“The Former Players Association are saddened by the passing on Friday 24th June of former Club Secretary Dr John Evans.
Doctor Evans was a truly remarkable man, who steered the club through turbulent times in the 1990’s when Financial problems nearly took the football club into administration, but his wisdom and guidance truly saved the day.
Born in Tipton at the heart of the Black Country, he was educated at Wednesday High School before studying History and Law at the University of Wales, achieving an Honours Degree and becoming a Doctor of Philosophy.
Doctor Evans entered a world of education firstly at Alderman Smith School from 1968 to 1974, then Cardinal Wiseman School in Coventry from 1974 to 1989, before being appointed Secretary at The Hawthorns succeeding Gordon Bennett on 1st May 1989.
His wisdom, knowledge and superb management skills were absolutely vital in the early 1990’s when Financial problems once again came to the forefront of the football club, but with the ‘good Doctor’ at the helm steering the club through those very choppy waters, all was eventually well, and promotion to the Premier League in 2002, with manager Gary Megson in charge, was perhaps the pinnacle of his Albion career, and saw Doctor John rewarded with a place on the Board in July 2002, the first Secretary/Director to achieve such status, until his retirement in 2007.
The Association extends its sincere sympathy and condolences to the family at this very sad time, and those that know, admired and indeed loved ‘Doctor John’ will never forget a warm and wonderful gentleman a truly stoic statesman of the football club”.