Steve Evans fully set for Park Hall return with Caernarfon Town

Relieved of his duties in March, Steve Evans probably didn’t envisage how he would next return to The New Saints.

A trusted Lieutenant of Scott Ruscoe for a number of years, Evans played a part in the continued success of Welsh football’s biggest club. 

But he and Ruscoe were booted by the New Saints in March, despite being top of the league.

Now he returns to Park Hall, at the grand age of 42-years-old, as a contracted player to Caernarfon Town. 

“I didn’t really think I will be playing again,” revealed the veteran.

“When I was a TNS I use to joke with Chris Marriott and Greg Draper, I said listen, give me two weeks to get fit and I would breeze playing in this team.

“I was always joining in training and Paul Harrison would always want me on his team because he knows how much of a winner I am.

“Losing is something that I hate, this has always been with me, so I want to go back there and do well.”

Much has changed already in Oswestry. Anthony Limbrick took the club to within a penalty shootout of a play-off spot in the UEFA Europa Conference League.

They began their campaign with a 4-1 win over Newtown, despite only returning to Wales on Friday after their heartbreaking penalties defeat to Viktoria Plzeň.

“They are the best team in the league at moment with their run in Europe.

But despite the challenge ahead, Evans is relishing playing against the club that he made 261 appearances for.

“If we stick to our game plan and work hard, they will not want to mark me from corners. 

“I am looking forward to it, but it is only just another game. If I do score the winner Mike Harris will know about it!”

---

Embed from Getty Images

Rather than wait for a job to come up in one of Europe’s best leagues for job security, Evans dusted off his boots and resumed his playing career.

“Ideally, I would have gone into a management role after leaving TNS, ultimately there are no jobs available.

“So I was there thinking do I stay at home all week and go to games to see a few players and try to get some information?

“Because I have just come out of full-time football which I have been in for over 20 years it was a bit of a shock to the system.

“For my development, I was going around a few clubs training and seeing how they did things.”

The former Wales international took in a period of pre-season with Brymbo with his brother Rick, as well as Rhostyllen, where he was based. 

Then training sessions at Cymru North clubs would follow before a phone call from Huw Griffiths.

Club captain Gareth Edwards had left for Airbus UK Broughton and the Canaries boss was in search of a centre-back.

“I was doing alright in training and then I spoke to Huw (Griffiths) and I have known him for a long time.

“He was after a centre-half, so initially I was looking around for one.

“But then the fitter I got, the more comfortable I became.

“We spoke to each other and he asked me to come up and have a look.

I said, ‘I don’t know where I am at physically.’

“Huw said we will have an honest conversation which is massive for me, especially the honesty and trust.

“So I went up to have a look and I did alright.”

His last Cymru Premier match before last weekend’s success was over five years ago.

There are a lot of advantages to joining up as a player at Caernarfon Town according to the defender. 

He now gets to compete against people who could potentially be working with him in the future.

“Now I am in amongst it, I am seeing players first-hand.

“When that opportunity does come, I am even more ready because I know the players a lot more.

“I am under one of the most experienced managers in the Welsh Prem. I can’t fail to learn and develop even further.

“So it’s almost a win, win.”

(Featured Image: John Smith/FAW)