Gareth Evans (footballer, born 1981)

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]

For other people named Gareth Evans, see Gareth Evans (disambiguation).

Gareth Evans
Personal information
Full name Gareth Joseph Evans
Date of birth (1981-02-15) 15 February 1981
Place of birth Leeds, England
Height 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Position(s) Full back
Youth career
Leeds United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1998–2001 Leeds United 1 (0)
2001–2003 Huddersfield Town 35 (0)
2003–2006 Blackpool 45 (0)
Total 81 (0)
National team
England U18
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Career

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.

References
  1. "Gareth Evans". leeds-fans.org. Retrieved 29 September 2009.
  2. "Leeds United : 1946/47–2008/09". UK A–Z Transfers. Neil Brown. Retrieved 29 September 2009.
  3. "Huddersfield Town : 1946/47–2008/09". UK A–Z Transfers. Neil Brown. Retrieved 29 September 2009.
  4. "Blackpool : 1946/47–2008/09". UK A–Z Transfers. Neil Brown. Retrieved 29 September 2009.
  5. "Blackpool defender retires". Sky Sports. 7 February 2006. Retrieved 29 September 2009.
  6. Bright, Christian (16 May 1997). "Matthews secures Leeds' triumph". The Independent. Retrieved 29 September 2009.
  7. Shaw, Phil (9 August 2000). "Depleted Leeds face battle for elite credibility". The Independent. Retrieved 29 September 2009.
  8. Shaw, Phil (24 August 2000). "Smith swoops to put Leeds in elite company". The Independent. Retrieved 29 September 2009.
  9. Marshall, Adam (9 August 2001). "Terriers Sign Leeds defender". Sky Sports. Retrieved 29 September 2009.
  10. "Games played by Gareth Evans in 2001/2002". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 29 September 2009.
  11. "Evans facing surgery". Huddersfield Town F.C. 8 August 2002. Archived from the original on 25 July 2011. Retrieved 29 September 2009.
  12. Higham, Paul (15 January 2003). "Evans set for further op". Sky Sports. Retrieved 29 September 2009.
  13. "Retained List". Huddersfield Town F.C. 21 May 2003. Archived from the original on 25 July 2011. Retrieved 29 September 2009.
  14. Buckingham, Mark (31 October 2003). "Evans earns Blackpool deal". Sky Sports. Archived from the original on 16 October 2012. Retrieved 29 September 2009.
  15. "Evans Extends Bloomfield Road Stay". Blackpool F.C. 24 May 2005. Archived from the original on 14 March 2012. Retrieved 29 September 2009.
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