Happy birthday to Cymru Premier all-time great Steve Evans, 42 today.
The former Wales centre-half, capped seven times by his country, was born in Wrexham on February 26, 1979.
He undoubtedly rates as one of the finest defenders to play in the Welsh Premier League.
In two spells with The New Saints, he played in 216 league matches, scoring 37 goals.
He was inducted into the Cymru Premier Hall of Fame in 2013.
Steve began his career with Crewe Alexandra and West Bromwich Albion. He first joined Cymru Premier side TNS in the summer of 1999 and featured in the title-winning team of 1999-2000.
Following an injury he moved to Oswestry Town to make six appearances before returning to TNS and playing in the championship-lifting sides of 2005 and 2006.
He won the Welsh Premier player of the season award for 2004-2005 and made nine appearances for the Welsh semi-professional side.
Steve played two games against the then-European champions Liverpool in the summer of 2005.
TNS lost both legs 3–0 – England international Steven Gerrard scoring five of the six goals – but Evans and the rest of the side were praised for their performances in the Champions League tie by Reds manager Rafael Benitez.
In June 2006, Steve was picked up by Wrexham, where he signed a two-year deal.
He impressed Wales manager John Toshack and made his international debut in a friendly against Liechtenstein in November 2006.
In September 2008, with Wrexham relegated to the Football Conference, Evans became the first non-league player to represent Wales for 76 years as a second-half substitute in a 2–1 defeat away to Russia in a World Cup qualifier.
Returning to TNS from Wrexham – where he made 87 competitive appearances – in 2009, Steve held the position of club captain and won two further WPL titles.
In 2014-15, he had a spell on loan at Connah’s Quay Nomads, starting 25 games and scoring five goals.
Steve is now first team assistant-manager at The New Saints, where he has been heavily involved in developing youth talent in recent years.
Happy birthday Steve.
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