Maurice Evans (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Maurice George Evans was a football player with Reading Football Club
, and later manager of Shrewsbury
, Reading and Oxford United
.
Evans was born in Didcot
(now in Oxfordshire
, but then in Berkshire
) in 1936. He signed for Reading in 1952 as a ground staff junior, aged just 16. He soon won his place at left-half in the first team and held it throughout the adversities of National Service in the RAF
. He went on to make the wing-half
position his own for the next ten seasons, and was a skilful, thoughtful player without an ounce of malice in him, playing 459 first-team games without being booked once. He was selected as reserve for the Third Division South side
against the North in April 1957 and also October 1957. In a vote to compile the Royals' best-ever eleven, Evans was voted the best right-winger with 48.4% of the vote http://www.readingfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10306~702820,00.html.
After leaving the club in 1967, he briefly took over as player-manager at Andover
before joining Shrewsbury
as player-coach, eventually becoming their manager in 1972. He returned to Elm Park
as Charlie Hurley
's assistant manager in 1974, and finally took over as manager in 1977. He managed the 1978–79
championship-winning team, securing the Manager Of The Year Award in the process. He remained Reading manager until 1984, making perceptive signings from non-league football such as Kerry Dixon
and Trevor Senior
. Dixon was later capped several times by England
and for almost a decade was Chelsea's
top goalscorer. Senior never achieved the heights experienced by Dixon, although he was a highly accomplished goalscorer for Reading, particularly when they won promotion to the Second Division as Third Division champions in 1985–86
.
Evans then joined Oxford United
as Chief Scout and Youth Development Officer. He became the manager after the resignation of Jim Smith
in the summer of 1985, and led the team in their first season in the top flight of English football. The season ended with United beating QPR
(managed by Smith) 3–0 in the final of the Milk Cup
at Wembley
, and avoiding relegation by achieving the same scoreline over Arsenal
in the last game of the season a week or so later. At the Wembley final, Evans famously sent up long-serving club physio Ken Fish in his place to collect his winner's medal, a gesture seen as typifying his modesty and generosity.
In November 1986 Oxford briefly occupied eighth place in the First Division — their highest standing to date — but they finished 18th in the final table and Evans resigned in March 1988 just before Oxford's relegation. He continued at the club in various capacities, including a brief stint as caretaker manager
in 1993 and elevation to the board of directors in 1998, before rejoining Reading as Chief Scout in November 1999.
He died of a heart attack on 18 August 2000 at the age of 63. A plaque was placed in the wall of the Madejski Stadium
by Reading F.C. in his memory, reading "Maurice Evans, 1936–2000. Player, Manager, Gentleman". A lounge at the Kassam Stadium
is also named in his honour.
Reading F.C.
Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship...
, and later manager of Shrewsbury
Shrewsbury Town F.C.
Shrewsbury Town Football Club is an English Association football club based in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, who play in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club was formed in 1886 and has played in all the bottom three divisions in various guises since being elected into the Football...
, Reading and Oxford United
Oxford United F.C.
Oxford United Football Club is an English association football club based in Oxford, Oxfordshire. The club play in League Two, following promotion from the Conference National in May 2010. The club had been a non-League side since their relegation from the Football League in the 2005–06 season. The...
.
Evans was born in Didcot
Didcot
Didcot is a town and civil parish in Oxfordshire about south of Oxford. Until 1974 it was in Berkshire, but was transferred to Oxfordshire in that year, and from Wallingford Rural District to the district of South Oxfordshire...
(now in Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire is a county in the South East region of England, bordering on Warwickshire and Northamptonshire , Buckinghamshire , Berkshire , Wiltshire and Gloucestershire ....
, but then in Berkshire
Berkshire
Berkshire is a historic county in the South of England. It is also often referred to as the Royal County of Berkshire because of the presence of the royal residence of Windsor Castle in the county; this usage, which dates to the 19th century at least, was recognised by the Queen in 1957, and...
) in 1936. He signed for Reading in 1952 as a ground staff junior, aged just 16. He soon won his place at left-half in the first team and held it throughout the adversities of National Service in the RAF
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
. He went on to make the wing-half
Wing half
In association football, the position of wing half or wing half back) was popularly used in the late nineteenth and first half of the 20th centuries...
position his own for the next ten seasons, and was a skilful, thoughtful player without an ounce of malice in him, playing 459 first-team games without being booked once. He was selected as reserve for the Third Division South side
Football League Third Division North vs. South Representative Games
The Third Division North and Third Division South of The Football League was a level in English association football, which ran from 1921 to 1958.From 1954–55 season until 1957–58 season, there was a series of games between teams representing the Third Division North and the Third Division South.-...
against the North in April 1957 and also October 1957. In a vote to compile the Royals' best-ever eleven, Evans was voted the best right-winger with 48.4% of the vote http://www.readingfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10306~702820,00.html.
After leaving the club in 1967, he briefly took over as player-manager at Andover
Andover F.C.
