Founder Member
of
Fishponds Old Boys Football Club

Alan Terry Evans was born in St Clears, Carmarthenshire on September 5, 1940.
Sport was always uppermost in his thoughts from the start.
At grammar school he excelled at cricket, winning a Welsh schoolboy cap. While at teacher training college, he played football in the Welsh league for Carmarthen Town from 1957 to 1960, scoring a hat-trick against the then Swansea Town in a charity match.
After qualifying as a P E teacher in 1961 he moved to Nottingham, playing semi-professional football for Long Eaton United in the Midland League and represented the Derbyshire FA in the Northern Amateur Championships in 1962.
In 1962 on moving to Kent, he played for semi professional club Sittingbourne and after one season moved on to Gravesend & Northfleet in the Southern League. He was a member of their squad for their Second Round F.A. Cup tie against Brentford. He also had a spell at Maidstone Town in the Isthmian League. Following two more successful years, he suffered a knee injury in 1965 which affected his career.
In a quote From the Bristol Soccerworld in 1995 Alan says: “As a player, my most memorable game must be as a player for Gravesend & Northfleet when we met Bedford Town in the Southern League in 1964. We played in front of a crowd of 15,000 as Bedford were issuing vouchers for their F.A. Cup tie against Newcastle United the following week! Also, scoring a hat-trick against Swansea Town in a Charity Match in 1960.’’
Alan was awarded his F.A. Coaching Badge in 1964 at Loughborough College. Also qualifying as a referee.
He came to the West country in 1965 to teach at Alexandra Park School in Fishponds, Bristol (which later became Whitefield School), and taught PE and maths there for 30 years, latterly becoming head of Year 7. He also played a role in the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme and school camps.
He enjoyed spells with Hanham Athletic, Keynsham Town and Hambrook but his knee injury restricted his appearances.
Alan was actively involved in Schools Football and coached the Bristol Schools Under-16 teams between 1966 and 1974. In the period between 1968-1970 he was coach to the Bristol Boys team and also coached Bristol Rovers ‘A’ in 1968-69.
Despite devoting his life mainly to football, there was also a lady in his life. Alan and Delyth met in 1967 and married a year later. Together they had three children Sian, Rhian, and Bethan.

In 1969, keen to retain the good quality players who had played for the successful school team at Alexandra Park where he was the Sports Master, Alan founded Fishponds Old Boys Football Club.

They were to win the Bristol Junior League Under-16 League & Cup ‘double’ in their first season and the following year 1970-71, won the Church of England Under-17 division.
Fishponds joined the Bristol & Suburban League in 1971, and Alan resumed his playing career, playing for nine years before retiring after the 1979-80 season. He was to play again however, on the odd occasion. His last full appearance coming in 1990, against National Smelting Co, at the age of 50! Although this was followed with appearances as a substitute, the last time for the 1st Team in 1991-92, and the 2nd Team in 1992-93.
In all Alan made 281 appearances for Fishponds, scoring 56 goals.
Through the early years he was 1st Team Manager (1969-73), 2nd Team Manager (1976-79), before becoming 1st Team Manager again (1980-91). During his second spell at the helm, FOB achieved one of their greatest highlights to date, summed up by Alan with this quote, also from 1995: “The proudest moment of my footballing days came when Fishponds Old Boys won the G.F.A. Junior Cup at Ashton Gate in 1981-82, beating Henbury Old Boys 2-1.’’

From 1991 onwards Alan passed over the Managerial reins to concentrate fully on the role of Secretary/Treasurer, another post he had held with Fishponds Old Boys since the outset in 1969, before handing over the Treasurer position in 2000. These efforts were recognised with two Clubman of the year awards in 1975-76 and 2003-04, although Alan could easily have won every season such was his commitment and dedication.
He was presented with many awards as a club secretary, including five Slater Stone Awards (Suburban League Secretaries Efficiency Award - Divisional) in 1984-85 for Division 1, 1988-89 Division 6, 1996-97 Premier Division 2, 2000-01 Division 6, and 2004-05 Division 3. The highest recognition came when winning the Tom Pitts Award (Suburban League Secretaries Efficiency Award - Entire League) in 1992-93. He also received a Long Service Award from the Gloucestershire FA in 1996.
In 2004/05 the first team finally achieved what Alan and all of us had been working towards for many years. Promotion to Premier One, the top division in the Suburban League. This achievement made Alan immensely proud. At last all the hard work for his beloved Fishponds Old Boys had paid off.
Even when Alan's health began to deteriorate he would always do his utmost to attend as many matches as possible to lend his support and offer advice.
It is clear to see, Alan really earned his nickname ‘Mr. Fishponds’.

Alan with some of the Original 1969 squad at the 40th presentation evening

Alan at the Alfred Bosley Cup Final in April 2009

Then there was the Bristol & Suburban League. He was connected with the League since 1971 when Fishponds Old Boys first played in Division 6, winning promotion in their first year.
His service also saw him join the League Management Committee in 1988, and become Referees Secretary in 1998. Another thankless task with many hours of hard work as Delyth (Mrs. Evans) will testify, as she acted as Alan’s ‘personal secretary’ to both Fishponds Old Boys and the Suburban League in later years.
After Alan’s passing on April 20, 2010, his family said: "Alan will be greatly missed by all who knew him for his humour and dedication to football in Bristol."
Fishponds Old Boys has grown massively since it's formation and in July 2009 celebrated the 40th anniversary. Alan was deeply moved by that occasion, especially as many of the original team and earlier players attended.
It is up to everyone connected with the club to continue what Alan started, and not let 40 years of hard work and dedication go to waste.
In Alan’s contribution to the 40th Anniversary AGM booklet he ends by saying:
’’I wanted to pass on my experiences and great passion for the game. I hope I have achieved this’’.
I think everyone will agree that he has.

Alan Evans

September 5, 1940 - April 20, 2010

Fishponds Old Boys

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