the icing on the cake… memories to last a lifetime!”
“When we lost Alan Davies I was an apprentice at the time and I was his boot boy. It didn’t just affect me it affected the whole club., such a tragic loss.”
“At the time it felt like the right move and in hindsight it was because that season a few players left including Frank.”
“I would have liked to have represented my country more than twice but unfortunately it didn’t happen for me.”
“Yes the club has had an amazing rise, I think the club has a philosophy of just playing football and they have stuck by it through the years and I think they’ve picked the Managers by sticking to the philosophy of the club. It has worked very well for them. I have always followed them and their results and still do.”
“I still think the club is in a strong position and hopefully won’t be long before they return to the Premiership. If they can keep hold of their best players and add one or two to enhance it.”
“Time will tell.” [Sat right on the fence there, Jas – Ed.]
“Yes he’s done ever so well at his previous clubs and hopefully he continues this at the Swans.”
“I think they will do well and definately make the play offs I have everything crossed for them!!!”
ATFV would like to thank Jason for taking part in this interview and we look forward to fundraising for and with him this season.
