I didn’t actually see the major incident early on involving James Beadle the first time I watched him play. But I certainly heard it.
It was an Albion under-23s game at the Amex against Derby County and I was writing an as-it-happens report.
So, when the ball went safely through to the young goalkeeper who had come from Charlton, it was a good chance to look down and type a few words while nothing was happening in the game.
Then came the sound. A sort of collective groan, a bit like an “uuuffff!”, from those scattered around the West Lower.
I looked up and saw Derby striker Jack Stretton putting the ball into an empty net.
I did not know what had happened and had no one to ask. The goal was not shown on the screens and the club Twitter account, understandably, did not go into detail.
It felt and sounded like Beadle, ball at feet under no pressure, had probably gifted it to his opponent.
Which, of course, is exactly what HAD happened.
But what happened next to this young goalkeeper that evening? Well, he held up his hand to apologise, went to say something to defender Ed Turns and then kept playing his passes and trusting himself.
He also made three excellent saves, as the match report confirms, as Albion won 5-1 with goals by Jack Spong and Todd Miller, with two apiece, plus Cam Peupion while Andrew Moran sparkled.
That was three-and-a-half years ago. Beadle was 17. He will be 21 next month.
Those involved that night have taken their own paths since then.
Spong and Miller spent last season at Worthing and Wealdstone respectively.
Albion duo head for Euros final as Elliott double wins it for England
Stretton, the recipient of the gift, tended to be on the bench for Burton Albion last term.
Beadle, meanwhile, is eyeing a Euros final with England under-21s after their 2-1 semi-final win over Holland.
And, as at the Amex that night in 2022, he appears to be maintaining a level of calm and quiet confidence about it all.
Now a ‘veteran’ of 91 EFL appearances, he says the 21s have done what they intended to do in Slovakia.
Beadle and versatile Jack Hinshelwood, playing at left-back, both impressed against Holland as Harvey Elliott scored twice.
Albion’s Brajan Gruda then went on as sub to score the final goal as a strong-looking Germany beat France 3-0 in the second semi.
Beadle told Channel 4: “It’s unbelievable. It’s what we set out to do before the tournament started, so I’m buzzing.
“When you go from 1-0 to 1-1, it’s a tough blow, but I think we reacted really well and then got to 2-1 with a brilliant goal from Harvey.
“We believe we can beat anyone. It doesn’t matter who we’re playing against, we believe in our qualities and we’ll be going there to win.”
Beadle, who soared to claim a last-gasp corner and secure the win, appears to have a big fan in Channel 4 pundit Joe Cole.
The former England midfielder had already praised the goalkeeper early in the competition.
After the Holland game, he said: “There was a cross right at the end when he’s come out.
“Me and Jermain [Defoe, fellow pundit] both said, ‘He’s going to punch that’, which would have been a nervous thing to do, but he managed to compose himself mid-action and catch it.
Albion duo head for Euros final as Elliott double wins it for England
“When you’re on the back foot and you’re hanging on, and defending set pieces, and your goalie just comes out and plucks it out the air, it’s a relief.
“He’s got so much potential. As a goalkeeper, you have to dominate that area.
“In big moments in games, you need someone to be calm and come for crosses.”
Beadle’s progress through the EFL via loan deals is very similar to the path followed by defender Ben White on his way to the senior England team.
White went through the divisions step by step, via Newport County, Peterborough and Leeds.
There have been occasional mishaps along the way but he helped Wednesday climb the table.
He is now widely expected to go on loan to Birmingham City as they return to the second tier, although that has not been confirmed.
Should it happen, he will team up with another member of that 23s side who beat Derby in midfielder Marc Leonard.
Back at the Euros, Germany look favourites for the final. They beat England 2-1 in the group stage and had made plenty of line-up changes for the game.
'He has all the attributes' - Albion sign teenage goalkeeper
Star striker Nick Woltemade and Gruda were among the players who were rested that day.
Nelson Weiper, who also scored in the semi, rose at the far post to head them into a 2-0 lead against England.
But the Young Lions were the better side in the second half as they reduced arrears and that will give hope.
Hinshelwood, like some colleagues, has looked better with each game since being slotted in at left-back having previously operated in midfield and at right-back in Slovakia.
The final takes place in Bratislava on Saturday (8pm) and will be shown live on Channel 4.
Meanwhile, Albion goalkeeper Tom McGill is with the Canada squad who have reached the quarter-finals of the CONCACAF Gold Cup.
They play Guatemala in Minnesota on Sunday.
McGill, 25, has so far been on the bench during the tournament.
Share