Joy amid bleak times for buoyant Gareth Evans as the Portsmouth family expands

In March, he became the latest to join the Pompey baby boom – albeit far from straightforward considering the circumstances.

The Fratton favourite and wife Hazel welcomed Atlas into the world 13 days overdue.

Crucially, their son was delivered during the coronavirus lockdown, a scenario which at one stage threatened Evans’ presence at the QA Hospital birth.

Still, both mother and baby are fine – as father contemplates the resumption of League One and playing duties.

He told The News: ‘The season stopping has been great from a selfish point of view, I have actually really enjoyed it.

‘Ever since Atlas was born, it has been eight-week paternity, allowing me to spend so much time with him and also help out Hazel.

‘The only down point is not being able to see grandparents, my sisters, nieces and nephews. That has been the toughest part. But in terms of me spending time with Atlas, it has been brilliant.

‘Considering it all happened when in lockdown, it was strange seeing QA so eerily quiet. I’ve been there before with the squad for hospital visits to see patients and fans, so it was very different.

‘However, during lockdown, there was security on the door, you had to give your name and if you weren’t authorised by the maternity ward then you couldn’t go in.

‘There was also nobody walking up and down the corridors, it was quite a surreal experience at that time.

‘I was only allowed to be in the hospital when Hazel had actually gone into labour and been given a bed.

‘The first time she went in there with contractions, she had to be on her own. She was checked over and sent home.

‘We went back another time, Hazel was told she was properly in labour. So she was able to call me and say “Okay, you are allowed in”.

‘It was weird. I was having to send her in when she was in bits having contractions – then sat in the car outside waiting for the green light to go in!

‘At one stage there was talk of not having birth partners. If that had been the case, I wouldn’t have been there at all.’

This season has seen Pompey team-mates John Marquis, Oli Hawkins and Ellis Harrison also become fathers.

Now it has been the turn of Evans.

The 32-year-old added: ‘The weekend after he was born, I would have been at Ipswich.

‘That would have been two days away, then back training on Monday. As a footballer, you don’t get paternity, it’s not expected.

‘So it’s a bonus to have all this time with Atlas.’

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