John (Jack) Joseph Evans – RIP

It is with regret that we announce the death of former Brakes and Coventry City Forward John (Jack) Joseph Evans.

Paul Vanes writes:
Born 11th March 1926 died 15th April 2012 (aged 86), Jack Evans played for the Coventry City nursery side Modern Machine Tools before joining the Bantams, signing professional forms in May 1947 as a centre forward making his first team debut against Fulham on April 2nd 1949 scoring the only goal of the game. He made 3 appearances in 1949/50, 4 in 1950/51 and was released at the end of the next season where he joined Nuneaton Borough but his stay was not a long one.

Bedworth Town was his next port of call before moving to Rugby Town before returning to the Oval in 1953/54 but it was his next two moves that made his name in non league circles, first at Banbury Spencer spending just over four seasons scoring a goal every other match and then Jack made his final move in the summer of 1958 to Lockheed Leamington where in his first season picked up a Birmingham Senior Cup finalist medal losing 2-1 to Stourbridge at St. Andrews but better days were around the corner completing the Birmingham League and Senior cup double in 1961/62 season, Jack scored twice in the 5-1 thrashing of Rugby Town at Highfield Road in front of 3,428 fans. Under its new name, Brakes won the inaugural West Midland (Regional) League title the following season and he was awarded a testimonial match against Nottingham Forest in April 1964 whilst coaching the Reserve team. He wore the number six and nine shirts with pride and also skippered the club.

Sadly his wife died two or three years ago, Jack had no known family so lived for his golf and it was on his local course that he died last Sunday from an aneurism. He will be cremated at Canley in Coventry however the date has not yet been confirmed.

You can just image it upstairs, three Coventry City/Lockheed Leamington men, Eric Dobbs down the wing to Ernie Ward and Jack using his bald pate to causally nod home the inch perfect cross.

Rest in Peace Jack.

To any surviving relatives, please accept the heartfelt condolences of all Brakes Trust members and Leamington Football Club fans.

Here are some press clippings from the 1960/1/2 era (click to enlarge):

The pages come from the Lockheed in-house magazine PRECISION.