Billy Evans

Who was Billy Evans?

William Emmanuel Evans was an English professional association football player.

Evans was born in Birmingham, and was signed by his boyhood team, Aston Villa, in 1946 after being spotted playing for his works team, Linread. He had spent the Second World War making nuts and bolts and was 25 when he signed professional forms.

He debuted at centre-forward for Aston Villa, scoring in a 2-1 defeat at Villa Park. He was in competition for a place with record-signing Trevor Ford and was unable to hold down a first team place. He scored 3 goals in 7 appearances at Villa.

In 1949 Billy became Eric Houghton's first signing for Notts County. In the 1949-50 season, Notts County clinched the Third Division championship with Evans being an ever-present alongside England international, Tommy Lawton. He was sold to Gillingham in 1953 where he enjoyed two seasons scoring 12 goals in 92 appearances. He signed for Grimsby Town in 1955 and won a Third Division championship medal in his first season at the club. He retired as a player in 1957 having scored 28 times in 102 appearances at Blundell Park and became reserve team coach. He died of lung cancer in Grimsby in 1960, aged 38.