Fleetwood Town captain Ched Evans is confident that the team can compete with anyone in Sky Bet League Two if they carry their encouraging pre-season work into the new campaign. The experienced forward, now in his third spell at Highbury Stadium and with more than 400 senior appearances behind him, has committed his future to the Cod Army by signing a new deal. He will also lead the side as club captain, an appointment he described as a 'massive honour and privilege'.
What happened?
Evans believes that if the team continues to do what they're good at, they could beat anyone in the league. He pointed out that the team has been working hard in pre-season, with a relentless training programme and hard pitches.
Why it matters for Fleetwood Town
The team's pre-season work has given them a solid base for the months ahead, according to Evans. He believes that if they can build on this momentum, they could have a successful season.
What comes next?
Fleetwood Town is preparing to welcome Chesterfield in the first round of the Carabao Cup. Evans is excited about the start of the competitive action and is looking forward to seeing how the team performs.
Fleetwood Town's next fixture is vs Tranmere (away, 2027-02-27) (11th in the table). The team will be looking to build on their encouraging pre-season work and continue to compete with the best teams in the league.
Evans has seen plenty of change across a career which began at Manchester City and has included spells with Norwich City, Sheffield United, Chesterfield and Preston North End, as well as 13 senior caps for Wales. His desire to continue playing remains as strong as ever.
Having returned to Fleetwood in July 2025 following four seasons at Deepdale, the striker said extending his stay was a straightforward decision. 'I still love football, I love playing football and I love it at Fleetwood as well, so it was an easy decision,' Evans explained.
Evans has also spoken about the importance of looking after his body as he gets older. 'My life today is very much clean, and looking after my body is first and foremost these days,' he said. 'As I've got older, being mentally strong is actually about being happy and content, and being comfortable with who I am and where my life is.'
His experience will also be valuable in his new role as captain. Although proud to receive the responsibility, Evans insists his approach inside the dressing room and on the field will not change. 'It's a massive honour and privilege to captain this club, and for it to be announced the way it was made it special for me,' he said. 'For me, nothing will change. If I had the armband or if I didn’t have the armband, I’ve been the same at every single club.'
