Between 1928 and 1980, the England rugby union team won only one grand slam. It came in 1957 and the skipper was Droylsden-born Eric Evans. Universally acknowledged as a superb tactician, Evans captained his country with great success and later served as a selector. Yet, it was as a soccer player that he first made his mark on the Tameside sporting scene. Born on Edge Lane, Evans played for Droylsden Boys before switching to the handling code when he became a pupil of Audenshaw Grammar School which he also represented at swimming, cricket and athletics. In 1936-7, aged 16, he played throughout Aldwinians Rugby Club’s inaugural season and continued to feature until the Second World War began. Evans made his mark in three positions: prop, hooker and flanker. Although only a teenager he commanded a place in the pack against men twice his age and much heavier. During the war he joined Sale and, in 1946, was elected a member of the Barbarians, captaining them on four occasions. When called up for national service, Evans played for the army side for three years. He then took a physical training course at Loughborough College and played for English Universities and Leicester Barbarians. Evans qualified as a sports teacher and worked at Openshaw Technical College before changing career and taking a job as an industrial relations officer with an oil company. In 1948, while living on Clarendon Road, Audenshaw, Evans was awarded his first England cap and played prop forward against Australia at Twickenham. Later he established himself at hooker. He became England captain in 1956. During this time he earned a reputation as a master of the art of motivation. A contemporary said: “Eric got more out of more players than and other captain I have known.” At the end of the 1957-58 season Evans retired from international rugby. He was 37 and had been capped 30 times, scoring five tries. England won nine of the 13 games he had captained. He continued to play for Sale until 1963. He served as a selector for England and Lancashire and played for the red rose 117 times, leading it to the county championship in 1955. Evans was chairman of Aldwinians from 1957 to 1959, and president from 1960 to 1966. In 1982 he was awarded the MBE for services to rugby union. He died in Stepping Hill Hospital. Stockport, in 1991 aged 69.