Billy Evans (footballer)
Encyclopedia
William Emmanuel "Billy" Evans (5 September 1921 – 26 July 1960) was an English
professional association football player.
Evans was born in Birmingham
, and was signed by his boyhood team, Aston Villa
, in 1946 after being spotted playing for his works team, Linread. He had spent the Second World War making nuts and bolts and was 25 when he signed professional forms.
He debuted at centre-forward for Aston Villa, scoring in a 2-1 defeat at Villa Park. He was in competition for a place with record-signing Trevor Ford
and was unable to hold down a first team place. He scored 3 goals in 7 appearances at Villa.
In 1949 Billy became Eric Houghton
's first signing for Notts County
. In the 1949-50 season, Notts County clinched the Third Division (South) championship with Evans being an ever-present alongside England international, Tommy Lawton
. He was sold to Gillingham
in 1953 where he enjoyed two seasons scoring 12 goals in 92 appearances. He signed for Grimsby Town
in 1955 and won a Third Division (North) championship medal in his first season at the club. He retired as a player in 1957 having scored 28 times in 102 appearances at Blundell Park
and became reserve team coach. He died of lung cancer in Grimsby
in 1960, aged 38.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
professional association football player.
Evans was born in Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
, and was signed by his boyhood team, Aston Villa
Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...
, in 1946 after being spotted playing for his works team, Linread. He had spent the Second World War making nuts and bolts and was 25 when he signed professional forms.
He debuted at centre-forward for Aston Villa, scoring in a 2-1 defeat at Villa Park. He was in competition for a place with record-signing Trevor Ford
Trevor Ford
Trevor Ford was a Welsh international centre forward footballer who played for Aston Villa, Cardiff City, Sunderland and Swansea Town. He was born and died in Swansea.-Football career:...
and was unable to hold down a first team place. He scored 3 goals in 7 appearances at Villa.
In 1949 Billy became Eric Houghton
Eric Houghton
William Eric Houghton , was an English footballer and manager.Eric Houghton was born in Billingborough, Lincolnshire and educated at Donington Grammar School. He signed for Aston Villa as a seventeen-year-old and played in the Villa side for two decades, scoring 170 goals in 392 games...
's first signing for Notts County
Notts County F.C.
Notts County Football Club are an English professional football club based in Nottingham. They are the oldest of all the clubs in the world that are now professional, having been formed in 1862. They currently play in League One of The Football League, the third tier of the English football system...
. In the 1949-50 season, Notts County clinched the Third Division (South) championship with Evans being an ever-present alongside England international, Tommy Lawton
Tommy Lawton
Thomas "Tommy" Lawton was an English association footballer who rose to fame a short time before the outbreak of the Second World War and enjoyed a successful career which lasted until well into the 1950s....
. He was sold to Gillingham
Gillingham F.C.
Gillingham Football Club is an English professional football club based in the town of Gillingham, Kent. The only Kent-based club in the Football League, they play their home matches at the Priestfield Stadium...
in 1953 where he enjoyed two seasons scoring 12 goals in 92 appearances. He signed for Grimsby Town
Grimsby Town F.C.
Grimsby Town Football Club is an English football club based in the seaside town of Cleethorpes, in North East Lincolnshire, England, who compete in the Conference National. They were formed in 1878 as Grimsby Pelham and later became Grimsby Town...
in 1955 and won a Third Division (North) championship medal in his first season at the club. He retired as a player in 1957 having scored 28 times in 102 appearances at Blundell Park
Blundell Park
Blundell Park is a football ground in Cleethorpes, North East Lincolnshire, England and home to Grimsby Town Football Club. The stadium was built in 1898, but only one of the original stands remain. The current capacity of the ground is 9546, though with the introduction of all seating in the late...
and became reserve team coach. He died of lung cancer in Grimsby
Grimsby
Grimsby is a seaport on the Humber Estuary in Lincolnshire, England. It has been the administrative centre of the unitary authority area of North East Lincolnshire since 1996...
in 1960, aged 38.