Paul Evans (footballer)

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Paul Evans, (born 1 September 1974, in Oswestry) is a Welsh international footballer who currently plays for Swindon Town.

Evans is a tough-tackling, hard-working, whole-hearted performer who can play in the center or on the right of midfield. He works tirelessly for his team has scored the odd goal every now and again.

Evans started his career with Shrewsbury Town and signed professional 1993 when he was 19 years old. Evans went on to make over 200 appearances for the Gay Meadow outfit and scored 36 goals. Then, West London club Brentford signed him for £110,000. It was while at Brentford that Evans famously scored goals in consecutive games from the half way line, first at home to Preston North End, then at Burnley. During his time at Brentford Evans gained his first Wales cap and the attention of higher league clubs. He played 157 games for them, in which every game was on the starting 11. He managed to hit the net 34 times.

It was Bradford City who got his signature when they signed him on a shock free transfer from Brentford. He made 15 appearances in his first season with them and scored 2 goals. He was later loaned out to Blackpool for a couple of months, where he made 10 appearances scoring once. When he returned to Bradford he forced his way into the first team due to a few of the usual performers being injured. He played another 25 games and scored another 3 goals. After the regulars returned to full fitness he was loaned out again, this time to Nottingham Forest.

After a month, Forest paid just £25,000 for his services on a permanent basis when he proved to be a bargain buy as he was one of the best performers under Joe Kinnear's Forest side that was relegated at the end of the 04-05 season. Shortly before their relegation Gary Megson took charge of Forest and seemed to be fairly fond of Paul Evans and his performances, but in the 2005-2006 season when he was frozen out of Megson's plans.

After 45 appearances and 4 goals in his first season with Forest, he was not allowed to play reserve team football and lost his fitness. Luckily for Evans, the then Rotherham United boss and former Forest caretaker boss Mick Harford took him on loan to help regain his fitness. Unfortunately after only 4 appearances he suffered a knee injury due to him not playing any football for almost 7 months. He wasn't allowed to train with the Forest squad at one point.

Things seemed to be up for him, as when Megson left and Ian McParland and Frank Barlow took charge, he was allowed to continue training with Forest again and has played a few reserve games. But, despite many fans wanting to see him play for the club again, he was released at the end of the 05-06 season.

In July 2006 Evans was given a trial by Swindon Town boss Dennis Wise. He made his first appearance for the Town in the 1-1 draw against Reading F.C. and was subsequently offered a one-year deal, which he accepted. Evans soon became an integral part of Swindon's midfield, scoring a number of vital goals including a sublime 40 yard free kick against Wrexham FC.

Swindon Town F.C. - Current Squad
1 Brezovan | 2 J. Smith | 3 Vincent | 5 Ifil | 6 Williams | 7 Whalley | 8 Brown | 9 Roberts | 10 Peacock | 11 Monkhouse | 12 Shakes | 13 Stewart | 14 Gurney | 15 Nicholas | 16 Onibuje | 17 Comyn-Platt | 18 Evans | 19 Pook | 20 Brownlie | 21 Jutkiewicz | 23 Weston | 25 P. Smith | 28 Caton | 29 Rhodes | 33 Henry | Manager: Sturrock