Gareth Evans (footballer, born 1988)

Gareth Charles Evans (born 26 April 1988) is an English professional footballer who plays as a winger for Portsmouth; however in recent seasons Evans has also served as a midfielder and at right back.

Gareth Evans
Evans playing for Fleetwood Town in 2013
Personal information
Full name Gareth Charles Evans[1]
Date of birth (1988-04-26) 26 April 1988
Place of birth Macclesfield, England[2]
Playing position(s) Midfielder
Club information
Current team
 Portsmouth
Number 26
Youth career
1994–1995 Crewe Alexandra
1995–2002 Manchester United
2002–2006 Crewe Alexandra
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2006–2007 Crewe Alexandra 0 (0)
2006 → Leigh RMI (loan)
2007 → Alsager Town (loan)
2007–2009 Macclesfield Town 82 (19)
2009–2011 Bradford City 79 (14)
2011–2013 Rotherham United 45 (9)
2013–2015 Fleetwood Town 93 (10)
2015– Portsmouth 172 (32)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 22:23, 15 February 2020(UTC)

Evans began his career as a youth player with both Manchester United and Crewe Alexandra. He went professional in 2006, but struggled to break into the Crewe first team and went on loans to Leigh RMI in 2006, and Alsager Town in 2007, then moved to his hometown club, Macclesfield Town in that same year. He signed for Bradford City in 2009, before he left them to sign for Yorkshire rivals Rotherham United in June 2011. Evans joined Fleetwood Town on the opening day of the 2013 January transfer window following his departure from Rotherham. Evans signed for Portsmouth FC on 28 July 2015.

Career

Crewe Alexandra

Born in Macclesfield, Evans started his career with Manchester United as part of the youth setup.

Despite being touted as a future star by Alex Ferguson he decided to re-join Crewe Alexandra under Dario Gradi due to their excellent record for mentoring youth players. He had previously been with Crewe from the age of seven before joining Manchester United where he stayed until 14 years of age.

Due to the relegation of Crewe in 2005–06 season and the judgement of the new Manager, Steve Holland, Evans was released by the club.

Macclesfield Town

After leaving Crewe, Evans played in the PFA exit trials and joined Port Vale under Martin Foyle. He scored and impressed in pre-season for them and went on the pre-season tour, but as Foyle had already signed several players that summer, no budget was available for younger inexperienced players. As a result, however, he was recommended to Ian Brightwell at Macclesfield Town so that he could gain experience of league football. Evans signed for the League Two side during the 2007–08 season. He was given the number 26 jersey. Still just 20, he became a first team regular scoring twelve goals and with a number of assists including a goal at West Ham in the Carling Cup. His energy and work rate made him a big hit with the Macclesfield fans.

Bradford City

On 1 July 2009, Bradford signed Evans from Macclesfield for an undisclosed fee believed to be £30,000. He made his debut on the opening day of the season, coming on as a second-half substitute against eventual league winners Notts County.[3] He scored his first Bradford goal in a 5–4 away win to Cheltenham.[4] In November during a 1–1 home draw against Accrington, Evans missed a last minute penalty, that hit a fan in the lower tier of the stand behind the goal, knocking them to the ground.[5] He finished his first season with the Bantams with 11 goals, including two braces in wins against Torquay and Northampton.[6] The first goal in the match against Northampton was nominated for Mitre Goal of the Year and finished in the top 10.[7] His finished his second season with three goals, coming in wins against Stevenage, Stockport and Lincoln.[8] He was released by Bradford at the end of the season, and signed for Yorkshire neighbours and League Two rivals Rotherham United on 3 June 2011.[9]

Rotherham United

He scored two goals on his debut for the Millers against Plymouth, as Rotherham won 4–1.[10] He scored again in two home wins against Gillingham and Dagenham, and then in successive away draws against Morecambe and Northampton. He returned to face former club Bradford for the first time in November, however he was injured after just 12 minutes and had to be substituted.[11] On 28 April 2012, he scored a penalty in a 2–2 draw against Aldershot Town.[12] His first two goals of the following season came against former club Bradford on 1 September 2012.[13]

Fleetwood Town

On 1 January 2013, Evans moved to League Two side Fleetwood Town on a free transfer.[14] He scored his first goal for the club on 23 March, in a 2–1 win against Dagenham & Redbridge.[15]

Portsmouth

On 28 July 2015, Evans completed a move to League Two side Portsmouth on a one-year deal.[16] In his first season, Evans was a regular choice as the right-winger in Paul Cook's preferred 4-2-3-1 formation; playing as a more traditional wide-player than Kyle Bennett on the opposite flank, hugging the touchline, getting crosses into the box and seeking to provide a goalscoring threat. Evans managed to scored 10 League goals as he racked up 48 appearances in all competitions.

