‘We only heard about this on the day’ – Football club stunned to learn player, 24, had been jailed on day of sentencing

A WELSH football club has revealed their shock at a key player being jailed after learning of his case on the day of his sentencing.

Barry Town were stunned to discover midfielder Evan Press was sentenced to two-and-a-half years in prison after pleading guilty to the supply of Class A drug cocaine.

Press pleaded guilty in Newport Crown Court on February 11 without his club's knowledge.

He proceeded to play in Barry Town's next three matches, including a 2-1 win over Aberystwyth Town, but was unable to feature against Flint Town at the weekend due to his sentencing.

Barry Town revealed they did not find out about his sentencing until 30 minutes after the judge made their decision.

Press' offence is understood to have been committed between February 2021 and November 2023 in Cardiff.

He was a Barry Town player throughout that period and even captained the club on occasion, including 19 times this season.

A Barry Town spokesperson re-affirmed the club's commitments to their family values as they denied knowing about the case before the day of sentencing.

A spokesperson told Wales Online: “Being brutally honest we only heard about this on the day he was sentenced. He had never told us.

“We were unaware until half an hour after the sentencing on March 19 when we were contacted by a family member.

“Since the sentencing we've heard bits about the case but we don't have all the information. We have been processing the news. It is a real shock.

“Evan is a wonderful young man. He's been part of our club for seven years. He has made a mistake and my understanding is it happened some time ago.

“We are a family club who want our players to be role models. This was news to us.”

Press, 24, has played for Barry Town since 2018 and has made 187 appearances for the club, scoring 11 goals.