Allan Evans (footballer)

{{For|the Australian rules footballer|Allan Evans (Australian sportsman)}}

{{Infobox football biography

| image = Alan Evans.jpg

| name = Allan Evans

| fullname = Allan James Evans{{Hugman|5997|access-date=6 April 2017}}

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1956|10|12|df=y}}

| birth_place = Dunfermline, Scotland

| death_date =

| height = {{height|ft=6}}{{cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/rothmansfootball00roll |url-access=registration |title=Rothmans Football Yearbook 1980–81 |editor-first=Jack |editor-last=Rollin |publisher=Queen Anne Press|location=London |year=1980 |isbn=0362020175 |page=[https://archive.org/details/rothmansfootball00roll/page/54 54]}}

| position = Defender

| currentclub =

| youthyears1 =

| youthclubs1 =

| years1 = 1973–1977

| years2 = 1977–1989

| years3 = 1989–1990

| years4 = 1990

| years5 = 1990–1991

| clubs1 = Dunfermline Athletic

| clubs2 = Aston Villa

| clubs3 = Leicester City

|clubs4 = Victoria Vistas

| clubs5 = Darlington

| caps1 = 98

| caps2 = 380

| caps3 = 14

| caps4 = 27

|caps5= 1

| goals1 = 14

| goals2 = 51

| goals3 = 0

| goals4 = 7

|goals5=0

| totalcaps = 516

| totalgoals = 72

| nationalyears1 = 1982

| nationalteam1 = Scotland{{SFA Profile|id=113771|name=Allan Evans}}

| nationalcaps1 = 4

| nationalgoals1 = 0

| manageryears1 = 2000

| manageryears2 = 2000–2001

| managerclubs1 = West Bromwich Albion

| managerclubs2 = Greenock Morton

}}

Allan James Evans (born 12 October 1956) is a Scottish former footballer who played for Dunfermline Athletic (1973–77), Aston Villa (1977–89),{{Cite web |url=http://www.english-premiership.com/teams/aston-villa/ |title=Aston Villa FC – English Premiership League |access-date=20 October 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100906103151/http://www.english-premiership.com/teams/aston-villa/ |archive-date=6 September 2010 |url-status=dead }} Leicester City (1989–90) and Darlington (1990–91).

Playing career

Evans began his senior career as a forward, at his home town club, Dunfermline Athletic. His career peaked at Aston Villa, where he formed a pivotal centre back partnership with Ken McNaught. They won the English league title in 1980–81 and was part of Villa's 1982 European Cup winning team. They also beat Barcelona over two legs to win the Super Cup in the following season.Plowright, Frank. "Scott's Man." In Always Next Year No. 3. Guildford, UK: WSC Books, 2001. 60.{{Cite web |url=http://www.qosfc.com/new_newsview.aspx?newsid=1215 |title=Willie McNaught (And Ken) |access-date=7 June 2014 |archive-date=7 April 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150407083606/http://www.qosfc.com/new_newsview.aspx?newsid=1215 |url-status=dead }} Evans later became Villa club captain and helped them win promotion back to the First Division in 1988.

He finished his playing career with short, uneventful spells at Leicester City, Victoria Vistas,{{Cite web|title=Alan Evans soccer Statistics on StatsCrew.com|url=https://www.statscrew.com/minorsoccer/stats/p-evansala001|access-date=2021-08-03|website=statscrew.com|language=en}}{{cite web|url=https://www.timescolonist.com/sports/draws-with-mls-sides-put-bounce-in-cpl-s-step-as-pacific-fc-gears-for-forge-1.23884475|title=Draws with MLS sides put bounce in CPL's step as Pacific FC gears for Forge|website=Times Colonist|date=12 July 2019|accessdate=15 September 2021}} and Darlington before retiring in 1991.

Evans won four caps for Scotland, all in 1982, and was a member of their 1982 World Cup squad.

Coaching

Evans returned to Aston Villa as assistant manager in 1995.

Evans also managed Torpoint Athletic F.C. where he invited Aston Villa to Torpoint's home ground during the pre-season of 1995/96.

Evans also managed Saltash United.

On 19 May 2007, Evans was appointed as a youth team coach at Plymouth Argyle F.C.

Evans is the first team coach of Truro College's Football Development Programme.

Honours

Aston Villa

Football League First Division: 1980–81
FA Charity Shield: 1981 (shared){{cite web|title=1981/82 Charity Shield|url=http://www.footballsite.co.uk/Statistics/CommunityShield/1981-82CharityShield.htm|publisher=footballsite.co.uk|access-date=4 November 2019}}
European Cup: 1981–82
European Super Cup: 1982