Ricky Evans

2022–2023

**Ricky Evans** is a footballer who played for **Hashtag United** (men).

Having played football at school and college, Evans started his senior career with Essex Senior League side Burnham Ramblers at the age of 18 around 2008; remaining with *The Ramblers* until mid-2014. They won promotion as champions to the Isthmian League - Division One North in 2012–13. His first appearance at that level arrived on 10 August 2013 as Burnham defeated Waltham Abbey by three goals away from home. On 17 September, Evans netted his first Isthmian League goal in a 4–4 draw away to Maldon & Tiptree.

A month later, on 12 October, he assisted Nikki Beale and Jay Nash in a home draw with Soham Town Rangers to win his third club Player of the Match award of the season. Evans won two more of those awards in 2013–14, which he ended with 11 assists across 53 appearances as the club finished 17th. At the beginning of 2014–15, in August, Evans appeared in league matches with Redbridge and Maldon & Tiptree before departing to Heybridge Swifts.

Heybridge Swifts
Evans joined fellow Isthmian League - Division One North team Heybridge Swifts just after the start of the 2014–15 campaign. He made his debut as a starter on 6 September as they lost 2–1 away to Aveley, which preceded three further starts across September - including in an away victory versus Burnham Ramblers - before Evans left to return to his former club.

Burnham Ramblers return
After a month away, Evans rejoined Burnham Ramblers of the Isthmian League - Division One North in October 2014. They lost the first four matches of his return, though he was selected as Player of the Match twice and assisted two goals in that span. After stopping the rot by going unbeaten in three across late October/early November, the club would then go three months without a win - a streak that was ended on 21 February 2015 as they won away to Thamesmead Town, with Evans himself netting the winner. He scored once more that season, versus Brentwood Town, as they suffered relegation to the Essex Senior League. Evans soon departed due to work committments in Dubai.

Burnham Ramblers return
Ahead of the 2015–16 season, Evans rejoined Burnham Ramblers in the Essex Senior League. After making his third debut for the club in a win at home to Enfield on 8 August, the midfielder would only sporadically feature across the campaign as he totalled 8 appearances by late February 2016; as his final appearance for *The Ramblers* came in a goalless draw on home turf versus Sawbridgeworth Town on 23 February.

Great Wakering Rovers
In 2016–17, Evans moved up to the Isthmian League - Division One North with Great Wakering Rovers. He debuted in a 2–1 win on the road to Soham Town Rangers on 12 November 2016, which was one of seven appearances he made up until the year's end. In his first match of 2017, on 2 January, Evans scored his first goal in a draw away at Tilbury. He concluded the campaign with a goal in his penultimate appearance on 18 April versus Bowers & Pitsea, as the club suffered relegation to the Essex Senior League. Evans remained in 2017–18, featuring 44 times and scoring 3 goals (versus Southend Manor, Tower Hamlets and Takeley) as they were promoted as champions back to the Isthmian League.

#### HTU

2018–19
As HTU moved into non-league football, Evans became one of new manager Jay Devereux's first signings. After participating in pre-season friendlies against Swindon Supermarine, Royal Holloway Old Boys, Romford, Loughborough University (also scoring) and Tilbury, Evans made his competitive debut for *The Tags* on 4 August 2018 as they lost their opening Thurlow Nunn League - Division One South fixture away to Little Oakley at the Memorial Ground. In his twelfth appearance, on 8 September 2018, he scored a Goal of the Season Award contender in a four-goal victory away to ex-club Burnham Ramblers. Evans netted again on 10 November in a win at home to Brightlingsea Regent Reserves.

Having scored away to old team Burnham Ramblers in September, Evans assisted Lee Hursit in the return fixture at Coles Park on 17 November as HTU won 2–1. Four appearances later, the midfielder netted his fourth HTU goal in a 3–0 league win at home to Newbury Forest on 15 December. Evans ended his first season with *The Tags* with 51 appearances in all competitions, as he grabbed further assists versus Frenford, Harleston Town and May & Baker as the club won promotion as champions to the Essex Senior League.

2019–20
Evans featured in all 7 of the club's pre-season fixtures to begin 2019–20, notably scoring in wins over Burnham and Hashtag Originals; also notching his fifth HTU assist in the latter game. After appearing for his first competitive appearance of the season against Southend Manor on 7 August as HTU lost 2–0, the midfielder went on to appear in 17 matches in all competitions across the rest of 2019; gaining another assist in a 3–2 over Cockfosters in October. Evans opened 2020 with a goal versus Tower Hamlets on 4 January. His next appearance saw him assist Jamie Hursit against Hoddesdon Town on 8 January, which preceded his final match for the side on 18 January versus Redbridge.

On 20 January 2020, Evans left *The Tags*. He had planned to leave the club at the end of February due to his work commitments taking him back to Dubai, though his departure as a player was brought forward after he had suffered a broken arm in his final appearance against Redbridge.

2022–23
Whilst being HTU's reserve manager, Evans was an unused substitute at that level on 2 occasions for November matches with Saffron Walden Town Reserves (league, 5 November) and Woodford Town Reserves (cup, 19 November).

#### Post-HTU

7-a-side
Evans retired after leaving HTU, though did play 7-a-side football whilst working in Dubai.

### As a Manager

#### HTU

2022–23
On 31 May 2022, Evans returned to HTU as he was appointed to replace Kiernan Hughes-Mason as reserves manager. His first competitive match in charge saw his side win 3–1 against Grays Athletic on 12 August. After a season that saw them place 2nd, Evans departed on 3 July 2023 "due to family commitments".

## Personal Life

Evans works as a freight broker for Freight Investor Services, a company he worked for either side of a stint with ICAP. He supports Tottenham Hotspur.

## HTU Statistics

Breakdown

'*Other Cups' includes competitions like the FA Trophy, the FA Vase and friendly tournaments. See also: HTUwiki:DataIssues.*

Appearances (79)
* List of appearances of Ricky Evans

Goals (7)
Loughborough University  v  Hashtag United

Burnham Ramblers  v  Hashtag United

Hashtag United  v  Brightlingsea Regent Reserves

Hashtag United  v  Newbury Forest

Burnham  v  Hashtag United

Hashtag Originals  v  Hashtag United

Tower Hamlets  v  Hashtag United

## HTU Honours

* Thurlow Nunn League - Division One South (1): 2018-19

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Ricky Evans" .
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "THE NEW LADS! - HASHTAG TEAMMATES EP1" , 17 August 2018.
3. ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 3.12 3.13 "Ricky Evans - Burnham Ramblers FC 1st Team" .
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Heybridge Swifts - Appearances - Ricky Evans - 2014-2015" .
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 "Great Wakering Rovers - Appearances - Ricky Evans - 2016-2017" .
6. ↑ "Ricky Evans player stats" .
7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 "Hashtag United: Ricky Evans injury forces his retirement from the team" , 20 January 2020.
8. ↑ "Retired 13 months ago" , 27 February 2021.
9. ↑ "RICKY EVANS RETURNS TO HASHTAG!" , 31 May 2022.
10. ↑ "🚨 COACH THE TAGS! Due to family commitments @rickyevans14 is stepping away for now as reserves manager. We thank him for his time & hard work in developing the lads last season! This means that we need a new reserve team gaffer! Get in touch via email👇 if you’re interested!" , 3 July 2023.
11. ↑ "Ricky Evans" .