*Indicates unconfirmed information. Figures in brackets after English team names indicate all appearances made and goals scored in competitive matches for Football League clubs from 1888 onwards. For Scottish League clubs the figures show details of all competitive appearances and goals scored from 1946/47 onwards.
George Evans
Appearances: 3+3 Goals: 0
Date / Year of birth: 9th September 1957
Position: Striker
Season of first appearance: 1980/81
Season of last appearance: 1987/88
Also played for: Herne Bay and Ramsgate
Jamaican striker born in Montego Bay who moved to England in 1967 and lived at Spurgeon's Children's Home in Birchington until 1974. After leaving the home George moved to Westgate and started playing football locally.
He joined Margate towards the end of the 1975/76 season and made a few appearances for the reserves. At that time George was playing in the Thanet League for Northdown.
He carried on playing local amateur football in the years that followed and also had a spell at Herne Bay during the 1980/81 campaign. George played a few first team games in the Kent League and also turned out for Herne Bay's reserves. Whilst playing for them in a match against Cray Wanderers Reserves he scored a remarkable hat-trick of penalties in the space of only five minutes. It was later certified as a world record for the fastest ever hat-trick of spot-kicks.
George was mainly playing for local Sunday League side Westgate USC when he rejoined Margate in March 1981. At the time the club faced a drastic player shortage and George offered to help out. He made his debut in a 0-0 draw at Addlestone & Weybridge on 24.3.81 and also played in a 1-1 draw at Fareham on 8.4.81 before dropping back into local football.
George then played for Ramsgate during the 1981/82, 1982/83 and 1983/84 seasons and he was a regular goalscorer at Southwood. During the 1982/83 campaign the Thanet Times said that he had "an abundance of skill".
George returned to Hartsdown Park for the 1984/85 season and he was working at Manston Airport at that time. He played regularly for Thanet United's reserves before leaving the club once more in the summer of 1985.
He rejoined Thanet in November 1987 and made a handful of appearances in United's senior side, the first of them in a 1-0 defeat at home to Marlow in an FA Trophy tie on 3.11.87. George came on as a substitute but the Isle of Thanet Gazette said that he "seldom got even a kick". He made two more substitute appearances before being handed a starting place as Thanet took on Folkestone in a Southern League Cup tie at Hartsdown on 24.11.87. United lost 1-0 and the Gazette said that George "looked rusty" as he missed a good chance towards the end of the game. It was his last appearance for the club and he dropped back into local football having made four appearances (three as sub) without scoring.
George was also a useful cricketer and played for local club Nelson for many seasons.
In later years George became a successful businessman and in the early 1990's he returned to his birthplace - Montego Bay, Jamaica. He became heavily involved in football administration on the island and rose to the post of President of the St.James Football Association before being elevated to the position of vice-president of the Jamaica Football Federation. That role gave George the opportunity to travel the world with the Jamaican national team but he stepped down in 2006 due to family and work commitments.
George then lived in Atlanta in the USA for a while before returning to Montego Bay where he became president of the St.James Football Association once again.
In 2009 he looked back on his time in the Thanet area and said "Sport was my great love while at Birchington and I continued to play thereafter, and still play some 'masters' league over 35's ! I even played for Jamaica against Brazil in 1999 in Kingston, which was the highlight of my sporting career !". At that time George still visited Thanet regularly as his three daughters all lived in Margate.
George resigned from his post as president of the St.James Football Association for the second time in 2010.
|
SEASON (CLUB) |
FULL (MAX) |
SUB |
GLS |
FAC |
FAT |
SLC |
KSC |
| |
|
1980/81 (MFC) |
2 (58) |
0 |
0 |
SOUTHERN LEAGUE SOUTHERN DIV. (22ND OF 24) |
2QR |
3QR |
1R |
2R |
|
|
SEASON (CLUB) |
FULL (MAX) |
SUB |
GLS |
FAC |
FAT |
SLC |
KSC |
||
|
1987/88 (TUFC) |
1 (56) |
3 |
0 |
SOUTHERN LEAGUE SOUTHERN DIV. (5TH OF 21) |
4QR |
2QR |
GR |
1R |