Rhys Evans

Football player infobox
playername = Rhys Evans


fullname = Rhys Karl Evans
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1982|1|27|df=y
cityofbirth = Swindon
countryofbirth = England
height = height|ft=6|in=1
currentclub = Bradford City
clubnumber = 1
position = Goalkeeper
youthyears =
youthclubs =
years = 1998–2003
2000
2001–2002
2002
2003–2006
2006–2008
2007
2008
2008–
clubs = Chelsea
→ Bristol Rovers (loan)
→ Queens Park Rangers (loan)
→ Leyton Orient (loan)
Swindon Town
Blackpool
→ Bradford City (loan)
Millwall
Bradford City
caps(goals) = 000 (0)
004 (0)
011 (0)
007 (0)
118 (0)
032 (0)
004 (0)
021 (0)
010 (0)
nationalyears = 2003
nationalteam = England U21
nationalcaps(goals) = 002 (0)
pcupdate = 15:52, 11 October 2008 (UTC)
ntupdate = 09:46, 1 August 2008 (UTC)

Rhys Karl Evans (born 27 January 1982) is an English footballer who plays for Bradford City. He is a goalkeeper. Born in Swindon, Wiltshire, he began his career with Chelsea, where he stayed five years without playing a game, but had loan spells at three other clubs. In 2003, he moved to his hometown club Swindon Town, where he ended up playing more than 100 games in three seasons. In his final season at Swindon, he won all the club's player of the season awards, but following their relegation to Football League Two, he turned down a new contract offer and instead signed for Blackpool. However, he fell out of favour after less than a year with Blackpool, and initially moved to Bradford City on loan, before he returned to London, with Millwall on a short-term contract. After his contract was not extended, he returned to Bradford City.

Club career

Chelsea

Evans started his career in 1998 at Chelsea, with whom he stayed until he was released 2003. [cite news
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/swindon_town/2982678.stm
title=Swindon's doubt over Evans
date=2003-06-11
accessdate=2008-08-08
publisher=BBC Sport] During his time at the club he was sent out on loan to Bristol Rovers in February 2000, with whom he played four games; Queens Park Rangers from November 2001 to April 2002, making eleven appearances; and Leyton Orient from August to November 2002, playing seven games. He also had a spell on trial with A.F.C. Bournemouth before the start of the 2002–03 season, where he impressed, but instead opted to join Leyton Orient. [cite news
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/bournemouth/2174239.stm
title=Cherries eye keeper loan
date=2002-08-05
accessdate=2008-08-08
publisher=BBC Sport] [cite news
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/bournemouth/2193696.stm
title=O'Driscoll left frustrated
date=2002-08-14
accessdate=2008-08-08
publisher=BBC Sport]

windon Town

In August 2003, Evans attracted interest from another Premier League club Bolton Wanderers, [cite news
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/swindon_town/3028610.stm
title=Bolton target Evans
date=2003-06-28
accessdate=2008-08-08
publisher=BBC Sport] but instead joined his local club, Swindon Town, on a free transfer.cite web |title=players: Rhys Evans |publisher=soccerbase |url=http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=19341 |accessdate=2008-01-22 ] He made his debut for the club on 12 August, 2003, in a League Cup match at Southend United, which Swindon won 3–2. His league debut came on 30 August, 2003, in a 2–2 draw against Blackpool. He remained the club's first-choice goalkeeper for the rest of the 2003–04 season, missing just one match with a back injury. The following season, 2004–05, Evans remained the club's first-choice goalkeeper until April 2005 when he was dropped for the first time after a match against Luton Town, although he was installed back in the team after just one match out. With his contract running out at the end of the season he turned down a move to Leeds United and instead signed a one-year contract extension with Swindon. [cite news
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/swindon_town/4091062.stm
title=Swindon closing in on Evans deal
date=2005-06-14
accessdate=2008-08-10
publisher=BBC Sport]

The 2005–06 season began for Evans with a knee injury, when he was forced to play early matches in pain as the club had no back-up goalkeeper available. When Swindon signed Tom Heaton on loan from Manchester United until 2 January, 2006, it allowed Evans to have exploratory surgery on the knee. He also spent time at Lilleshall rehabilitation centre before his comeback to the first team in late 2005, when he again established himself. The season ended in relegation for Swindon Town to Football League Two, and Evans won a clean sweep of all the club's "player of the season" awards.

Blackpool

With his contract again up at the end of the season, new Swindon manager Dennis Wise, offered Evans a one-year contract, [cite news
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/swindon_town/4757713.stm
title=Quintet offered new Swindon deals
date=2006-05-10
accessdate=2008-08-10
publisher=BBC Sport] which Evans turned down as he wished to play at a higher level than League Two. On 1 July 2006, he signed a two-year contract with Blackpool on a free transfer. [cite news
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/blackpool/5031004.stm
title=Evans will make Blackpool switch
date=2006-05-30
accessdate=2008-08-10
publisher=BBC Sport]

Evans made 39 consecutive appearances in the 2006–07 league season. On 27 February 2006, he was dropped by Blackpool manager Simon Grayson in favour of then on-loan Paul Rachubka for a match at Oldham Athletic, in which Rachubka kept a clean sheet in a 1–0 win.cite news |title=Duel to be No.1 for Keeps |publisher=Blackpool Gazette |date=2008-01-22 |url=http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/sports-news/Duel-to-be-No1-for.2090372.jp |accessdate=2008-01-22] In April 2007, Evans picked up a hernia injury that required surgery. This kept him out of the side until May. Both the on-loan Rachubka and Blackpool's third-choice keeper, Lewis Edge, also suffered concurrent injuries, which led to Blackpool bringing in Manchester City's Joe Hart on loan as an emergency stand-in.

