Gareth Evans (footballer, born 1987) explained

Gareth Evans
Fullname:Gareth David Evans
Birth Date:10 January 1987
Birth Place:Wrexham, Wales
Position:Defender
Youthyears1:1997–2001
Youthclubs1:Brickfield Rangers
Youthyears2:2001–2003
Youthclubs2:Wolverhampton Wanderers
Years1:2003–2004
Clubs1:Cefn Druids
Caps1:31
Goals1:0
Years2:2004–2009
Clubs2:Wrexham
Caps2:26
Goals2:0
Years3:2007
Clubs3:Northwich Victoria (loan)
Caps3:1
Goals3:0
Years4:2008
Clubs4:Tamworth (loan)
Caps4:1
Goals4:0
Years5:2009
Clubs5:Austin Aztex FC
Caps5:21
Goals5:0
Years6:2009–2010
Clubs6:Vauxhall Motors
Caps6:1
Goals6:0
Years7:2010
Clubs7:Real Maryland Monarchs
Caps7:17
Goals7:0
Years8:2010–2011
Clubs8:Chester (loan)
Caps8:1
Goals8:0
Years9:2011
Clubs9:Wilmington Hammerheads FC
Caps9:20
Goals9:0
Years10:2011
Clubs10:Carolina RailHawks
Caps10:8
Goals10:0
Years11:2012–2013
Clubs11:Wilmington Hammerheads FC
Caps11:48
Goals11:1
Years12:2014–2016
Clubs12:OKC Energy
Caps12:54
Goals12:2
Manageryears1:2021–
Managerclubs1:OKC Energy (asst.)
Club-Update:10 June 2021

Gareth David Evans (born 10 January 1987) is a Welsh retired footballer. Evans is currently an assistant coach for OKC Energy FC in the USL Championship.

Career

England and Wales

Evans is a former Newi Cefn Druids player, who made 31 appearances, 25 as substitute, for the club in the Welsh Premier League during the 2003–04 season.[1] He joined Wrexham in 2004 and signed a professional contract in summer 2006, after initially being told that the club could not afford to give him one.[2]

He broke into the first-team in the 2006–07 season, making 14 league and cup appearances.[3] Manager Denis Smith praised Evans and fellow centre-back, Mike Williams, after a 1–0 win over Darlington in December 2006, saying, "It's possibly the youngest centre-back pairing the club's ever put out and I think they did tremendously well. I'm delighted with the way they played and I think the lads applied themselves well in difficult circumstances."[4] Evans signed a new two-year contract in May 2007.[5]

Evans was loaned to Northwich Victoria and Tamworth during the 2007–08 season but also made another 14 league and cup appearances for Wrexham[6] as the club unsuccessfully battled against relegation from the Football League.[7]

United States

Evans left Wrexham in January 2009 to continue his footballing career in the United States,[8] and joined USL First Division club Austin Aztex FC in February 2009.[9] He was released by the Aztex at the end of the 2009 season.[10]

After a brief stint back home with Conference North side Vauxhall Motors[11] in late 2009, Evans signed with USL Second Division side Real Maryland Monarchs in 2010.

In October 2010, Evans joined Chester until March 2011, when he returned to the United States to play for Los Angeles Blues in the USL Professional League.[12] He made his debut for Chester on 9 October as a 76th-minute substitute against Harrogate Railway Athletic.

Upon returning to the United States in spring 2011, Evans trained with LA Blues, with whom he had signed a contract, but did not remain with the club. On 5 April 2011 he signed with Wilmington Hammerheads of the USL Pro.[13] At season's end he joined Carolina RailHawks FC for the remainder of the 2011 North American Soccer League season. Evans re-signed with Wilmington for 2012 on 5 December 2011.[14]

After two seasons with Wilmington, Evans joined Oklahoma City Energy FC for its 2014 season.[15]

Evans retired from professional football following the 2016 season and entered a coaching role with Oklahoma City's youth partner, Oklahoma Energy FC. In June 2021, he returned to the pro club as an assistant coach.[16]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Welsh Premier career details for Gareth Evans . Welsh Premier League Football. 2008-06-07.
  2. News: Evans' unexpected Wrexham chance . 2 August 2006. BBC Sport. 2008-06-07.
  3. Web site: Games played by Gareth Evans in 2006/2007. Soccerbase. 2008-06-07.
  4. News: Smith hails rookie centre-backs. 23 December 2006. BBC Sport. 2008-06-07.
  5. News: Wrexham re-sign youngster Evans . 31 May 2007. BBC Sport. 2008-06-07.
  6. Web site: Games played by Gareth Evans in 2007/2008. Soccerbase. 2008-06-07.
  7. News: Wrexham go out of Football League . 22 April 2008. BBC Sport. 2008-06-07.
  8. News: Backlog not a problem for Terry. 5 January 2009. Evening Leader. North Wales Newspapers Ltd . 2009-02-11.
  9. Web site: Aztex sign two players from open tryouts . Austin Axtex FC official site . 2009-02-11 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090227115734/http://www.austinaztex.com/home/305844.html . 27 February 2009 .
  10. http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=3925825 Austin Announces Release Of 14 Players From The 2009 Squad
  11. Web site: Macauley recruits two . vmfc.com . 9 December 2009 . 2009-12-09.
  12. http://labluesprosoccer.com/home/488532.html LA Blues Sign Welsh Defender
  13. Web site: United Soccer Leagues (USL) . 2014-05-02 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120313083521/http://uslpro.uslsoccer.com/home/514650.html . 13 March 2012.
  14. Web site: United Soccer Leagues (USL) . 2011-12-06 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120527230736/http://uslpro.uslsoccer.com/home/583565.html . 27 May 2012.
  15. Web site: Energy FC - . 2014-02-19 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140222050037/http://www.energyfc.com/en/news-node-15.html . 22 February 2014.
  16. Web site: ENERGY FC BRINGS BACK CLUB LEGEND GARETH EVANS AS ASSISTANT COACH . EnergyFC.com . 10 June 2021.