Goal machine Marc Evans joins Gwalchmai for a third time

Prolific Anglesey-based striker Marc Evans has joined CPD Gwalchmai for a third time.

After beginning the 2022-23 season at Bodedern Athletic, scoring 11 goals in six matches, the 32-year-old transferred to Trearddur Bay at the end of August, but the move has not worked out.

Now the player nicknamed “Logs” is back with home village Gwalchmai, who compete in the tier 4 North Wales Coast West Premier Division. He will join forces with 17-year-old sensation Connor Owen, who averages more than a goal-a-game for the Maes Meurig club this term with 19 in 16 matches.

Last season saw Evans finish top goalscorer in North Wales senior football with 68 goals in all competitions for Bodedern Athletic, with whom he won the North Wales Coast West Premier title and formed a 126-goal combined partnership with Asa Thomas.

Thomas switched to Trearddur Bay at the start of this season and is leading marksman on 27 goals, but despite scoring a hat-trick on his debut for the Beach Boys, Evans had not managed to find the net since in six appearances. He had not featured for Bay since October before his move to Gwalchmai was announced this week.

Evans’ senior career began in 2006/07, when he netted 27 in the Anglesey League as a 16-year-old with Bodedern Reserves.

He was promoted to the first team in the same season and banged in 14 goals in the Cymru Alliance.

Evans added another seven for Boded in 2007-08 before the club resigned from the tier-two league and Logs joined Holyhead Hotspur, who were also in the Cymru Alliance.

He scored 12 goals before the end of 2007-08 at the New Stadium, then had a fantastic 2008-09 as Hotspur finished runners-up and Evans amassed more than 30 goals as an 18-year-old.

In 2009-10, Evans tried his luck in the Welsh Premier at Porthmadog, but the goals did not flow as they had previously. In 24 matches, he netted four times.

He ended up signing for Llangefni Town, who went on to win the Cymru Alliance under Lee Dixon, helped by some crucial goals in the latter part of the campaign from Logs.

Joining Gwalchmai in 2010-11, he later landed back at Llangefni.

The islander caused a major stir when he featured for Glantraeth’s Welsh Alliance Division Two and league cup double-winners of 2011/12.

He finished up the division’s top scorer with 31 goals and grabbed 39 in all matches. In his first 14 appearances for the team, he bagged 30 goals in all competitions.

Evans was on the move again in 2012/13, joining Cymru Alliance side Rhyl.

The Lilywhites became the only team in the history of the league to emerge through an entire season unbeaten – a 30-game undefeated streak.

As part of a dynamic front-line, Evans contributed 17 goals as Greg Strong’s side were crowned champions, but before the end of the campaign he had moved to home village Gwalchmai.

After shining for Gwalch in 2013/14, his next big move was to Llandudno.

By the end of the 2014-15 campaign Evans was celebrating again, winning a third Cymru Alliance championship-winning medal and knocking in 31 goals as top-scorer for Tudno.

Evans next decided to test his skills overseas in New Zealand.

He played for Hamilton Wanderers and WaiBOP United, but his greatest success came at Melville United, where in 2017 he broke the club record for most goals in a season when he reached 36, beating the previous best set by Mark Cossey in 1995.

Evans chalked up 92 goals in 88 games for Melville in total.

Scoring 39 goals in his debut, record-breaking campaign secured him the 2017/18 Player of The Season award.

In 2018, he briefly returned to Holyhead Hotspur, then in 2019-20 netted 19 goals for Gwalchmai in Welsh Alliance Division Two before deciding to leave the club in the new year.

He joined Bangor City, but his only appearance was as a 66th minute substitute for Agustin Zicarelli in a 3-0 Nathaniel MG Cup victory over Gresford Athletic in December 2020.

That was the only competitive game City had managed to play since the premature end of 2019-20 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Last season saw Evans return to where it all started – Bodedern Athletic – and he enjoyed his greatest campaign ever in front of goal.

MARC EVANS’ 13 CLUBS

Bodedern Athletic (x2)
Holyhead Hotspur (x2)
Porthmadog
Llangefni Town (x2)
Glantraeth
Rhyl FC
Llandudno
Hamilton Wanderers
WaiBOP United
Melville United
Bangor City
Trearddur Bay
Gwalchmai (x3)