Evans, Ian
Birth Date
30th January 1952
Birthplace
Egham, Surrey
Occupation
Defender
Biographical Text
Welsh international Ian Evans played for Exeter City on loan from Barnsley at the start of the 1983/84 season. Starting his career with Queens Park Rangers, he was best-known for his time with Crystal Palace. He was a former team mate of Gerry Francis who was manager at the time of Ian's loan spell with Exeter.
Starting his career as an apprentice with Queen’s Park Rangers, and earning a full contract in January 1970, Ian went on to feature in 39 league games before moving to Crystal Palace in September 1974. Captaining the team which reached the FA semi-final in 1976, and winning promotion the following year, Ian was to suffer a serious double fracture of the leg in October 1977 which sidelined him for two years. Returning to fitness, and eventually enjoying 137 league outings (14 goals) for the South London club, Ian signed for Barnsley in December 1979 where he added another-100 plus league games to his appearance tally.
Making 13 full international appearances for Wales in the mid-1970s, Ian was coming to the end of his professional career when he spent a short loan spell at Exeter City at the start of the 1983/84 season. With his former playing colleague Gerry Francis as player-manager of the Grecians, Ian appeared in the opening four matches of the season with his debut coming in the home defeat against Walsall.
Returning to Barnsley, Ian was loaned to Cambridge United in October 1983 - where he featured in just one league match - ahead of returning to Crystal Palace in June 1984 as assistant-manager to Steve Coppell. After helping the club to the top division in 1989, he became manager of Swansea City and later acted as assistant to Mick McCarthy for the Republic of Ireland and Sunderland as well as undertaking scouting duties for Wolves.
Starting his career as an apprentice with Queen’s Park Rangers, and earning a full contract in January 1970, Ian went on to feature in 39 league games before moving to Crystal Palace in September 1974. Captaining the team which reached the FA semi-final in 1976, and winning promotion the following year, Ian was to suffer a serious double fracture of the leg in October 1977 which sidelined him for two years. Returning to fitness, and eventually enjoying 137 league outings (14 goals) for the South London club, Ian signed for Barnsley in December 1979 where he added another-100 plus league games to his appearance tally.
Making 13 full international appearances for Wales in the mid-1970s, Ian was coming to the end of his professional career when he spent a short loan spell at Exeter City at the start of the 1983/84 season. With his former playing colleague Gerry Francis as player-manager of the Grecians, Ian appeared in the opening four matches of the season with his debut coming in the home defeat against Walsall.
Returning to Barnsley, Ian was loaned to Cambridge United in October 1983 - where he featured in just one league match - ahead of returning to Crystal Palace in June 1984 as assistant-manager to Steve Coppell. After helping the club to the top division in 1989, he became manager of Swansea City and later acted as assistant to Mick McCarthy for the Republic of Ireland and Sunderland as well as undertaking scouting duties for Wolves.
Appearances
4
Collection
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