Despite a summer overhaul by the manager, during which Carl Baker was brought in to challenge for Evans' spot, and the resurgence of Kal Naismith, Evans remained a key member of the Portsmouth squad in the 2016/17 promotion campaign. Though the midfielder missed pre-season with an injury sustained in the previous campaign's playoff semi-final, upon his return Evans quickly established himself in the first-team in a new position: at right-back. Evans successfully kept natural right-back and summer signing Drew Talbot on the bench throughout the season, as Portsmouth claimed promotion via the League Two Championship, making more than 40 appearances across all competitions and establishing himself as the team's first-choice penalty taker.

On 18 May 2017 Evans signed a new 2-year contract at Portsmouth, keeping him at the club until 2019.[17] During the 2018–2019 season, Evans primarily has started as a midfielder under manager Kenny Jackett, playing behind wingers Jamal Lowe and Ronan Curtis.[18] In the 2017-18 league one season, Evans played vice-captain role to Brett Pitman. In the 2018–19 season, with the inconsistent form of Pitman, Evans has become the squads' first-choice captain.[19]

Career statistics
As of 6 July 2020[20]
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Macclesfield Town 2007–08 League Two 427101010457
2008–09 League Two 40122021004413
Total 82193031108920
Bradford City 2009–10 League Two 43111010204711
2010–11 League Two 363101000383
Total 79142020208514
Rotherham United 2011–12 League Two 327101000347
2012–13 League Two 132001010152
Total 459102010499
Fleetwood Town 2012–13 League Two 161000000161
2013–14 League Two 336302160447
2014–15 League One 433101011464
Total 921040317110612
Portsmouth 2015–16 League Two 40104020204810
2016–17 League Two 415111030466
2017–18 League One 322001041373
2018–19 League One 42105010835613
2019–20 League One 175302060285
Total 172321317023421537
Career total 4698322117234554592

Honours

Club

Rotherham United

Fleetwood Town

Portsmouth

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References
  1. "Notification of shirt numbers: Portsmouth" (PDF). English Football League. p. 56. Retrieved 25 October 2019.
  2. Rollin, Glenda; Rollin, Jack, eds. (2012). Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2012–2013 (43rd ed.). London: Headline. p. 523. ISBN 978-0-7553-6356-8.
  3. "Notts County 5–0 Bradford" BBC Sport. 8 August 2009. Retrieved 10 February 2012.
  4. "Cheltenham 4–5 Bradford" BBC Sport. 22 August 2009. Retrieved 10 February 2012.
  5. "Fan pays penalty for Evans miss" BBC Sport. 23 November 2009. Retrieved 10 February 2012.
  6. "Club Statistics" Bradford City. Retrieved 10 February 2012.
  7. "Evans up for Mitre Goal of the Year" Bradford City. 23 February 2011. Retrieved 10 February 2012.
  8. "Club Statistics" Bradford City. Retrieved 10 February 2012.
  9. "Evans joins Rotherham United" Bradford City. 3 June 2011. Retrieved 10 February 2012.
  10. "Plymouth 1–4 Rotherham" 13 August 2011. Retrieved 10 February 2012.
  11. "Bradford 2–3 Rotherham" 19 November 2011. Retrieved 10 February 2012.
  12. "Aldershot 2–2 Rotherham" BBC Sport. 28 April 2012. Retrieved 1 September 2012.
  13. "Rotherham 4–0 Bradford" BBC Sport. 1 September 2012. Retrieved 1 September 2012.
  14. "Gareth Evans, David Lucas & Mozesh Gyorio sign". BBC Sport. Retrieved 1 January 2013.
  15. "Fleetwood 2–1 Dag & Red". BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 March 2013.
  16. "EVANS PENS POMPEY DEAL". Portsmouth FC. 28 July 2015.
  17. "New Deal For Evans". Portsmouth FC. 18 May 2017.
  18. "Pompey boss weighs up midfield future for Evans". Retrieved 4 September 2018.
  19. "Pompey fans back Evans as vice-captain". Retrieved 4 September 2018.
  20. Gareth Evans at Soccerbase
  21. Anderson, John, ed. (2013). Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2013–2014. London: Headline Publishing Group. pp. 306–307. ISBN 978-0-7553-6413-8.
  22. Maiden, Phil (26 May 2014). "Burton Albion 0–1 Fleetwood Town". BBC Sport. Retrieved 6 May 2019.
  23. Anderson, John, ed. (2017). Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2017–2018. London: Headline Publishing Group. pp. 298–299. ISBN 978-1-4722-3397-4.
  24. Williams, Adam (31 March 2019). "Portsmouth 2–2 Sunderland". BBC Sport. Retrieved 6 May 2019.
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