Steve Evans (footballer born 1979)

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Steve Evans
Personal information
Full name Steven Evans
Date of birth 26 February 1979 (1979-02-26) (age 29)
Place of birth    Wrexham, Wales
Height 6'5ft
Playing position Defender
Club information
Current club Wrexham
Senior clubs1
Years Club App (Gls)*
1999-2006
2001-02
2006-		 TNS
→ Oswestry Town (loan)
Wrexham		 152 (24)
006 0(1)
057 0(4)   
National team2
2006- Wales 006 0(0)

1 Senior club appearances and goals
counted for the domestic league only and
correct as of 12:56, 29 May 2007 (UTC).
2 National team caps and goals correct
as of 22:36, 18 May 2008 (UTC).
* Appearances (Goals)

Steven "Steve" Evans (born February 26, 1979) is a Welsh professional footballer who plays for Football League Two side Wrexham and is a full Welsh international.

[edit] Career

Evans began his career with as a trainee at Crewe Alexandra and West Bromwich Albion but was not offered a professional contract by either club.[1] He joined Welsh Premier side TNS in the summer of 1999, playing in the title-winning side of 2000.[1] He struggled to keep a first-team place in the 2001–02 season due to injury and joined Oswestry Town on loan.[2] After six appearances for Oswestry Town, he returned to TNS and played in the title winning sides of 2005 and 2006[3] and the 2005 Welsh Cup with victory over Carmarthen Town.[4]

He won the Welsh Premier player of the season award for 2004–05[1] and made nine appearances for the Welsh semi-professional side.[5] Evans played two games against the then-European champions Liverpool in the summer of 2005; TNS lost both legs 3-0 but he and the rest of the side were praised for their performances against a side containing the likes of England midfielder Steven Gerrard with Liverpool manager saying, "TNS were well organised and they did well. We saw them on videos before the tie and we knew that they would be prepared.".[6] Evans was inducted as a New Saints legend in May 2008.[7]

In February 2006, Evans impressed for the Saints in an FAW Premier Cup semi-final against Wrexham, scoring an equaliser in extra-time to force the game into penalties,[8] and joined Wrexham on a two-year deal in June 2006.[9] He had made over 150 league and cup appearances for TNS.[1] Wrexham manager, Denis Smith, said of him, "He can be as good as he wants to be - maybe he could even do a good job for Wales. Steve's good in the air, can pass well and reads the game. He's older and wiser and benefits from experience."[10]

After joining the Racecourse club, he scored on his home debut against Grimsby Town in a 3–0 win.[11] However, he was sent-off for two bookings against rivals, Chester City at the Deva Stadium in August 2006; Denis Smith, however, said that he had "...been outstanding for me since coming into the League. He was looking a bit 'leggy', he's finding full-time football a bit different, but he'll learn from this."[12] In spite of that setback, Evans made a seamless transition from the largely semi-professional League of Wales to the fully professional Football League Two, making 40 league and cup appearances for Wrexham in the 2006–07 season,[13] which was interrupted by a five-match ban during March 2007 for having been sent off three times in the season,[14] and 32 league and cup appearances in the 2007–08 season.[15] Following Wrexham's relegation to the Football Conference at the end of the 2007–08, he was out of contract and was considering his options.[16] He signed a new one-year deal with Wrexham in June 2008, with an option for a further twelve months.[17]

Since joining Wrexham, he also impressed Wales manager John Toshack and made his international debut for Wales in a friendly against Liechtenstein in November 2006.[18] He was called up again for Wales 0-0 draw against Northern Ireland in February 2007 when he was praised by John Toshack who said, "Steve's in a difficult situation at the bottom of the league with Wrexham, but he's come into our last two games and not put a foot wrong. He handled all the aerial stuff and has shown he can step up a level."[19] He has made a total of six appearances for his country.[5]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d Welsh Premier career details for Steve Evans. Welsh Premier players. welsh-premier.com. Retrieved on 2008-05-18.
  2. ^ "Town shake up defence", Daily Post (Liverpool), 2001-11-10. Retrieved on 2008-05-18. 
  3. ^ "McKenna praises 'dominant' TNS", BBC Sport, 2006-04-15. Retrieved on 2008-05-18. 
  4. ^ "TNS 1-0 Carmarthen", BBC Sport, 2005-05-08. Retrieved on 2008-05-18. 
  5. ^ a b Steve Evans. Men - A Squad. Football Association of Wales. Retrieved on 2008-05-18.
  6. ^ "Benitez praise for TNS goalkeeper", BBC Sport, 2005-07-19. Retrieved on 2008-05-18. 
  7. ^ "Saints induct four club legends", BBC Sport, 2008-05-14. Retrieved on 2008-05-18. 
  8. ^ "Wrexham 3-3 TNS (aet)", BBC Sport, 2006-02-01. Retrieved on 2008-05-18. 
  9. ^ "Wrexham sign TNS defender Evans", BBC Sport, 2006-06-23. Retrieved on 2008-05-18. 
  10. ^ "Evans can play for Wales - Smith", BBC Sport, 2006-06-25. Retrieved on 2008-05-18. 
  11. ^ "Wrexham 3-0 Grimsby", BBC Sport, 2006-08-06. Retrieved on 2008-05-18. 
  12. ^ "Smith backs Evans after dismissal", BBC Sport, 2006-08-21. Retrieved on 2008-05-18. 
  13. ^ Wrexham 2006/2007 player appearances. Soccerbase. Racing Post. Retrieved on 2008-05-18.
  14. ^ "Evans stung with five-match ban", BBC Sport, 2007-02-26. Retrieved on 2008-05-18. 
  15. ^ Wrexham 2007/2008 player appearances. Soccerbase. Racing Post. Retrieved on 2008-05-18.
  16. ^ "Wrexham will wait and see over Evans", Flintshire Standard, North Wales Newspapers Ltd, 2008-05-16. Retrieved on 2008-05-18. 
  17. ^ "Wales' Evans sticks with Wrexham", BBC Sport, 2008-06-10. Retrieved on 2008-06-11. 
  18. ^ "Wales 4-0 Liechtenstein", BBC Sport, 2006-11-14. Retrieved on 2008-05-18. 
  19. ^ "Toshack praises Evans' resilience", BBC Sport, 2007-02-07. Retrieved on 2008-05-18. 

[edit] External links

v • d • e
Wrexham A.F.C. – current squad

1 T. Williams • 2 Spender • 4 Pejic • 5 S. Evans • 6 Hope • 10 Proctor • 12 Ward • 15 Mike Williams • 18 Mackin • 19 Fleming • 20 Done • 21 Marc Williams • 22 Murtagh • 24 G. Evans • 25 Taylor • 29 Aiston • 31 Baynes • 36 Tremarco • 38 Whelan •  Carden • Manager: Little