Dick Evans (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Richard "Dick" Evans was an English
footballer, who played at outside-right, spending most of his career with Burslem Port Vale
as well as a two-year spell at Southampton
where he won two Southern League
championships.
in November 1894 from Newcastle White Star. He soon slotted into the side well, becoming joint-top scorer with Danny Simpson
two seasons running; with 14 goals in 1896–97 and 11 in 1897–98, during which the club were playing in the Midland League
, having failed to be re-elected to the Football League
in 1896. He helped the club lift the Staffordshire Senior Cup
in 1898. He lost his place however, in February 1899 and signed for Reading
in the summer of 1899.
team Southampton
. He arrived at The Dell with a high reputation following his achievements with Port Vale. Nicknamed "Jammer", he had a deadly shot and was a quick and reliable right winger who rapidly became a favourite with the fans, who also loved his "never-say-die" spirit".
He made his debut in the opening game of the 1902–03
season, a 6–0 victory over Brentford
(in which John Fraser
scored a hat trick). He soon became a fixture on the right wing, with Joe Turner
on the left, although in January he lost his place to Scottish international Mark Bell
as a result of an injury, before returning at the end of February. In his first season with the "Saints" he played 23 matches, scoring seven goals, as Southampton claimed the Southern League title for the fifth time in seven years.
Evans started the 1903–04 season with three goals in the first three matches and was on the score sheet regularly, until December when a serious leg injury forced him to sit out most of the rest of the season, (being replaced first by Joe Turner
and then by Harry Turner
) only returning for the last three matches. Evans' nine goals from his 18 appearances helped Southampton claim the Southern League title for the sixth (and final) time.
Ill health and injuries forced his retirement in 1904 — in his two years at The Dell, he made 41 appearances (16 goals) and helped the team to claim two championship trophies.
in the Staffordshire Cup — he suffered a career ending injury and retired that year. He had played 134 matches (61 in the Football League
) and scored 49 goals (21 in the League) for Vale.
becoming the landlord of the London Arms in the Docks, a position he held until he retired in 1936. He then settled in Salisbury
, where he died in January 1942.
Southampton
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
footballer, who played at outside-right, spending most of his career with Burslem Port Vale
Port Vale F.C.
Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...
as well as a two-year spell at Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
where he won two Southern League
Southern Football League
The Southern League is an English football competition featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs from the South West, South Central and Midlands of England and South Wales...
championships.
Burslem Port Vale
Evans joined Burslem Port ValePort Vale F.C.
Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...
in November 1894 from Newcastle White Star. He soon slotted into the side well, becoming joint-top scorer with Danny Simpson
Danny Simpson (early footballer)
Daniel Simpson was an English footballer.-Playing career:Simpson played for Tunstall Town before joining Burslem Port Vale in February 1896, after a successful trial. He immediately went into the first 11 and having scored 14 goals 1896–97 and 11 goals in 1897–98 was joint-top scorer in two...
two seasons running; with 14 goals in 1896–97 and 11 in 1897–98, during which the club were playing in the Midland League
Midland Football League
There have been at least two different football competitions in England which used the name Midland Football League.One existed until 1982 before merging with the Yorkshire League to form the Northern Counties League....
, having failed to be re-elected to the Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
in 1896. He helped the club lift the Staffordshire Senior Cup
Staffordshire Senior Cup
The Staffordshire Senior Challenge Cup is a football cup tournament based in the county of Staffordshire in England first competed for in 1877-78. Organised by the Staffordshire Football Association, it is competed for by a mix of clubs from Staffordshire and the surrounding areas. Both...
in 1898. He lost his place however, in February 1899 and signed for Reading
Reading F.C.
Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship...
in the summer of 1899.
