Paul Evans (footballer)
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Paul Evans, (born 1 September 1974 in Oswestry, Shropshire) is an English-born Welsh international footballer who currently plays for Swindon Town.
Evans can play in the centre or on the right of midfield. He scores the odd goal every now and again.
Evans started his career with Shrewbury and signed professionally in 1993 when he was 19 years old. He went on to make over 200 appearances for the Gay Meadow club and scored 36 goals. West London club Brentford signed him for £110,000. It was while at Brentford that Evans famously scored goals in consecutive games from the half way line, first at home to Preston North End, then at Burnley. During his time at Brentford, Evans gained his first Wales cap and the attention of higher-division clubs. He played 157 games for them, all in the starting eleven. He managed to hit the net 34 times.
It was Bradford City who got his signature when they signed him on a free transfer from Brentford. He made 15 appearances in his first season with them and scored two goals. He was later loaned out to Blackpool for a couple of months, where he made 10 appearances, scoring once. When he returned to Bradford he forced his way into the first team due to a few of the usual performers being injured. He played another 25 games and scored another three goals. After the regulars returned to full fitness, he was loaned out again, this time to Nottingham Forest.
After a month at the City Ground, Forest paid £25,000 for his services on a permanent basis. He proved to be a bargain buy as he was one of the best performers in Joe Kinnear's side that was relegated at the end of the 2004-05 season. Shortly before their relegation, Gary Megson took charge of Forest, and in the 2005-06 season he was frozen out of Megson's plans.
After 45 appearances and four goals in his first season with Forest, Evans was not allowed to play reserve-team football and lost his fitness as a result. Then-Rotherham United boss and former Forest caretaker boss Mick Harford took him on loan to help regain his fitness. After only four appearances with the Millers, he suffered a knee injury.
When Megson left Forest and Ian McParland and Frank Barlow took charge, Evans continued training with Forest again and played a few reserve games; however, he was released at the end of the season.
In July 2006, Evans was given a trial by Swindon Town boss Dennis Wise. He made his first appearance for the Town in a 1-1 draw against Reading and was subsequently offered a one-year deal, which he accepted. Evans soon became an integral part of Swindon's midfield, scoring a number of vital goals including a 40-yard free kick against Wrexham.
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| Swindon Town F.C. - Current Squad |
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1 Brezovan | 2 J. Smith | 3 Vincent | 4 Zaaboub | 5 Ifil | 6 Williams | 7 Whalley | 8 Brown | 9 Roberts | 10 Peacock | 12 Shakes | 13 Stewart | 15 Nicholas | 16 Noubissie | 18 Evans | 19 Pook | 20 Brownlie | 21 Jutkiewicz | 22 B. Sturrock | 23 Weston | 24 Holgate | 25 P. Smith | 27 Wells | 28 Caton | 34 Timlin | Manager: P. Sturrock |
