Callum Evans
{{short description|English footballer (born 1995)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2019}}
{{Use British English|date=November 2019}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Callum Evans
| image =
| image_size =
| caption =
| fullname = Callum Leeroy Evans{{cite web |url=https://www.efl.com/siteassets/image/201920/efl-professional-retain-list--free-transfers---2018-19.pdf |title=Club list of registered players: As at 19th May 2019 |publisher=English Football League |access-date=23 June 2019}}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1995|10|11|df=y}}{{cite web |title=FootballSquads - Port Vale - 2019/2020 |url=http://www.footballsquads.co.uk/eng/2019-2020/fltwo/portv.htm |website=www.footballsquads.co.uk |access-date=1 February 2021}}
| birth_place = Bristol, England
| position = Right-back; left-back; midfielder
| currentclub =
| clubnumber =
| youthyears1 = 2010–2015
| youthclubs1 = Manchester United
| years1 = 2015–2017
| clubs1 = Barnsley
| caps1 = 3
| goals1 = 0
| years2 = 2017
| clubs2 = → Macclesfield Town (loan)
| caps2 = 2
| goals2 = 0
| years3 = 2017–2018
| clubs3 = Forest Green Rovers
| caps3 = 2
| goals3 = 0
| years4 = 2017
| clubs4 = → Torquay United (loan)
| caps4 = 10
| goals4 = 0
| years5 = 2018
| clubs5 = → Macclesfield Town (loan)
| caps5 = 14
| goals5 = 0
| years6 = 2018–2019
| clubs6 = Macclesfield Town
| caps6 = 14
| goals6 = 1
| years7 = 2019–2020
| clubs7 = Port Vale
| caps7 = 5
| goals7 = 0
| years8 = 2020–2022
| clubs8 = Bath City
| caps8 = 6
| goals8 = 0
| years9 = 2022–2023
| clubs9 = Frome Town
| caps9 = 15
| goals9 = 0
| totalcaps = 71 | totalgoals = 1
}}
Callum Leeroy Evans (born 11 October 1995) is an English former footballer who played as a right-back. A pacey player, he could also play at left-back or in central midfield.
A graduate of the Academy at Manchester United, he signed with Barnsley in July 2015. He made his debut in senior football in January 2017 and was loaned out to Macclesfield Town the following month. He joined Forest Green Rovers in May 2017, from where he was loaned out to Torquay United four months later. He returned on loan to Macclesfield Town in January 2018. He helped the club to win promotion into the English Football League as champions of the National League at the end of the 2017–18 season. He joined Macclesfield permanently in May 2018 before moving to Port Vale in July 2019. He returned to non-League football with Bath City in August 2020 before moving on to Frome Town in January 2022.
Career
=Barnsley=
Evans joined Manchester United as a 14-year-old and progressed through the club's youth system, making it into Warren Joyce's under-21 side by October 2014.{{cite web |title=Callum Evans set to sign new Manchester United contract |url=http://thepeoplesperson.com/2015/05/13/callum-evans-set-to-sign-new-man-utd-contract-94977/ |website=The Peoples Person |access-date=22 July 2019 |date=13 May 2015}} He left Old Trafford when he was released in June 2015.{{cite news |last1=Luckhurst |first1=Samuel |title=Manchester United release 15 players |url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/man-utd-transfer-news-released-16326844 |access-date=22 July 2019 |work=Manchester Evening News |date=8 June 2019}} He joined Barnsley on a one-year deal the following month to link up with the "Tykes" under-21s squad and upon the expiry of that contract the club opted to extend his contract for a further year.{{Cite web| url=http://www.barnsleychronicle.com/article/evans-drennan-and-scott-in-under-21s-squad| title=Evans, Drennan and Scott in under 21s squad |publisher=Barnsley Chronicle}}{{Cite web| url=http://www.barnsleychronicle.com/article/reds-release-four-but-want-to-keep-smith-evans-and-cowgill |title=Reds release four but want to keep Smith, Evans and Cowgirl |publisher=Barnsley Chronicle|date=13 May 2016}}
On 28 January 2017, he made his Championship debut in a 1–0 win at Rotherham United, coming on as a 60th-minute substitute for left-back Aidy White.{{Cite web| url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/38700837 |title=Rotherham United 0-1 Barnsley |publisher=BBC Sport |date=28 January 2017}} With White injured, manager Paul Heckingbottom gave Evans his first start followed three days later, in a 3–1 defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers at Oakwell.{{Cite web| url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/38727046 |title=Barnsley 1-3 Wolverhampton Wanderers |publisher=BBC Sport |date=31 January 2017}}{{cite web |title=Evans: "Making my Oakwell debut was a special moment." |url=https://www.barnsleyfc.co.uk/news/2017/january/evans-making-my-oakwell-debut-was-a-special-moment/ |website=www.barnsleyfc.co.uk |access-date=22 July 2019 |language=en-gb}} On 17 February, Evans signed for National League side Macclesfield Town on loan until the end of the 2016–17 season.{{Cite web| url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39003461 |title=Callum Evans: Macclesfield Town sign Barnsley defender on loan |publisher=BBC Sport |date=17 February 2017}} Having featured just three times for both Barnsley and Macclesfield, he was released by Barnsley in May 2017.{{Cite web| url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39870939 |title=Barnsley: Josh Scowen and Marley Watkins set to leave after rejecting new deals |publisher=BBC Sport |date=10 May 2017}}
