Tom Owen-Evans

A look at some of the best players I’ve seen in the past few years at either U18s or U23s level or currently playing in non-league who've either left a really positive impression or whose careers I follow with genuine interest to see how they're doing every week.

Player: Tom Owen-Evans 

Age: 25

Position: Midfielder

Club: Kidderminster Harriers

He's the most laid back character in a dressing room, one of the best players in the National League North and above everything, he's just a thoroughly top guy.

Tom Owen-Evans will add so many qualities at Kidderminster Harriers!

Looking rather serious on his signing day at Kidderminster.
(Photo: Kidderminster Harriers FC).

Recently signed from Hereford, 'King.Toey' (as was his old MSN username back in the day) will add a particular flair and creativity on the pitch. Possessing a nifty technique and an ability to glide past opponents - as the Blyth Spartans defence will no doubt testify because he ALWAYS scores against them, the 2021/22 campaign was the best of his career to date. He delivered the goods as frequently as he used to shift parcels around his home city by scoring 15 goals and claiming eight assists in 42 appearances.

Not your usual No.10, he can operate either on the right-hand side or through the middle and he'll connect with supporters at Aggborough who'll love his style, charisma, energy and the excitement he causes with his attack-minded displays. Kids on the terraces will love his constant beaming smile, knee-slide celebrations infront of them and a few 'high-fives' after each win.

Deep down, TOE is still a big kid who is just buzzing to be doing what he loves. It was evident during his 'sprint the length of the pitch' celebration after scoring at Wembley in the FA Trophy Final last year and it's evident in how he plays the game.

The best thing is that doesn't have any ego. He's genuine, down to earth, approachable, loves coaching the kids in North Somerset whenever he can, and he's just a great person to be around.

The iconic Tom Owen-Evans knee slide (Photo: Steve Niblett).

It's away from the pitch where TOE's personality shines even more.

In every good dressing room there's often a skipper and three or four natural 'leaders' who people will respect and TOE's welcoming personality will instantly win people over.

Not one for sloppy standards or slacking, he's caring enough to know when a team-mate needs an arm round the shoulder or a boot up the backside, and witty enough to come out with good 'one-liners' and join in the banter. He can hold a decent conversation; knows his NFL, still loves the Arsenal (despite the fact they frustrate him every year without fail), has delved into his own fashion brand in the past (L'Avenir London), created online megamixes such as TOEVID-19, spent many hours playing Call Of Duty and streaming it live on Twitch TV, and at one point during the pandemic he even got bullied into making YouTube videos by Paige, his long-term girlfriend which will probably make his rosy cheeks go even more red if his team-mates were ever to get hold of them!

When it comes to Grand National weekend, he'll be the 'go to guy' for tips and the person who'll bring a sweepstake kit into the building and get everyone involved. He knows his 'Tiger Roll' from his three-legged donkey (which I'm more likely to back), loves his Horse Racing, and knows how to create that brilliant sense of unity.

They're just some of the reasons why he'll add quality to the Aggborough dressing room.

Having TOE around, just being TOE and adding such a positive vibe and fresh energy through his presence should put everyone in a good mood. 

He's a total one-off with so many qualities; like Del Boy, Rodney Trotter and 'Mr Happy' from the Mr Men books rolled into one! It's hard for the gloom not to lift when he swaggers along in a baseball cap covering his immaculate 'Barnet FC' with an infectious smile.

People can feed off those characteristics and that energy and it's why he's loved by so many people!

Surviving relegation TOE style (Photo: Athena Pictures).

Born on the day when 'Who Do You Think You Are?' by the Spice Girls topped the UK charts, I've always maintained TOE will also one day be the answer to a pub quiz question. 

Why? Well it's because he's got his own unique piece of football history by being the only player (to my knowledge at least) who scored his FIRST and ONLY goal in the Football League on two separate occasions. His 'first' in a game against Morecambe in December 2016 was wiped out at half-time when that game was abandoned and he only scored once more (in a win at Exeter) four months later.

Ironically, it wasn't his only goal at St James' Park because he did once bag there in the FA Youth Cup for Newport which probably played a part in him earning his pro contract.

In total, he made 61 outings for Newport's first team and the memories of being hoisted aloft on that utter quagmire of a pitch at Rodney Parade after helping them beat Notts County and pull off arguably the greatest of 'Great Escapes' to avoid relegation (they were 11 points adrift at one point), is something which will be lodged in his mind forever.

Those type of moments don't come around too often in football and, like any player, TOE hasn't always had things nice and straightforward.

Rejected by Bristol City at 16, a 400-mile move to Falkirk five years later didn't quite work out as hoped after Ray McKinnon replaced Paul Hartley as manager and TOE found himself twiddling thumbs at 3.00pm on a Saturday rather than kicking a ball around. 

And despite everything he achieved by the time he left Hereford a few weeks ago, there was actually a period which people might forget when he was out of favour and disregarded by Russell Slade.

There'll have been both some genuine and anxious moments of self-doubt and worry about what the future held during his loan at Chippenham in late 2019 and a few bars from that bittersweet Christmas classic 'Fairytale Of New York' may well have resonated with deeper emotions at that time.

TOE, going rather red, after signing for Falkirk (Photo: Falkirk FC).

But TOE being TOE, he came through it.

Just like in the music charts, Slade wasn't around for very long after the festivities and TOE was recalled by Hereford which paved the way for him to make the memories such as THAT GOAL at Wembley a year later which left his entire family bursting with pride, emotion, joy and unparalleled delight - and probably a few tears as well.

Sadly, the result didn't go to plan because that annoying 'Horne, Horne, Horne' tune played aloud over the PA system three times before the final whistle but in those single few moments when the ball left his right foot and flew into the net, every sacrifice, every setback, every rejection (and possibly even every elongated gym session with Graham Westley) will have felt worth it.

Scoring at Wembley is something he'll always have on his CV forever now.

There's also so many more memories which TOE will be able to recall in an instant as well. 

Replacing Adam Chapman in the 89th minute at Bootham Crescent. Playing at Molineux. The BBC feature about the 90s with Aaron Collins, Regan Poole and Kieran Parselle (they'd be the worst boy band ever). The 'paperwork' fiasco leading up to the loan spell at Gloucester and the race to get it done before the bus left for the away game. The goal at FC United just a few weeks later. The inflatable mannequin incident which went viral. Long trips everywhere with Truro (because Truro is a long way from anywhere). Seeing the Kelpies almost every day up in Scotland for those few months in the summer/autumn.

And of course the goals, moments and memories at Edgar Street, plus the managers he's played under, plus the dressing rooms trials and tribulations from both the good and bad times.

One thing TOE hasn't achieved yet is getting a promotion on his CV.

So good luck at Kidderminster. You've earned the right to be back playing full-time football every day, and it's a perfect chance to go and create some more memories - and it would be brilliant to see you perched on top of a lamp-post in roughly 11 months time like some lunatic who has been mentioned elsewhere in this article (and on this blog before).

It really would be a crowning moment for 'King.Toey'.

A genuine guy. A genuine player. A genuine delight to write this article.

Good luck!

That celebration after THAT goal (Photo: Tom Dulat).