Steve Evans (footballer born 1979)

Football player infobox
playername = Steve Evans


fullname = Steven Evans
dateofbirth = Birth date and age|1979|2|26|df=y
cityofbirth = Wrexham
countryofbirth = Wales
height = height|ft=6|in=5
currentclub = Wrexham
clubnumber = 5
position = Defender
youthyears =
youthclubs =
years = 1999–2006
2001–2002
2006–
clubs = Total Network Solutions
→ Oswestry Town (loan)
Wrexham
caps(goals) = 152 (24)
006 0(1)
057 0(4)
nationalyears = 2006–
nationalteam = Wales
nationalcaps(goals) = 007 0(0)
pcupdate = 12:56, 29 May 2007 (UTC)
ntupdate = 16:46, September 10 2008 (UTC)

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

Club 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.cite web|url=http://www.welsh-premier.com/player_detail_solo.php?player_id=406|title=Welsh Premier career details for Steve Evans |work=Welsh Premier players|publisher=welsh-premier.com|accessdate=2008-05-18] He joined Welsh Premier side TNS in the summer of 1999, playing in the title-winning side of 2000. He struggled to keep a first-team place in the 2001–02 season due to injury and joined Oswestry Town on loan. [cite news|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-79929190.html|title=Town shake up defence|date=2001-11-10|publisher=Daily Post (Liverpool)|accessdate=2008-05-18] After six appearances for Oswestry Town, he returned to TNS and played in the title winning sides of 2005 and 2006 [cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/league_of_wales/4910832.stm|title=McKenna praises 'dominant' TNS |date=2006-04-15|publisher=BBC Sport|accessdate=2008-05-18] and the 2005 Welsh Cup with victory over Carmarthen Town. [cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/league_of_wales/4527765.stm|title=TNS 1-0 Carmarthen |date=2005-05-08|publisher=BBC Sport|accessdate=2008-05-18]

He won the Welsh Premier player of the season award for 2004–05 and made nine appearances for the Welsh semi-professional side.cite web|url=http://www.faw.org.uk/teams/1/19|title=Steve Evans|work=Men - A Squad|publisher=Football Association of Wales|accessdate=2008-05-18] 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.". [cite news|url=http://search.bbc.co.uk/cgi-bin/search/results.pl?q=Evans+TNS+Liverpool&scope=all&tab=ns&recipe=all|title=Benitez praise for TNS goalkeeper |date=2005-07-19|publisher=BBC Sport|accessdate=2008-05-18] Evans was inducted as a New Saints legend in May 2008. [cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/league_of_wales/7398921.stm|title=Saints induct four club legends |date=2008-05-14|publisher=BBC Sport|accessdate=2008-05-18]

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, [cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/league_of_wales/4667162.stm|title=Wrexham 3-3 TNS (aet)|date=2006-02-01|publisher=BBC Sport|accessdate=2008-05-18] and joined Wrexham on a two-year deal in June 2006. [cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/wrexham/5110308.stm|title=Wrexham sign TNS defender Evans |date=2006-06-23|publisher=BBC Sport|accessdate=2008-05-18] He had made over 150 league and cup appearances for TNS. 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." [cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/wrexham/5113610.stm|title=Evans can play for Wales - Smith |date=2006-06-25|publisher=BBC Sport|accessdate=2008-05-18]

After joining the Racecourse club, he scored on his home debut against Grimsby Town in a 3–0 win. [cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_3/5248198.stm|title=Wrexham 3-0 Grimsby |date=2006-08-06|publisher=BBC Sport|accessdate=2008-05-18] 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."cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/wrexham/5271750.stm|title=Smith backs Evans after dismissal |date=2006-08-21|publisher=BBC Sport|accessdate=2008-05-18] 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, [cite web|url=http://www.soccerbase.com/squad_season.sd?teamid=2859&seasonid=136|title=Wrexham 2006/2007 player appearances|work=Soccerbase|publisher=Racing Post|accessdate=2008-05-18] which was interrupted by a five-match ban during March 2007 for having been sent off three times in the season, [cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/wrexham/6396623.stm|title=Evans stung with five-match ban |date=2007-02-26|publisher=BBC Sport|accessdate=2008-05-18] and 32 league and cup appearances in the 2007–08 season. [cite web|url=http://www.soccerbase.com/squad_season.sd?teamid=2859&seasonid=137|title=Wrexham 2007/2008 player appearances|work=Soccerbase|publisher=Racing Post|accessdate=2008-05-18] 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. [cite news|url=http://www.flintshirestandard.co.uk/wrexhamfc/Wrexham-will-wait-and-see.4092970.jp|title=Wrexham will wait and see over Evans|date=2008-05-16|work=Flintshire Standard|publisher=North Wales Newspapers Ltd |accessdate=2008-05-18] He signed a new one-year deal with Wrexham in June 2008, with an option for a further twelve months. [cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/wrexham/7446356.stm|title=Wales' Evans sticks with Wrexham|date=2008-06-10|publisher=BBC Sport|accessdate=2008-06-11]

International career

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. [cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/6119190.stm|title=Wales 4-0 Liechtenstein |date=2006-11-14|publisher=BBC Sport|accessdate=2008-05-18] 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." [cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/wrexham/6339097.stm|title=Toshack praises Evans' resilience |date=2007-02-07|publisher=BBC Sport|accessdate=2008-05-18] He has made a total of seven appearances for his country.

References

External links

*soccerbase|id=44266|name=Steve Evans
* [http://www.welsh-premier.com/player_detail_solo.php?player_id=406 Welsh Premier Players]