James Ward-Prowse took a moment to reflect on the significant achievement of passing the 400-appearance milestone in the Premier League before insisting he is in no mood to slow down.
The Irons’ No8 was presented with a special award at Rush Green by a representative from the league on Wednesday, following his all-important outing in the narrow 3-2 defeat at Brighton & Hove Albion on 26 April aged just 30 years, five months and 25 days.
All at the training ground, including Ward-Prowse’s teammates, took a moment to recognise such a feat, with the eleven-time capped England international - who has since featured against Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United - now 43rd in the division’s all-time appearance ranks, and behind only Brighton’s James Milner and Ashley Young of Everton in terms of players still competing at the top level.
Still with plenty of years ahead of him, Ward-Prowse acknowledged the special feeling of joining an illustrious list of players to have made such a big contribution to England’s top flight, including the likes of former Hammers Mark Noble, Kevin Nolan and Teddy Sheringham, having started out with simpler hopes as a youngster at Southampton.
“It’s not been the best season for me personally, but one big positive has been making my 400th Premier League appearance,” Ward-Prowse said. “It’s something my family have been big on in particular, and they let me know about it in the lead-up to the Brighton game.
“It’s a really special milestone, because you start out as a kid just wanting to make your Premier League debut, to score a Premier League goal and things like that.
“So, to be sat here now having made 400 appearances in the division makes all the sacrifices, the work and the dedication over the years feel like it’s all been worth it. It’s a special achievement, and I’ve already got my eyes on 500, now!”
After making two appearances in domestic cup competitions during the Saints’ promotion-winning 2011/12 season, Ward-Prowse was thrust into the starting XI for their first match back in the Premier League, for his debut in the competition away at defending champions Manchester City in August 2012.
Then aged just 17, he completed 65 minutes of the narrow 3-2 defeat at Etihad Stadium before tallying a total of 15 top-flight appearances by the end of 2012/13, while he notched his first goal in the competition in his 69th such game, a penalty in a home win over Hull City in April 2015.
Ward-Prowse continued: “That Manchester City game is obviously one of the biggest highlights of my career. It was a bit of a crazy situation, with us just having come up and City having won the league the year before.
“It had been the Euros during the summer, and I remember thinking about the players who I’d seen on TV that I’d be coming up against in the days leading up to the match. It was a bit of a pinch-me moment, and I was really nervous, but Kelvin Davis - our goalkeeper - just hugged me before we went out on to the pitch and told me to enjoy it.
“I’ll also obviously always remember that first goal against Hull, which was a penalty I wasn’t even supposed to be taking!
“I’d come on at half-time, and when we got the penalty, I thought Sadio Mané was going to take it. The manager, Ronald Koeman, then signalled to our captain, José Fonte, for me to take it. I’d never really practiced penalties, but I guess he knew I liked to take a free-kick, and he’d seen something in me.
“The Hull goalkeeper, Steve Harper, got a slight hand to it, but it went in and it was an incredible feeling. I celebrated pretty wildly, but I wasn’t going to hold back after scoring my first Premier League goal!”
After making his 100th Premier League appearance against Sunderland in March 2016, aged only 21, Ward-Prowse captained his boyhood club for the first time in the division against Burnley in August 2019 before marking his 343rd and final top-flight game for Southampton with a goal in a 4-4 home draw with Liverpool in May 2023.
Following his switch to West Ham that summer, in August 2023, he contributed two assists in a 3-1 win over Chelsea on his debut in Claret and Blue, and then scored his first goal for the Club a week later, in a 3-1 win away at Brighton.
Ward-Prowse featured in 37 of the Irons’ 38 Premier League matches last term, and while he endured a challenging first half of 2024/25 on loan at Nottingham Forest, he has appeared in each of the 12 top-flight games since his return, and is now hungrier than ever to deliver success at London Stadium.
He added: “I’ve had lots of Premier League highlights during my time here at West Ham, including the Chelsea and Brighton games. The goal in the win at Tottenham last season sticks out as a highlight, as well. To score the winner in a derby like that was special.
“This year, it’s not been the season I or the Club wanted, and I’m still waiting for that free-kick goal to get the record, but the win at Manchester United last weekend was special, and one for the fans who have supported us through thick and thin. We just want to finish the season off in style for them now, starting against Nottingham Forest on Sunday.”
Everyone at West Ham United would like to congratulate James on reaching such a significant milestone.
The Hammers’ 21st and final Official Programme of 2024/25 is led by an extensive interview with Ward-Prowse, in which he reflects more on the season, his loan spell at Forest and his Premier League memories. Click HERE to get your copy.
