The glorious Portsmouth moments Gareth Evans will cherish above all others

As the man himself said, he’ll always be a Blue.
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And there’s no doubt Gareth Evans departs Fratton Park with a special place in the hearts of all Pompey fans.

The 32-year-old leaving PO4 severs one of the final links with the 2017 League Two title winners.

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Evans rates his role in the promotion success at Notts County and unlikely championship win against Cheltenham as the high points of 218 appearances across five years.

For supporters, he encapsulated the spirit of Paul Cook’s men - a team who perhaps captured the image of the city they represented best since Alan Ball’s ‘Gremlins’ in the 80s.

Of course, it was Evans who memorably came to symbolise the joy of the time, in the memorable celebrations which followed on Southsea Common.

His boozy exuberance and impromptu serenading of thousands of supporters cemented that fans’ chant in his honour - and a place in Pompey folklore.

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‘It’s funny,’ Evans reflected as he looked back on his favourite moments at Pompey. ‘At the time when we won the title and they didn’t have the trophy in Portsmouth we were gutted, but I guess they thought there was no chance of us winning it.

Gareth Evans leads Pompey fans in a memorable Southsea Common singalong after the 2017 title winGareth Evans leads Pompey fans in a memorable Southsea Common singalong after the 2017 title win
Gareth Evans leads Pompey fans in a memorable Southsea Common singalong after the 2017 title win

‘But it then consequently meant we had the event on Southsea Common - and everything which went with it!

‘It ended up being ideal really, we ended up celebrating with the fans on the pitch at Fratton, but also got to show off the trophy at Southsea.

‘We went out in Portsmouth until 5am or 6am and were messing around in the casino.

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‘I was living in Winchester so went back and was up again at 9am, I think I had two hours’ sleep.

Gareth Evans and his team-mates celebrate Pompey's League Two title triumph in May 2017. Picture: Joe PeplerGareth Evans and his team-mates celebrate Pompey's League Two title triumph in May 2017. Picture: Joe Pepler
Gareth Evans and his team-mates celebrate Pompey's League Two title triumph in May 2017. Picture: Joe Pepler

‘It’s a bit of a blurry few days looking back! But it was just brilliant really, we couldn’t have asked for more.

‘It was such a good time and a really happy time in my life.

‘Everything was going great in my personal life and on the pitch, it was just perfect.’

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It’s been five years and 218 appearances at Fratton Park which will ensure Evans will be remembered as a modern Pompey great.

And when reflecting on high points, the man who arrived in 2015 inevitably is drawn to the three-week period which delivered promotion at Meadow Lane and then the exultant and dramatic final-day at Fratton Park - with Evans scoring in both.

‘The aim when I came down was to get the club promoted and back into League One,’ Evans added, of a period now etched in the Fratton annals.

‘If that was all that was achieved, I would have been delighted and proud of that.

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‘It’s why the goals against Notts County and Cheltenham mean the most to me.

‘It was just perfect the way it all worked out, the drama and excitement of it all.

‘That was when I really got to feel the power of Portsmouth Football Club.

‘That was when I really got to feel the power of the fan base in those moments – and I’ll never forget that.’

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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