Evan Press (and his father) (foto: Uradni Twitter profil kluba/zveze)
Barry Town United has expressed shock after learning that their vice-captain, Evan Press, had been sentenced to two and a half years in prison for involvement in the supply of Class A drug cocaine.
The Cymru Premier club was unaware of the legal proceedings until shortly after the sentencing took place on March 19.
Press, 24, pleaded guilty at Newport Crown Court to being concerned in the supply of cocaine between February 2021 and November 2023 in Cardiff. Despite his guilty plea during a February 11 court appearance, he continued to feature for Barry Town and even captained the side in recent matches.
“Being brutally honest, we only heard about this on the day he was sentenced,” a club spokesman told WalesOnline. “He had never told us. We were contacted by a family member just half an hour after the sentencing.”
Key player kept charges hidden from club
Press has played 187 matches and scored 11 goals for Barry Town since joining in 2018. A former Newport County academy player, he has captained the team in 19 games this season and most recently led the side to a 2-1 win over Aberystwyth on March 11.
His contract, which expires at the end of this season, is non-salaried and based on per-match payments. The club confirmed there are no financial implications tied to his imprisonment.
“We’ve heard bits about the case but don’t have all the information,” said the spokesman. “It’s a real shock. Evan is a wonderful young man. He’s been with us for seven years. We want our players to be role models. This was news to us.”
Impact on squad as European play-offs approach
Barry Town are preparing to play away to Flint Town United and are still chasing European qualification via the play-offs. But the club admits they are unable to sign a replacement due to the transfer window being closed.
“It is what it is,” said the spokesman. “The boys will carry on as normal. When a player leaves our care, we can’t control what they do outside of football.”
Press’s sentencing includes a £190 victim services surcharge, and the court ordered that the iPhone used in his drug-related activity be destroyed. His only senior appearance outside Barry Town came with Newport County in 2017 in an EFL Trophy match.