=Forest Green Rovers=
On 22 May 2017, Evans signed for newly-promoted League Two side Forest Green Rovers on a one-year contract.{{Cite web| url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/40002626 |title=Callum Evans: Forest Green Rovers sign Barnsley defender |publisher=BBC Sport |date=22 May 2017}} Rovers manager Mark Cooper stated that "you don't spend four years at Manchester United if you're a mug".{{cite news |last1=Loveridge |first1=Ashley |title=Mark Cooper: You don't spend four years at Manchester United if you're a mug, Forest Green boss on new signing |url=https://www.stroudnewsandjournal.co.uk/sport/15302112.mark-cooper-you-dont-spend-four-years-at-manchester-united-if-youre-a-mug-forest-green-boss-on-new-signing/ |access-date=22 July 2019 |work=Stroud News and Journal |date=22 May 2017 |language=en}} He made his debut at The New Lawn on the opening day of the 2017–18 campaign, a 2–2 draw with Barnet, but was substituted on 68 minutes and subsequently dropped from the first-team.{{cite news |title=Forest Green Rovers 2-2 Barnet |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/40761070 |access-date=22 July 2019 |work=BBC Sport |date=5 August 2017}} On 15 September, he returned to the National League on a three-month loan deal at Gary Owers's Torquay United.{{cite news|title=Owers Acts Swiftly To Bring In New Duo|url=http://nonleague.pitchero.com/transfers/owers-acts-swiftly-bring-new-duo/|access-date=16 September 2017|work=Non League Pitchero|date=15 September 2017}} He made 12 appearances for the "Gulls" before returning to Forest Green after his loan spell at Plainmoor expired. He appeared for the Green in a 2–1 defeat to Wycombe Wanderers on New Year's Day but was taken off just before half-time.{{cite news |title=Forest Green Rovers 1-2 Wycombe Wanderers |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/42475638 |access-date=22 July 2019 |work=BBC Sport |date=1 January 2018}} He was released by Forest Green in May 2018.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44030771|title=Forest Green Rovers: Isaiah Osbourne offered new deal as 12 players depart|date=7 May 2018|access-date=9 May 2018|publisher=BBC Sport}}
=Macclesfield Town=
Evans re-joined Macclesfield Town for a second loan spell on 15 January 2018.{{cite news |title=Macclesfield Town sign Nathan Blissett, Callum Evans and Adam Dugdale |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/42695329 |access-date=22 July 2019 |work=BBC Sport |date=15 January 2018}} He featured in 14 games as the club won promotion into the English Football League as champions of the National League at the end of the 2017–18 season. He was offered a permanent contract at Macclesfield by manager John Askey in May 2018.{{cite news |title=Macclesfield Town offer Nathan Blissett and Callum Evans deals and release six |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44074452 |access-date=22 July 2019 |work=BBC Sport |date=10 May 2018}} However, he was used mainly as a squad player at Moss Rose by both Mark Yates and Sol Campbell in the 2018–19 campaign. He did though manage to score his first goal in professional football on 2 February, hitting the net from {{convert|15|yd}} in a 3–1 defeat at Mansfield Town.{{cite news |title=Mansfield Town 3-1 Macclesfield Town |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/47011302 |access-date=22 July 2019 |work=BBC Sport |date=2 February 2019}}
=Port Vale=
On 20 July 2019, Evans signed a one-year deal with League Two side Port Vale, who were managed by former Macclesfield boss John Askey.{{cite news |title=Callum Evans: Port Vale sign ex-Macclesfield Town defender |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49058329 |access-date=21 July 2019 |work=BBC Sport |date=20 July 2019}} He started the 2019–20 season on the bench, with James Gibbons preferred at right-back.{{cite news |last1=Baggaley |first1=Michael |title='He's started the season very well' - Port Vale praise for young defender |url=https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/james-gibbons-port-vale-kevan-3212068 |access-date=15 August 2019 |work=Stoke Sentinel |date=14 August 2019}} He made his debut for the "Valiants" on 3 September, in 2–1 victory over Shrewsbury Town in an EFL Trophy tie at Vale Park.{{cite news |last1=Baggaley |first1=Michael |title=Port Vale 2, Shrewsbury 1 report as Jordan Archer fires Vale to comeback win |url=https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/port-vale-2-shrewsbury-1-3281981 |access-date=4 September 2019 |work=Stoke Sentinel |date=3 September 2019}} He played a total of just nine games, which just one start, and was released by Port Vale at the end of the season.{{cite news |last1=Baggaley |first1=Michael |title=Port Vale release six players and offer seven new contracts in retained list |url=https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/port-vale-retained-list-4143141 |access-date=19 May 2020 |work=Stoke Sentinel |date=18 May 2020}}{{cite news |last1=Baggaley |first1=Michael |title=Every Port Vale player reviewed and rated for 2019/20 season |url=https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/gallery/port-vale-player-ratings-season-4201883 |access-date=9 June 2020 |work=Stoke Sentinel |date=9 June 2020}}
