Alice Evans (footballer)

Alice Evans (born 22 July 1994) is a Welsh professional futsal player. She previously played for the Wales football team where she was the goalkeeper. After playing for Cardiff City and Yeovil Town, she joined Bristol Academy in 2014 but returned to Yeovil a year later. She made her Senior international debut for the Wales football team in 2015.

Alice Evans
Personal information
Full name Alice Victoria Evans
Date of birth (1994-07-22) 22 July 1994
Place of birth Aberystwyth, Wales
Height 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team
 Santu Predu
Number 1
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2012–2013 Cardiff City
2013–2014 Yeovil Town
2014–2015 Bristol City
2015 Yeovil Town
International career
2013 Wales U19 15 (0)
2015 Wales 9 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

She is also the first British female futsal player to gain a professional contract. She first did this when she joined Italian side Sinnai in 2015, where she competed for a season in the top flight division. In 2020 she joined newly promoted Santu Predu in the Italian second division. This is currently where she is still playing.

Early life

Evans was born in Aberystwyth to Neil and Catrin Evans. She attended Ysgol Gymraeg Aberystwyth before the family moved to Builth Wells,[1][2] where she attended Builth Wells High School.[3] She has one brother, Jack, and a sister, Emily.[2]

Club career

Evans began her senior career with Cardiff City before joining Yeovil Town in 2012. She established herself as Yeovil's first choice goalkeeper during the 2013–14 season. Her performances prompted FA Women's Super League One side Bristol Academy to sign her during the summer of 2014 to provide competition for Mary Earps.[4] However, she returned to Yeovil after a single season.[5]

Futsal

Alongside her football career, Evans also played futsal for Bristol City and helped the side win the FA Women's Futsal Cup.[6] She has played futsal in the UK for Hartpury College.[7] Bath, Wrexham and Cheshire.

In 2015, she was invited for a trial with professional Italian Serie A futsal side Sinnai after they approached her coach. She impressed enough to be offered a contract.[8] In doing so, Evans became the first professional British female futsal player.[6][9]

International career

Having represented Wales at under 16's and under-19 level, Evans made her Euro qualifier debut for the Wales senior side in a 4–0 defeat to Norway on 23 October 2015 in a UEFA Women's Euro 2017 qualifying match.[10]

Personal life

Evans attended the University of Bath where she studied for a BSc in sports performance. In June 2015, she was one of four students chosen to travel to Zambia as part of the university's sports programme to provide PE lessons and sporting competitions in the country.[11] She also played rugby for the university team.[12]

She later moved to Brecon and, in February 2018, she took up a role as a community education officer with the Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service.[12]

References
  1. "December 2013". Ysgol Gymraeg Aberystwyth. Retrieved 10 July 2019.
  2. Williams, Clare (13 November 2015). "Alice's Italian dreams come true". The Brecon & Radnor Express. Archived from the original on 8 December 2019. Retrieved 9 July 2019.
  3. "Goalie Alice in Wales wonderland". The Brecon & Radnor Express. 14 August 2013. Archived from the original on 8 December 2019. Retrieved 9 July 2019.
  4. "Bristol Academy: Goalkeeper Alice Evans signs from Yeovil". BBC Sport. 25 June 2014. Retrieved 9 July 2019.
  5. "Bristol Academy make seven new signings". Bristol City W.F.C. 9 July 2015. Retrieved 9 July 2019.
  6. Powell, Jennie (29 October 2015). "Footballer Alice Evans to play professionally in Italy's Serie A". 4 The Love of Sport. Retrieved 9 July 2019.
  7. "Hartpury Get the Ball Rolling to Add Another Sporting String TO their Bow as Women's Futsal Gets Off to a Flyer". Hartpury College. 24 February 2014. Retrieved 10 July 2019.
  8. "University of Bath goalkeeper Alice Evans signs professional contract with Italian Serie A club". Team Bath F.C. 29 October 2015. Retrieved 9 July 2019.
  9. Williams, Clare (25 December 2015). "Footballer's dreams come true". The Brecon & Radnor Express. Retrieved 9 July 2019.
  10. Davies, Simon (23 October 2015). "Euro 2017 qualifier: Norway women 4-0 Wales women". BBC Sport. Retrieved 10 July 2019.
  11. ""Life-changing experience" awaits University of Bath students past and present in Zambia". Team Bath F.C. 2 June 2015. Retrieved 9 July 2019.
  12. "Jest y Job – Alice Evans". golwg360.cymru (in Welsh). 1 March 2018. Archived from the original on 10 July 2019. Retrieved 10 July 2019.
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