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.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | William Albert Evans[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 1 July 1997 | ||
| 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 | 17 | (5) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2022 | Wales C | 1 | (2) |
|
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 14:19, 8 December 2024 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 15:45, 31 July 2022 (UTC) | |||
Club career
editEarly career
editEvans 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
editAt 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
editOn 6 August 2024, Evans signed for EFL League One team Mansfield Town on a two-year deal for an undisclosed fee.[13]
International career
editOn 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
editEvans 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 7 December 2024
| 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 | 17 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2[a] | 0 | 22 | 5 |
| Career total | 270 | 72 | 16 | 4 | 12 | 2 | 8 | 2 | 306 | 80 | ||
- ^ a b c Appearances in EFL Trophy
Honours
editIndividual
- Newport County Supporters' Player of the Season: 2023–24[21]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f g Will Evans at Soccerway. Retrieved 28 January 2024.
- ^ "Newport County sign Cymru Premier star Will Evans from Bala Town". The National Wales.
- ^ a b c "Exile Evans' rise from farmer to facing Man Utd". BBC Sport. 26 January 2024.
- ^ "Bala's Evans set to join Newport". BBC Sport. 27 May 2022.
- ^ "County's latest 20-goal striker has Telford and Aldridge in his sights". South Wales Argus. 6 February 2024.
- ^ "Bogle scores on Newport debut to secure point". BBC Sport. 30 July 2022.
- ^ "Newport kept up their Carabao Cup giant-killing by beating Portsmouth". BBC Sport. 23 August 2022.
- ^ "Man Utd survive Newport comeback to make FA Cup fifth round". BBC Sport.
- ^ "Will Evans: The 'football farmer' who scored against Manchester United in the FA Cup | Farm News | Farmers Guardian". www.farmersguardian.com. 29 January 2024.
- ^ "Powys farmer-turned-footballer scores goal against Manchester United". County Times. 29 January 2024.
- ^ a b "Games played by Will Evans in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 January 2024.
- ^ "Omar Bogle leaves Newport County as Will Evans has contract extended". BBC Sport. 8 May 2024. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
- ^ "Will Evans: Mansfield sign Newport County strike on two-year deal". BBC Sport. 4 August 2024. Retrieved 6 August 2024.
- ^ "Bala's Will Evans nets double as Wales C trounce England | cambrian-news.co.uk". Cambrian News. 31 March 2022.
- ^ a b "Evans deserves Wales call – Coughlan". BBC Sport. 8 September 2023.
- ^ "Will power – Former Premier League left-back impressed by County new boy Evans". South Wales Argus. 11 August 2022.
- ^ "Farmer turned forward Evans happy for parlour games with County over Christmas". South Wales Argus. 24 December 2022.
- ^ "How County boss believes Evans can hit next level after strong first year as pro". South Wales Argus. 4 May 2023.
- ^ "Games played by Will Evans in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 January 2024.
- ^ "Games played by Will Evans in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 6 October 2024.
- ^ "Awards Eveneing 2023/24". Newport County AFC. 22 April 2024. Retrieved 1 May 2024.