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Will Evans (footballer, born 1997)

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Will Evans
Personal information
Full name William Albert Evans[1]
Date of birth (1997-07-01) 1 July 1997 (age 27)
Place of birth Llangedwyn, Wales
Position(s) Winger, striker
Team information
Current team
 Mansfield Town
Number 11
Youth career
Shrewsbury Town
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
Llangedwyn
2016–2020 Cardiff Metropolitan University 107 (20)
2020–2022 Bala Town 55 (24)
2022–2024 Newport County 91 (23)
2024– Mansfield Town 12 (5)
International career‡
2022 Wales C 1 (2)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 15:25, 3 November 2024 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 15:45, 31 July 2022 (UTC)

William Albert Evans (born 1 July 1997) is a Welsh professional footballer who plays as a winger and striker for EFL League One club Mansfield Town.

Club career

[edit]

Early career

[edit]

Evans was born in the Welsh village of Llangedwyn and progressed through the Shrewsbury Town youth system.[2] Evans is from a farming family and, after being released by Shrewsbury, worked on the family farm with his father and brothers whilst playing for the Llangedwyn village team in the Welsh fifth tier.[3]

Evans then enrolled at Cardiff Metropolitan University and played for their football team in the Cymru Premier league after being encourage by a cousin to go for a trial.[3] After finishing his degree in 2020, Evans applied to be a teacher before being signed by fellow Cymru Premier club Bala Town.[3]

Newport County

[edit]

At the age of 24, Evans turned professional after signing with EFL League Two club Newport County in May 2022 for an undisclosed fee,[4] on a two-year contract with an option for a further year.[5] He made his football league debut for Newport on 30 July 2022 in the starting line up for the 1–1 League Two draw against Sutton United.[6] Evans scored his first goal for Newport on 24 August 2022 in the 3–2 EFL Cup second round win against Portsmouth.[7]

On 28 January 2024, Evans scored Newport's second goal to equalise in their eventual 4–2 FA Cup fourth round defeat to Manchester United of the Premier League.[8][9][10] Evans finished the 2023–24 season with 21 League Two goals, and 25 in all competitions.[11] The club triggered a one-year contract extension in May 2024.[12]

Mansfield Town

[edit]

On 6 August 2024, Evans signed for EFL League One team Mansfield Town on a two-year deal for an undisclosed fee.[13]

International career

[edit]

On 1 April 2022, Evans made his debut for the Wales C team, scoring twice in the 4–0 win against England C.[14] In September 2023 his Newport manager Graham Coughlan said Evans should be called-up by the Wales national team.[15]

Playing style

[edit]

Evans was deployed by Newport County manager James Rowberry at wing-back for his first two League Two matches,[16] thereafter being selected as a striker alongside Omar Bogle.[17] From October 2022 new Newport County manager Graham Coughlan utilised Evans both as a striker and a wing-back,[18] playing him as a striker in the 2023–24 season due to his goalscoring form.[15]

Career statistics

[edit]
As of match played 3 November 2024
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup League cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Cardiff Metropolitan University 2016–17[1] Welsh Premier League 28 5 0 0 1 0 — 29 5
2017–18[1] Welsh Premier League 27 2 0 0 4 0 — 31 2
2018–19[1] Welsh Premier League 29 6 3 1 3 0 — 35 7
2019–20[1] Cymru Premier 23 7 2 1 0 0 — 25 8
Total 107 20 5 2 8 0 0 0 120 22
Bala Town 2020–21[1] Cymru Premier 31 13 0 0 0 0 — 31 13
2021–22[1] Cymru Premier 24 11 2 0 0 0 — 26 11
Total 55 24 2 0 0 0 0 0 57 24
Newport County 2022–23[19] League Two 45 2 2 0 2 1 3[a] 1 52 4
2023–24[11] League Two 46 21 5 2 1 1 3[a] 1 55 25
Total 91 23 7 2 3 2 6 2 107 29
Mansfield Town 2024–25[20] League One 12 5 1 0 1 0 2[a] 0 16 5
Career total 265 72 15 4 12 2 8 2 300 80
  1. ^ a b c Appearances in EFL Trophy

Honours

[edit]

Individual

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g Will Evans at Soccerway. Retrieved 28 January 2024.
  2. ^ "Newport County sign Cymru Premier star Will Evans from Bala Town". The National Wales.
  3. ^ a b c "Exile Evans' rise from farmer to facing Man Utd". BBC Sport. 26 January 2024.
  4. ^ "Bala's Evans set to join Newport". BBC Sport. 27 May 2022.
  5. ^ "County's latest 20-goal striker has Telford and Aldridge in his sights". South Wales Argus. 6 February 2024.
  6. ^ "Bogle scores on Newport debut to secure point". BBC Sport. 30 July 2022.
  7. ^ "Newport kept up their Carabao Cup giant-killing by beating Portsmouth". BBC Sport. 23 August 2022.
  8. ^ "Man Utd survive Newport comeback to make FA Cup fifth round". BBC Sport.
  9. ^ "Will Evans: The 'football farmer' who scored against Manchester United in the FA Cup | Farm News | Farmers Guardian". www.farmersguardian.com. 29 January 2024.
  10. ^ "Powys farmer-turned-footballer scores goal against Manchester United". County Times. 29 January 2024.
  11. ^ a b "Games played by Will Evans in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 January 2024.
  12. ^ "Omar Bogle leaves Newport County as Will Evans has contract extended". BBC Sport. 8 May 2024. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  13. ^ "Will Evans: Mansfield sign Newport County strike on two-year deal". BBC Sport. 4 August 2024. Retrieved 6 August 2024.
  14. ^ "Bala's Will Evans nets double as Wales C trounce England | cambrian-news.co.uk". Cambrian News. 31 March 2022.
  15. ^ a b "Evans deserves Wales call – Coughlan". BBC Sport. 8 September 2023.
  16. ^ "Will power – Former Premier League left-back impressed by County new boy Evans". South Wales Argus. 11 August 2022.
  17. ^ "Farmer turned forward Evans happy for parlour games with County over Christmas". South Wales Argus. 24 December 2022.
  18. ^ "How County boss believes Evans can hit next level after strong first year as pro". South Wales Argus. 4 May 2023.
  19. ^ "Games played by Will Evans in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 January 2024.
  20. ^ "Games played by Will Evans in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 6 October 2024.
  21. ^ "Awards Eveneing 2023/24". Newport County AFC. 22 April 2024. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
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