Gwyn Evans
Personal information
Date of birth (1935-12-24)24 December 1935
Place of birth Ton Pentre, Wales
Date of death 11 May 2000(2000-05-11) (aged 64)
Place of death New Zealand
Position(s) Centre half
Youth career
Cwm Parc
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1955–1963 Crystal Palace 80 (0)
1963–? Christchurch United ? (?)
? Nelson United ? (?)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Gwyn Evans (24 December 1935 – 11 May 2000[1]) was a Welsh professional footballer who made 80 Football League appearances for Crystal Palace as a centre-half. He also played for Christchurch United and Nelson United in New Zealand. He was the father of Ceri Evans who also had a career in professional football.[2]

Playing career

Evans was born in Ton Pentre[3] and signed for Crystal Palace, from local club Cwm Parc, in May 1955,[4] but did not make his debut until April 1959, in an away 2–0 defeat to Coventry City.[5] Between then and 1963, Evans made 80 League appearances for Palace, all at centre-half,[6] and made 25 appearances in season 1960–1961 when Palace achieved promotion from the Fourth Division.[7]

However, by the 1962–63 season, Evans was no longer a regular in the side and in 1963,[4] emigrated to New Zealand, signing for Christchurch United (then known as Christchurch City prior to amalgamation with other local clubs). He served Christchurch both as captain and player-coach, leading the club to the final of the Chatham Cup in 1967.[2] He later moved to Nelson United where he continued as player-coach. Whilst in New Zealand, Evans also worked part-time as a teacher.[2]

Later career

After retiring as a player, Evans moved into the administrative side of the game. He served as secretary-general of the New Zealand Football Association, a position he held from 1981 to 1987.[2] He retired on health grounds and moved to Waiheke Island where he ran a shop.[2] In his later years his health declined further and his legs were amputated.[2]

Personal life

Evans was married twice. Firstly to Joyce (née Williamson) a New Zealand table tennis player and secondly to Eleanor.[2] He had three children, including Ceri who played professionally for Oxford United and for the New Zealand national team.

Evans showed ability at several sports and was a British amateur snooker champion.[2] He died on 11 May 2000,[1][8] and his ashes were buried at Onetangi Cemetery on Waiheke Island.[9]

References

  1. 1 2 "Death search: registration number 2000/11335". Births, deaths & marriages online. Department of Internal Affairs. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Maddaford, Terry (13 May 2000). "Obituary: Gwyn Evans". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 11 April 2015.
  3. ↑ King, Ian (April 2012). Crystal Palace: A Complete Record 1905–2011. The Derby Books Publishing Company. p. 536. ISBN 9781780910468.
  4. 1 2 Purkiss, Mike; Sands, Nigel. Crystal Palace: A Complete Record 1905–1989. The Breedon Books Publishing Company. p. 324. ISBN 0907969542.
  5. ↑ Purkiss, Mike; Sands, Nigel. Crystal Palace: A Complete Record 1905–1989. The Breedon Books Publishing Company. pp. 210–11. ISBN 0907969542.
  6. ↑ Purkiss, Mike; Sands, Nigel. Crystal Palace: A Complete Record 1905–1989. The Breedon Books Publishing Company. pp. 210–19. ISBN 0907969542.
  7. ↑ Purkiss, Mike; Sands, Nigel. Crystal Palace: A Complete Record 1905–1989. The Breedon Books Publishing Company. pp. 214–15. ISBN 0907969542.
  8. ↑ "Cremation record for Gwyn Evans". Auckland Council. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
  9. ↑ "Burial record for Gwyn Evans". Auckland Council. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
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