Evans: Paul Anthony (Paul)

1995-1997 (Player Details)

Goalkeeper

Born: Newcastle, Natal, South Africa: 28-12-1973

Debut: Nil

6'3" 14st (2002)

Evans started his career with Wits University in South Africa in 1991 after signing semi-professional forms at the age of eighteen. There he had twice won major trophies and represented South Africa at Under-Twenty-Three level and twice played against Leeds player Phil Masinga in League games. His parents were both Welsh and so he was qualified to play for Wales but he chose to represent the country of his birth, South Africa. After one hundred and forty appearances for Wit, he joined Leeds United for £50,000 on 1st August 1995. While he was at Leeds he was the third choice keeper initially behind John Lukic and Mark Beeney. When Lukic left Nigel Martyn was bought to become United's first choice keeper. It was on 29th January 1997 that, when Nigel Martyn was sidelined, Mark Beeney stepped up for his only game of that season against Derby County and Evans found himself on the bench but was not used. With little or no chance for further advancement at Leeds he had already been loaned out to Crystal Palace in March 1996 and then was also loaned to Bradford City in March 1997 before being released at the end of the 1996-97 season. He returned to South africa where he trialed with Wits University, Supersport United and Mamelodi Sundowns before making the first team at Jomo Cosmos in August 2001, where he made thirty appearances. He returned to English football in March 2002 when he joined Huddersfield Town until Sheffield Wednesday signed Evans from them on a free transfer on 12th July 2002 as backup to Kevin Pressman. He made his debut for Wednesday against Derby County on 15th February 2003. Despite conceding two goals in his debut game, Evans had a decent spell at Hillsborough and went on to keep three clean sheets and concede just three goals in his next six games. At the end of the 2002–03 season, however, he fractured his pelvis. His new contract offer was withdrawn and he was released at the end of the season whilst still recovering from his injuries. He made seven League appearances while at Hillsborough. Several months later, after also having trials with Crewe Alexandra he joined Division Two side Rushden & Diamonds on 13th October 2003 on a non-contract basis, for an initial one month. He made his debut at Oxford United in a Football League Trophy game (then known as the LDV Vans Trophy) on 15th October 2003 and then he appeared in two League appearances and one more LDV Vans Trophy match and one F.A. Cup game, his final match, at Swansea City on 8th November 2003, after his contract had been extended, before leaving the club on 1st December 2003. An untimely injury, this time a shoulder problem, prevented progress at Nene Park and Rushden brought in Jamie Ashdown on loan as his replacement. When he recovered there was a possibilty of returning to Huddersfield Town but the South Wales based Evans chose Southern League side Bath City in January 2004. Several minor injuries disrupted his first two seasons with Bath but he proved to be one of the best City keepers for many years and missed just seven league games once he became the regular first choice for Bath and had made two hundred and seventeen appearances for them before he left Bath in April 2009 and emigrated to Perth Australia. Evans represented South Africa eight times at Under-Twenty-Three level and had two full caps. Evans has had several injury problems and had to withdraw from South Africa's squad for 1998 World Cup in France with a snapped cruciate ligament to his right knee, having replaced the injured Andre Arendse and was himself replaced by Simon Gopane when, after sitting on the bench for the opening game against France, the knee injury which was sustained in training cut his involvement short.