Name: Robert Ernest 'Bobby' Evans

Nickname: "The best winger Wales and England ever had"



Country: : Wales | England
Club: Sheffield United
Position: ★WF | SS (Optional)
Side: RF/BS (mainly left)
Age: 25-30 years (21/11/1885)

Height: 180 cm
Weight: 73 kg

Attack: 80
Defence: 37
Balance: 81
Stamina: 80
Top Speed: 83
Acceleration: 80
Response: 72
Agility: 81
Dribble Accuracy: 84
Dribble Speed: 81
Short Pass Accuracy: 74
Short Pass Speed: 72
Long Pass Accuracy: 86
Long Pass Speed: 82
Shot Accuracy: 76
Shot Power: 87
Shot Technique: 79
Free Kick Accuracy: 69
Curling: 78
Header: 70
Jump: 68
Technique: 83
Aggression: 84
Mentality: 76
Goalkeeper Skills: 50
Team Work: 80

Injury Tolerance: B | C
Condition: 5
Weak Foot Accuracy: 6
Weak Foot Frequency: 6
Consistency: 5
Growth type: Standard

CARDS:
P05 – Mazing Run
P07 – Early Cross
S02 – Passer

SPECIAL ABILITIES: Dribbling - Passing - Side

Attack/Defence Awareness Card: Attack Minded

Left winger Bobby Evans was born in Chester, on the English side of the border but of Welsh parents. He was then spotted by the Welsh professional club Wrexham for whom he signed in the summer of 1905, in time for their inaugural season in the Birmingham and District League. He made his debut for Wales in a 2-0 victory over Scotland on 3rd March 1906; this was followed by a 1-0 defeat by England a few days later. These performances attracted the attention of First Division Aston Villa who signed him in the summer of 1906 for a fee of £30, and he made his Football League debut for them at Preston North End that November.

Whilst at Villa he continued to add to his tally of Welsh caps. Despite this, he made only occasional appearances for Villa, playing 10 matches in 1906-07 and seven in 1907-08 when Villa finished runners-up in the Football League, scoring 4 goals in total. In 1908, he joined a Sheffield United side which was desperate for points and his debut coincided with their first win, then he soon became an automatic first choice player. A regular for Sheffield United over seven seasons, he was also a member of The Blades’ team that won the FA Cup Final in 1915 when they beat Chelsea 3-0 in the so-called “Khaki Cup Final” at Old Trafford immediately before the onset of the First World War forced the suspension of peacetime football. After 39 goals in 216 appearances for Sheffield United he retired from playing professionally during the First World War.

Evans had appeared for Wales on 10 occasions when the English FA discovered, after a tip off from the Sheffield United secretary John Nicholson, that he had been born in Chester, although his parents moved to Wales when he was three weeks old. The English FA caused great controversy in Welsh football circles in 1910 by objecting to his qualification, and he was subsequently selected to play for England on four occasions. Evans played for England v Wales at Wrexham where four years earlier he had appeared for Wales against England! This led to him being described as ‘the best winger England and Wales ever had’.

Bob Evans was tall but fast and energetic for an orthodox winger with some decent tricks to beat the fullbacks. He could play on either wings but mainly played on the left flank. Evans was renowned for his glorious crossing with nice pace and height, besides he can also score from distances with a powerful shot. Injuries interrupted his career, preventing him from developing further.