Following promotion to the Football League Championship Rachubka, who by then had signed permanently for the club, remained the first-choice goalkeeper. Evans' only appearances in the first part of the 2007–08 season came in the League Cup against Premier League club Derby County on 28 August 2007, which Blackpool won on penalties after the game ended 2–2 in extra time, and then in the next round of the same competition against Southend United which Blackpool won 2–1 after extra time.

On 5 October 2007, Blackpool sent Evans on a month's loan to League Two club Bradford City in order to help him resurrect his career. He made his debut for Bradford against Milton Keynes Dons, his first start in the league since February.cite news |last=Parker |first=Simon |title=Evans hoping to get on side with fans |publisher=Bradford Telegraph and Argus |date=2007-10-08 |url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/display.var.1744566.0.evans_hoping_to_get_on_side_with_fans.php |accessdate=2008-01-04 ] However, after just four games, he returned to Blackpool following an injury to his left shoulder, sustained in a 1–1 draw with Grimsby Town on 27 October 2007.cite news |last=Crowther |first=Mike |title=Unhappy end for Evans |publisher=Bradford Telegraph and Argus |date=2007-10-29 |url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/display.var.1793841.0..php |accessdate=2008-01-04 ] While he was at Bradford, Evans had created controversy after publicly criticising the Blackpool fans in an interview with the "Telegraph & Argus".cite news |title=Rhys blasts fans: 'We don't like each other' |publisher=Blackpool Gazette |date=2007-10-11 |url= http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/sports-news/Rhys-blasts-fans-39We-don39t.3368272.jp |accessdate=2008-01-22 ] He was warned by Blackpool manager Simon Grayson that he would have to accept "whatever comes his way" when he returned to Blackpool.cite news |title=Crocked keeper Rhys comes home early |publisher=Blackpool Gazette |date=2007-10-27 |url=http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/sports-news/Crocked-keeper-Rhys-comes-home.3423487.jp |accessdate=2008-01-22 ]

Millwall

On 22 January 2008, Evans signed for Millwall on a free transfer until the end of the 2007–08 season. [cite news |title=Transfer Latest |url=http://www.blackpoolfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10432~1221679,00.html |publisher=Blackpool F.C.'s official website |date=2008-01-22 |accessdate=2008-01-22] cite news | title = Jeepers Keepers | publisher = Millwall F.C. | date = 2008-01-22 | url = http://www.millwallfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10367~1221817,00.html | accessdate = 2008-01-22 ] He conceded two late goals on his Millwall debut as they lost a two-goal lead to draw 2–2 with Nottingham Forest. [cite news
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_2/7197685.stm
title=Millwall 2-2 Nottm Forest
date=2008-01-23
accessdate=2008-01-23
publisher=BBC Sport] Evans played 21 league games and one FA Cup game for Millwall during the season, [cite web
url=http://www.soccerbase.com/squad_season.sd?seasonid=137&teamid=1699
title=Millwall 2007/2008 player appearances
publisher=Soccerbase
accessdate=2008-05-24] and although Millwall eventually avoided relegation, manager Kenny Jackett decided not to extend Evans' contract beyond the 2007–08 season.

Bradford City

In July 2008, he was given another chance to shine at Bradford City when he was offered a trial by manager Stuart McCall. He played several pre-season friendlies, before he signed a one-year contract on 1 August 2008 ahead of the 2008–09 season. [cite news
url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sportbcfc/sportbcfcheadlines/3563000.Rhys_earns_his_keep/
title=Rhys earns his keep
date=2008-08-01
accessdate=2008-08-01
publisher=Telegraph & Argus
first=Simon
last=Parker]

International career

Evans represtened England at Under 18 and Under 20 level, [cite news
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/bournemouth/2146568.stm
title=Keeper set for Cherries trial
date=2002-07-23
accessdate=2008-08-08
publisher=BBC Sport] before he made his debut for the England Under 21 team in 2003 against Serbia and Montenegro but was stretchered off with a back injury to be replaced by Stephen Bywater. [cite news
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/2957966.stm
title=England U21s claim late win
date=2003-06-02
accessdate=2008-08-08
publisher=BBC Sport] In September 2003, he declined a second chance to play for the Under 21s preferring to work on establishing himself as Swindon Town first-choice goalkeeper.cite web |title=Player information: Rhys Evans |publisher=Swindon Town Football Club
url=http://www.swindown-town-fc.co.uk/ForceFrames.htm?http://www.swindown-town-fc.co.uk/Person.asp?PersonID=EVANSRHY
accessdate=2008-01-22]

Honours

Blackpool
*League One play-off final winner: 2006–07

References

External links

*soccerbase|19341|Rhys Evans
* [http://www.swindon-town-fc.co.uk/Person.asp?PersonID=EVANSRHY Swindon Town unofficial site biography]

Persondata
NAME = Evans, Rhys
ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
SHORT DESCRIPTION = Footballer
DATE OF BIRTH = 27 January 1982
PLACE OF BIRTH = Swindon, England
DATE OF DEATH =
PLACE OF DEATH =