Club legend Craig Evans steps down as Gwalchmai manager

Craig Evans has called it a day after four years as player-manager of Gwalchmai FC.

Evans, 42, had been first team manager since the start of 2022-23 and before that had a speil in charge of the club prior to the pandemic of 2020.

In his first season in a second spell as boss, Evans achieved five straight wins at the start before leading Gwalch to glory in lifting the Cwpan Snowdonia Fire and Security Cup, beating Talysarn Celts 3-2 in the final with a Connor Owen hat-trick.

In 2023-24, Evans was at the helm when Gwalchmai won the NWCFA Intermediate Cup, defeating CPD Penrhyndeudraeth 3-1 in the final, Kaine Bentley, Connor Owen and Marc Evans (penalty) on the scoresheet. Gwalch also finished fourth in the North Wales Coast West Premier Division that campaign.

The following season saw the Maes Meurig club claim runners-up spot in the Premier, finishing just four points behind champions Bethesda Athletic.

The 2025-26 campaign was much tougher for the islanders with Evans losing the majority of his squad in pre-season.

Many would have walked out the door, but typical of the man Evans remained loyal to the club and improved results towards the end of the season kept them out of the bottom two.

The current season has brought good league wins over Llanystumdwy and Aberffraw, but in general results have been below par.

Since the start of 2022-23, Evans was manager for 158 matches, recording 79 victories, a win rate of 50% which is excellent considering the last two seasons have been such difficult ones with squad rebuilding.

A consistent marksman, Evans has also enjoyed some great successes as a player with Gwalchmai.

In 2009-10, Craig won the Gwynedd League treble with the club, scoring the all-important goal – a 30-yard cracker – in a 1-1 draw with Bodedern which secured Paul Owen and Rob Hughes’ side the title.

Gwalch also scooped the Gwynedd Premier Cup and Cwpan Gwynedd and reached the NWCFA Intermediate Cup and Barritt Cup finals.

Craig has also been an outstanding performer over the years for Llangefni Town, Bodedern Athletic and Glantraeth.

The 2010-11 campaign saw Craig part of a Glantraeth side which picked up a remarkable four trophy wins in 14 glorious days, lifting the Cwpan Gwynedd, Gwynedd Shield, Bob Owen Memorial Shield and NWCFA Intermediate Cup.

They finished runners-up in the Gwynedd League, but still clinched promotion to the Welsh Alliance as champions Bro Goronwy were unable to go up. Craig netted 32 goals that season for the Bodorgan-based team.

In 2014/15, Craig scored a magnificent 34 times for Llangefni Town when they finished runners-up in Welsh Alliance Division Two to seal promotion. He also won the 2014/15 Supporters Player Of The Year. Craig added another 20 goals the season after when Cefni finished third in Division One.

In November 2018, Craig took charge of Gwalchmai for the first time and led them to promotion from the Gwynedd League.

Craig Evans will long be remembered as one of Gwalchmai’s greatest players and managers, not just through results on the field, but also because of the talented youngsters he has introduced to senior football who have gone on to bigger things.