Andover F.C. was a football club based in Andover, Hampshire, established in 1883. Since the 2007–08 season, Andover had been a member of the Southern League Division One South and West at Step 4 of the National League System...
before joining Shrewsbury
Shrewsbury Town F.C.
Shrewsbury Town Football Club is an English Association football club based in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, who play in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club was formed in 1886 and has played in all the bottom three divisions in various guises since being elected into the Football...
as player-coach, eventually becoming their manager in 1972. He returned to Elm Park
Elm Park (stadium)
Elm Park was a football stadium in the West Reading district of the English town of Reading. It was the home of Reading Football Club from 1896 until 1998, when they moved to the new Madejski Stadium....
as Charlie Hurley
Charlie Hurley
Charles John Hurley born 4 October 1936) was a centre back. He began his career at Millwall, where his term at The Den was disrupted by injury which certainly delayed his debut on the international stage. Hurley is best remembered from his time at Sunderland, where he was named the Black Cats'...
's assistant manager in 1974, and finally took over as manager in 1977. He managed the 1978–79
1978-79 in English football
-FA Cup:Manchester United had seemingly pulled off a remarkable comeback against Arsenal in the 1979 FA Cup Final to make the score 2–2 after being two goals down, but a last-minute goal from Alan Sunderland saw Arsenal lift the trophy with a 3–2 scoreline...
championship-winning team, securing the Manager Of The Year Award in the process. He remained Reading manager until 1984, making perceptive signings from non-league football such as Kerry Dixon
Kerry Dixon
Kerry Michael Dixon is a retired English professional footballer who played most notably for Chelsea and England.-Early years:...
and Trevor Senior
Trevor Senior
Trevor Senior was a striker with Reading Football Club.Senior started his career at Dorchester. He joined Portsmouth in 1981 for £35,000, and then moved to Reading where he scored 184 goals in 362 league and cup appearances in two spells between 1983 and 1992...
. Dixon was later capped several times by England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
and for almost a decade was Chelsea's
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
top goalscorer. Senior never achieved the heights experienced by Dixon, although he was a highly accomplished goalscorer for Reading, particularly when they won promotion to the Second Division as Third Division champions in 1985–86
1985-86 in English football
The 1985–86 season was the 106th season of competitive football in England.- First Division :The championship crown went to Liverpool for the 16th time in their history at the end of their first season under the management of Kenny Dalglish, but they had to fight off some very stiff competition to...
.
Evans then joined Oxford United
Oxford United F.C.
Oxford United Football Club is an English association football club based in Oxford, Oxfordshire. The club play in League Two, following promotion from the Conference National in May 2010. The club had been a non-League side since their relegation from the Football League in the 2005–06 season. The...
as Chief Scout and Youth Development Officer. He became the manager after the resignation of Jim Smith
Jim Smith (footballer)
James Michael "Jim" Smith is a retired English footballer and manager. As a player, he made 249 appearances in the Fourth Division of The Football League, representing Aldershot, Halifax Town, Lincoln City and Colchester United, and played for three-and-a-half years for Boston United of the...
in the summer of 1985, and led the team in their first season in the top flight of English football. The season ended with United beating QPR
Queens Park Rangers F.C.
Queens Park Rangers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in White City, Hammersmith and Fulham, west London. As the 2010-11 Football League Championship champions, they now play in the top tier of English football the Premier League, for the first time in 15 years...
(managed by Smith) 3–0 in the final of the Milk Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
at Wembley
Wembley Stadium
The original Wembley Stadium, officially known as the Empire Stadium, was a football stadium in Wembley, a suburb of north-west London, standing on the site now occupied by the new Wembley Stadium that opened in 2007...
, and avoiding relegation by achieving the same scoreline over Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
in the last game of the season a week or so later. At the Wembley final, Evans famously sent up long-serving club physio Ken Fish in his place to collect his winner's medal, a gesture seen as typifying his modesty and generosity.
In November 1986 Oxford briefly occupied eighth place in the First Division — their highest standing to date — but they finished 18th in the final table and Evans resigned in March 1988 just before Oxford's relegation. He continued at the club in various capacities, including a brief stint as caretaker manager
Caretaker manager
In association football, a caretaker manager is someone who takes temporary charge of the management of a football club, usually when the regular manager is dismissed or leaves for a different club. However, a caretaker may also be appointed if the regular manager is ill or unable to attend to his...
in 1993 and elevation to the board of directors in 1998, before rejoining Reading as Chief Scout in November 1999.
He died of a heart attack on 18 August 2000 at the age of 63. A plaque was placed in the wall of the Madejski Stadium
Madejski Stadium
The Madejski Stadium is a stadium in Reading, Berkshire, England. The stadium is the home of Reading Football Club and to the rugby union club London Irish as tenants. It also provides the finish for the Reading Half Marathon...
by Reading F.C. in his memory, reading "Maurice Evans, 1936–2000. Player, Manager, Gentleman". A lounge at the Kassam Stadium
Kassam Stadium
The Kassam Stadium is the home of Oxford United Football Club, and is named after the ground's owner, and former chairman of the club, Firoz Kassam....
is also named in his honour.