=Later career=
On 11 August 2020, Evans joined National League South club Bath City; manager Jerry Gill stated that "Callum brings a desire, work ethic and obvious technical ability and is keen to develop his game further".{{cite news |title=Player News - Callum Evans |url=https://www.bathcityfc.com/player-news-callum-evans/ |access-date=11 August 2020 |work=Bath City FC |date=10 August 2020}} He played eight games in the 2020–21 season, which was curtailed early due to the COVID-19 pandemic in England.{{cite news|url=https://www.thenationalleague.org.uk/national-league-statement-outcome-of-written-resol-65151|title=National League Statement {{!}} Outcome Of Written Resolutions|last=Osborn|first=Oliver|website=Vanarama National League|date=18 February 2021|access-date=18 February 2021}}
On 22 January 2022, Evans signed with Frome Town on a contract to run until the end of the 2021–22 season.{{cite news |last1=Fitzgibbon |first1=Scott |title=Callum Evans signs |url=https://www.weareba11.com/post/callum-evans-signs |access-date=22 January 2022 |work=Frome Town FC |date=22 January 2022 |language=en}} He played eight games as the "Robins" posted a second-place finish in the league, including the play-off semi-final defeat to Bristol Manor Farm. He played eleven games in the 2022–23 campaign before leaving the club in January 2023, with manager Danny Greaves explaining he wanted to take a break from the game.{{cite news |last1=Fitzgibbon |first1=Scott |title=Squad Update |url=https://www.weareba11.com/post/squad-update-1 |access-date=9 May 2024 |work=www.weareba11.com |date=17 January 2023}}
Style of play
Evans preferred to play at right-back but could also provide cover at left-back and central midfield.{{cite news |title=Callum Evans becomes Vale's eighth summer signing |url=https://www.port-vale.co.uk/news/2019/july/callum-evans-becomes-vales-eighth-summer-signing/ |access-date=21 July 2019 |work = Port Vale F.C. |date=20 July 2019 |language=en-gb}} He was blessed with natural pace and had good passing skills.
Career statistics
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition | ||||||||||
| rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|FA Cup !colspan="2"|League Cup !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Barnsley
|2016–17{{soccerbase season|91147|2016|accessdate=28 November 2017}} |3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 3 | 0 | ||
| Macclesfield Town (loan)
|2016–17{{soccerway|callum-leeroy-evans/314165|accessdate=28 November 2017}} |2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 1Appearance in the FA Trophy | 0 | 3 | 0 | ||
| Forest Green Rovers
|2017–18{{soccerbase season|91147|2017|accessdate=28 November 2017}} |2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| Torquay United (loan)
|National League |10 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 1 | 0 | 12 | 0 | ||
| Macclesfield Town (loan)
|National League |14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 0 | 0 | 14 | 0 | ||
| rowspan=2|Macclesfield Town
|2018–19{{soccerbase season|91147|2018|accessdate=28 November 2017}} |League Two |14 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3Appearance in the EFL Trophy | 0 | 18 | 1 | |
| colspan=2|Total
!28||1||0||0||1||0||3||0||32||1 | ||||||||||
| Port Vale
|2019–20{{soccerbase season|91147|2019|accessdate=28 November 2017}} |League Two |5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 9 | 0 | |
| Bath City
|6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 1 | 0 | 8 | 0 | ||
| rowspan=3|Frome Town
|2021–22{{cite web |title=Callum Evans Profile {{!}} Aylesbury United FC |url=http://www.aylesburyunitedfc.co.uk/players/callum-evans#playingcareer |website=www.aylesburyunitedfc.co.uk |access-date=25 July 2022}} |Southern League |6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 2 | 0 | 8 | 0 | ||
| 2022–23
|Southern League |9 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 1 | 0 | 11 | 0 | ||
| colspan=2|Total
!15||0||1||0||0||0||3||0||19||0 | ||||||||||
| colspan="3"|Career total
!71 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 88 | 1 |
{{reflist|group=lower-alpha}}
Honours
Macclesfield Town
References
{{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Evans, Callum}}
Category:Footballers from Bristol
Category:English men's footballers
Category:Men's association football fullbacks
Category:Men's association football midfielders
Category:Manchester United F.C. players
Category:Barnsley F.C. players
Category:Macclesfield Town F.C. players
Category:Forest Green Rovers F.C. players
Category:Torquay United F.C. players
Category:Port Vale F.C. players
Category:Bath City F.C. players
Category:Frome Town F.C. players
Category:English Football League players
Category:Southern Football League players