Tom Evans (footballer born 1896)
Encyclopedia
Thomas Eli "Tom" Evans was an English
professional footballer who played in the Football League
for Birmingham
and Brighton & Hove Albion
.
Evans was born in Dudley
, now in the West Midlands
county. He played local football before joining Birmingham
during the First World War. When the Football League
resumed, Evans made his debut in the Second Division
on 27 September 1919, standing in for Joe Roulson
at right half
in a home game against Huddersfield Town
which Birmingham won 4–2. He played five more games during the 1919–20 season, in each case taking Roulson's place at right half either in his absence or while he switched to the left to replace Percy Barton
. Unable to establish himself as a first-team player, Evans spent the 1921–22 season in the Third Division South
with Brighton & Hove Albion
, but played only five games. He then returned to the Black Country
where he played for several years in the Birmingham & District League for Cradley Heath
.
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 footballer who played in the Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
for Birmingham
Birmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
and Brighton & Hove Albion
Brighton & Hove Albion F.C.
Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club are an English association football club based in the coastal city of Brighton & Hove, East Sussex. They currently play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system....
.
Evans was born in Dudley
Dudley
Dudley is a large town in the West Midlands county of England. At the 2001 census , the Dudley Urban Sub Area had a population of 194,919, making it the 26th largest settlement in England, the second largest town in the United Kingdom behind Reading, and the largest settlement in the UK without...
, now in the West Midlands
West Midlands (county)
The West Midlands is a metropolitan county in western central England with a 2009 estimated population of 2,638,700. It came into existence as a metropolitan county in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972, formed from parts of Staffordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire. The...
county. He played local football before joining Birmingham
Birmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
during the First World War. When the Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
resumed, Evans made his debut in the Second Division
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
on 27 September 1919, standing in for Joe Roulson
Joe Roulson
Joseph "Joe" Roulson was an English professional footballer who played as a right half. He played for Birmingham both before and after the First World War, making 125 appearances in all competitions, and helped them to the championship of the Football League Second Division in 1920–21.Roulson, a...
at right 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...
in a home game against Huddersfield Town
Huddersfield Town F.C.
Huddersfield Town Football Club is an English football club formed in 1908 and based in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. They currently play in League One...
which Birmingham won 4–2. He played five more games during the 1919–20 season, in each case taking Roulson's place at right half either in his absence or while he switched to the left to replace Percy Barton
Percy Barton
Percival Harry "Percy" Barton was an English professional footballer who played as a left half. He played for Birmingham both before and after the First World War, making 349 appearances in all competitions, and helped them to the championship of the Second Division in 1920–21.-Career:Barton was...
. Unable to establish himself as a first-team player, Evans spent the 1921–22 season in the Third Division South
Football League Third Division South
The Football League Third Division South was a level of English professional football which ran in parallel to Third Division North from 1921 to 1958....
with Brighton & Hove Albion
Brighton & Hove Albion F.C.
Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club are an English association football club based in the coastal city of Brighton & Hove, East Sussex. They currently play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system....
, but played only five games. He then returned to the Black Country
Black Country
The Black Country is a loosely defined area of the English West Midlands conurbation, to the north and west of Birmingham, and to the south and east of Wolverhampton. During the industrial revolution in the 19th century this area had become one of the most intensely industrialised in the nation...
where he played for several years in the Birmingham & District League for Cradley Heath
Cradley Heath F.C.
Cradley Heath F.C. was an English association football club based in Cradley Heath in the Black Country. The club competed in the Birmingham & District League, one of the country's strongest semi-professional leagues, between 1922 and 1961 and won the league championship in the 1925–26,...
.