Southampton
In the close season of 1902, Evans moved from Reading to fellow Southern LeagueSouthern Football League
The Southern League is an English football competition featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs from the South West, South Central and Midlands of England and South Wales...
team Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
. He arrived at The Dell with a high reputation following his achievements with Port Vale. Nicknamed "Jammer", he had a deadly shot and was a quick and reliable right winger who rapidly became a favourite with the fans, who also loved his "never-say-die" spirit".
He made his debut in the opening game of the 1902–03
Southern Football League 1902-03
The 1902–03 Southern League season saw Southampton win Division One and Fulham finishing top of Division Two. No clubs applied to join the Football League.-Division One:There were no new clubs in Division One this season....
season, a 6–0 victory over Brentford
Brentford F.C.
Brentford Football Club are a professional English football club based in Brentford in the London Borough of Hounslow. They are currently playing in Football League One....
(in which John Fraser
John Fraser (footballer born 1876)
John Fraser was a Scottish professional footballer who was part of the Dundee team who won the Scottish Cup in 1910...
scored a hat trick). He soon became a fixture on the right wing, with Joe Turner
Joe Turner (footballer)
Joseph Turner was a professional footballer who played in the 1902 FA Cup final for Southampton. Southampton were a Southern League club at the time, and their feat was all the more remarkable in that they had already been losing finalists two years earlier...
on the left, although in January he lost his place to Scottish international Mark Bell
Mark Bell (footballer)
Mark Dickson Bell was a Scottish footballer who played for Heart of Midlothian in the early years of the Twentieth century, helping them to win the Scottish Cup in 1901, before moving to southern England where he won Southern League championships with Southampton and Fulham...
as a result of an injury, before returning at the end of February. In his first season with the "Saints" he played 23 matches, scoring seven goals, as Southampton claimed the Southern League title for the fifth time in seven years.
Evans started the 1903–04 season with three goals in the first three matches and was on the score sheet regularly, until December when a serious leg injury forced him to sit out most of the rest of the season, (being replaced first by Joe Turner
Joe Turner (footballer)
Joseph Turner was a professional footballer who played in the 1902 FA Cup final for Southampton. Southampton were a Southern League club at the time, and their feat was all the more remarkable in that they had already been losing finalists two years earlier...
and then by Harry Turner
Harry Turner (footballer)
Harry Turner was an English professional footballer who played as an outside forward for Southampton in the 1900s.-Football career:...
) only returning for the last three matches. Evans' nine goals from his 18 appearances helped Southampton claim the Southern League title for the sixth (and final) time.
Ill health and injuries forced his retirement in 1904 — in his two years at The Dell, he made 41 appearances (16 goals) and helped the team to claim two championship trophies.
Return to Port Vale
A return to Vale followed in September 1904, however in only his second game — a 1–0 home defeat by WolvesWolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
in the Staffordshire Cup — he suffered a career ending injury and retired that year. He had played 134 matches (61 in the Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
) and scored 49 goals (21 in the League) for Vale.
After football
After his brief sojourn back in the Potteries, he returned to SouthamptonSouthampton
Southampton is the largest city in the county of Hampshire on the south coast of England, and is situated south-west of London and north-west of Portsmouth. Southampton is a major port and the closest city to the New Forest...
becoming the landlord of the London Arms in the Docks, a position he held until he retired in 1936. He then settled in Salisbury
Salisbury
Salisbury is a cathedral city in Wiltshire, England and the only city in the county. It is the second largest settlement in the county...
, where he died in January 1942.
Honours
Port ValePort Vale F.C.
Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...
- Staffordshire Senior CupStaffordshire Senior CupThe Staffordshire Senior Challenge Cup is a football cup tournament based in the county of Staffordshire in England first competed for in 1877-78. Organised by the Staffordshire Football Association, it is competed for by a mix of clubs from Staffordshire and the surrounding areas. Both...
winner: 1898
Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
- Southern LeagueSouthern Football LeagueThe Southern League is an English football competition featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs from the South West, South Central and Midlands of England and South Wales...
championship: 1902–03 and 1903–04