Dennis Evans

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Dennis Joseph Evans (18 May 1930 – February 23, 2000) was an English football player.

Born in Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, Evans first played junior football for his hometown club, Ellesmere Port. He had an unsuccessful trial with Wolves, before signing for London side Arsenal in January 1951. After two years in the reserve and youth sides, he made his first-team debut for Arsenal against Huddersfield Town on August 22, 1953. Although, only a bit-part player that season, the next season he became Arsenal's regular left back, and stayed there for the next five seasons.

During this time, Evans also scored one of the most memorable own goals in football history; towards the end of a match against Blackpool on December 17, 1955, which Arsenal were winning 4-0, Evans heard a whistle from the crowd, and mistakenly thought the referee had blown for full-time. He kicked the ball in triumph, which ended up flying past Arsenal goalkeeper Con Sullivan and into his own net; the goal stood but Arsenal held on to win 4-1.

With a calm composure, physical strength and a powerful left foot, he was a near ever-present during his Arsenal career, and became Arsenal's preferred penalty taker in 1956; he scored twelve goals for the club in his 207 appearances, including seven in 1958-59. For a short spell he was also Arsenal captain, and he played for the London XI in the 1955-58 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup semi-finals. However, the Gunners were going through a lean spell and were unable to challenge for honours, meaning Evans never won a medal.

Evans was Arsenal's first choice left back right up until a match against Wolves on August 29, 1959, in which he broke his ankle. After recovering, he was not quite the same player he was, and made only six more appearances for the first team that season (his last coming against Tottenham Hotspur on January 16, 1960), before stepping down to the Arsenal reserve side. He remained an Arsenal player until 1963, helping to coach to the youth and reserve teams, and later had a spell at Luton Town doing the same. After that he left football entirely and later worked as chauffeur. He died in 2000, aged 69.