Beginning as an aprentice with Blackpool Paul joined the Sandgrounders initially on loan in January 1982, as cover for the injured Alan Alty. The 19 year old goalkeeper made a good first impression and upon his release by the Seasiders in the summer of 1982, signed Permanently at Haig Avenue. Paul would go on to render seven years sterling service for the club.
Player of the season in his first full season (1982-83) Paul’s consistent displays made him a strong crowd favourite and although he actually had 3 spells, his time away from the club in this period was so short his presence felt a rare constance at the club during a decade of turmoil and change.
Whilst on field success was rare in the this era, Paul was part of the side that won the Lancashire Floodlit Trophy in 1983/84, the clubs first silverware since exiting the football league.
Despite suffering a number of serious injuries, he managed to see off the competition from 14 other goalkeepers, and still managed to make almost 300 appearances, including two 60 game seasons. Remarkably he kept clean sheets in almost a third of them and saving penalties was something of a specialty.
In 1985/86 Paul lifted the player of the season award for the second time making him one of only a handful of players to do the same.
In goal for Southport’s Match of the Day appearance against Port Vale in the FA Cup, the club’s first televised game broadcast from Haig avenue, the 1988/89 season was to be Paul’s last with the club, departing in March 1989, fittingly with a clean sheet in his final game, a 1-0 win against Buxton.
Paul Evans will be inducted in the Southport FC Hall of Fame on 13th November 2021
More Stories
Michael Powell Hall of Fame Inductee
Tony Beanland Hall of Fame Inductee
Steve Pickford Hall of Fame Inductee