Nicky Evans (footballer)

Nicholas John Evans, born Bedford 6 July 1958, had been rejected by Peterborough and Q.P.R as a youngster and was plying his trade at Kettering Town. Manager Barry Fry signed him in the summer of 1983.

He made his debut on Tuesday 13 September 1983 at Underhill, scoring two goals in a 10–0 victory over Trowbridge Town in the Alliance Premier League Cup, two weeks after which he scored a hat trick in a 4–0 win at Trowbridge in an Alliance Premier League fixture.

Despite being hampered by frequent injuries (which littered his whole career) he scored 17 goals in his first season and although signed first and foremost as a striker Evans often played in the hole behind Mahoney and Atkins in midfield.

The following season he scored another 17 goals from less than 40 starts. In the final game of the season Alliance League Champions Wealdstone visited Underhill but found Evans in form; he would score four goals in their 7–0 victory.

Nicky was voted Barnet FC Player of the Year in 1985-86 by The Supporters Association as he scored 26 goals in all competitions. Allegedly, Nuneaton Borough offered a sizeable transfer fee for Evans early in the season and with Barnet under financial pressures like many clubs in the renamed Gola League Barry Fry had no choice but to accept. However Evans refused to leave Barnet so the deal was called off, further adding to his cult following among Barnet fans. As a result of his popularity, fans created a chant, "Born is the King of Underhill", which was adapted from the hymn The First Noel. Upon scoring, he would usually perform a military-style salute to the crowd.

In 1986-87 Nicky's 29 goals helped Barnet finish second in the GM conference behind Scarborough. He went one better for the 1987–88 season scoring 30 goals, 12 of which were in the space of 14 days in September 1987. Shortly after the 7–0 win at Loakes Park Wycombe (where Nicky scored 4) it was revealed that he had won second place in Wycombe's Player of the Month due to numerous Bees fans sabotaging the voting slips issued that evening.

Nicky was sold to Wycombe Wanderers in March 1989 for a transfer fee of £32,000. Barry Fry and Barnet Chairman Stan Flashman were heavily criticised by a large contingent of the supporters who felt that Nicky should not have been sold despite the club being in the process of rebuilding.

In January 1991 Barry Fry jumped at the opportunity to return Nicky to his beloved Underhill and a team challenging once again for the GM Vauxhall Conference, spending around £25,000 to resign him. He was welcomed with open arms by the fans and soon reopened his goal account with a brace in a 3–1 win at Boston United. Playing in a deeper role behind strikers Gary Bull and Mark Carter; he later played in the side that beat Fisher Athletic 4-2 to secure Barnet a place in the Football League.