Welsh Club Shocked To Find Captain Sent To Prison

Barry Town United have been blindsided by the revelation that their vice-captain Evan Press has been sentenced to two-and-a-half years in prison for drug offences — a development the club says they were completely unaware of until the day of sentencing.

The 24-year-old midfielder, who has made over 180 appearances for the club since 2018, was jailed at Newport Crown Court after admitting to the supply of Class A drugs. The offences relate to the distribution of cocaine throughout Cardiff between February 2021 and November 2023.

Despite being under investigation, Press continued to feature regularly for Barry Town this season, playing in every match and captaining the team on 19 occasions. The news of his conviction has come as a devastating shock to club officials and supporters alike.

Club blindsided by conviction

A club spokesperson admitted they were completely in the dark regarding the case until Press was sentenced:

“Being brutally honest we only heard about this on the day he was sentenced. He had never told us. 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.”

Press, who began his career with Newport County’s academy before moving to Barry Town in 2018, was ordered to pay a £190 victim surcharge and had a mobile phone used in the offences destroyed by the court.

The midfielder had established himself as a key figure in the team, contributing 11 goals in his Barry Town career and becoming a respected leader in the squad.

The spokesperson added that the news had rocked the club emotionally, while also highlighting their values as a community-driven institution:

“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.”

Despite the timing of the revelation, Barry intend to continue their campaign and remain focused on upcoming fixtures, including their next match against Flint Town United.

“The boys are playing tomorrow and they’ll carry on as normal. It is what it is. The reality is when a player leaves our care we can’t control what they do outside of football. We’re just coming close to European play-offs but in reality the timing of the season is irrelevant. We didn’t want this and we can’t control it sadly.”

Site opinion

It’s rare for a football club to be caught so completely off guard by a player’s criminal conviction — and even rarer for that player to be a key figure in the side. Evan Press’ sentencing raises questions not only about individual accountability but also about the limitations of a club’s reach into its players’ private lives. Barry Town now face the unenviable task of moving forward with their season amid a maelstrom of media attention and community shock.

Press’ fall from grace will sting all the more because of the trust and responsibility placed upon him. His regular captaincy duties and long service to the club made him a natural leader. For Barry, this is a reminder that even in tight-knit clubs, the actions of individuals off the pitch can send shockwaves far beyond the dressing room. It’s a heartbreaking chapter — and one they’ll be desperate to move past.