| Gareth Evans | |
| Fullname: | Gareth Joseph Evans |
| Birth Date: | 15 February 1981 |
| Birth Place: | Leeds, England |
| Position: | Full back |
| Youthclubs1: | Leeds United |
| Years1: | 1998–2001 |
| Clubs1: | Leeds United |
| Caps1: | 1 |
| Goals1: | 0 |
| Years2: | 2001–2003 |
| Clubs2: | Huddersfield Town |
| Caps2: | 35 |
| Goals2: | 0 |
| Years3: | 2003–2006 |
| Clubs3: | Blackpool |
| Caps3: | 45 |
| Goals3: | 0 |
| Totalcaps: | 81 |
| Totalgoals: | 0 |
| Nationalteam1: | England U18 |
Gareth Joseph Evans (born 15 February 1981)[1] is a former professional footballer who played in the Football League as a full back for Leeds United,[2] Huddersfield Town[3] and Blackpool.[4] He was forced to retire at the age of 24 because of a longstanding knee injury.[5]
Evans started his career as a trainee at his hometown club Leeds United. In 1997, he was an unused substitute as a Leeds side including future internationals Jonathan Woodgate, Paul Robinson and Harry Kewell won the FA Youth Cup,[6] and he went on to be capped by England at under-18 level.[7] He made his first-team debut in the Olympic Stadium in Munich, as a substitute in a Champions League qualifier against 1860 Munich in August 2000,[8] but made only one more first-team appearance for Leeds before leaving to join Huddersfield Town on a free transfer in August 2001.[9] He assisted the Terriers in finishing in sixth place in Division Two, thus reaching the play-offs.[10] Injury kept him out for the whole of the 2002–03 season,[11] [12] at the end of which he was released.[13]
After a trial with the club, Evans then signed for Blackpool, initially on a monthly contract, then on a one-year deal with an option for a further year.[14] He missed the Seasiders victory in the 2004 Football League Trophy with a broken foot which cut short his season, but the club still took up the option on his contract.[15] Once he regained his place in the 2004–05 season, he played in a 10-match unbeaten run, but in February 2005 he sustained a knee injury which required surgery. His contract was extended for another year in May 2005,[15] but he never played again for the club, and retired from the professional game in 2006.[5] He went on to work in marketing for electronics distributor Premier Farnell.