In the close season of 1902, Evans moved from Reading to fellow Southern League team Southampton, replacing the departing Archie Turner.[1] He arrived at The Dell with a high reputation following his achievements with Port Vale. Nicknamed "Jammer", he had a deadly shot and was a quick and reliable right-winger who rapidly became a favourite with the fans, who also loved his "never-say-die" spirit".[4]
He made his debut in the opening game of the 1902–03 season, a 6–0 victory over Brentford (in which John Fraser scored a hat-trick).[5] He soon became a fixture on the right-wing, with Joe Turner on the left. However, in January, he lost his place to Scottish international Mark Bell as a result of an injury before returning at the end of February. In his first season with the "Saints", he played 23 matches, scoring seven goals, as Southampton claimed the Southern League title for the fifth time in seven years.[5]
Evans started the 1903–04 season with three goals in the first three matches and was on the scoresheet regularly until December, when a serious leg injury forced him to sit out most of the rest of the season, (being replaced first by Joe Turner and then by Harry Turner) only returning for the last three matches. Evans' nine goals from his 18 appearances helped Southampton claim the Southern League title for the sixth (and final) time.[6]
Ill health and injuries forced his retirement in 1904[4] — in his two years at The Dell, he made 41 appearances (16 goals) and helped the team to claim two championship trophies.
Return to Port Vale
A return to Port Vale followed in September 1904, however, in only his second game – a 1–0 home defeat by Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Staffordshire Senior Cup — he suffered a career-ending injury and retired that year.[3] He had played 134 matches (61 in the Football League) and scored 49 goals (21 in the league) in his two spells with the club.[3]
After his brief sojourn back in the Potteries, he returned to Southampton, becoming the landlord of the London Arms in the Docks, a position he held until he retired in 1936.[4] He then settled in Salisbury, where he died in January 1942.[4]
^Chalk, Gary; Holley, Duncan; Bull, David (2013). All the Saints: A Complete Players' Who's Who of Southampton FC. Southampton: Hagiology Publishing. p. 67. ISBN978-0-9926-8640-6.