Jack Evans
Played soccer for Wrexham, Cardiff and Wales.
- Born:
-
31
JAN
1889
- Died:
-
1971
- Place of Birth:
- Bala
- Biography:
-
Born in Bala, Jack Evans began playing for Bala Wanderers before moving to Welshpool FC.
He played for Wrexham between 1908 and 1909 when he suffered a shoulder injury and was told he might never play again. He moved to Glamorganshire to take up a job as a printer and began competing in amateur football, playing for Cwmparc near Aberdare while his shoulder improved. At this time Jack came to the attention of Cardiff City and subsequently became the first ever professional signed by the club, for the princely sum of six shillings!  Cardiff's Ninian Park ground was opened on 1 September 1910 and Evans scored the first goal for Cardiff in their first match at the ground, a friendly against Aston Villa. Cardiff eventually lost the game 2-1.
After serving in the Army during World War I, Evans returned to play for Cardiff and also played for the Welsh national side. He gained the nickname The Bala Bang because of his powerful shots and was also known for his accuracy, which was attributed to his coaching by Billy Meredith, Wales' first football superstar. Evans' career at Ninian Park ended in 1925 and he eventually retired from football in 1928. He died in Cardiff in 1971.
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Harold Jones from Y Bala
The great Jack Evans - I knew his brother Dick - he was old, I was young. Our son now lives right across the street from the Evans home. I was honoured to play for Bala FC in the 1950s - not a goal-scorer like Jack, but goalkeeper.
Mon May 19 09:43:55 2008
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