BIO
Fred Evers showed promise as a defender in his first year, 1902, but Norwood, stricken by injury and sickness, slid from premier to fifth position.
Norwood began the season well with a big win over West Adelaide. Fred made his debut against North Adelaide at Adelaide Oval a week later. Norwood was expected to win easily but in the end just got home by three points, 7.4 to 5.13, as North showed the form that would take it to the premiership. Then, at home against South Adelaide, Norwood struck real trouble. In the words of The Advertiser reporter: “But for the brilliant marking and excellent defence of Evers, the Norwood stronghold would have been assailed time after time . . . but the Souths were too strong eventually.” Norwood went down 6.11 to 4.4 and would win only four of its last ten matches.
Norwood finished third in 1903. Fred was very erratic with his kicking in the opening match but still made the best players in helping to defeat West Torrens, 4.14 to 3.5. He kicked three goals in the 15.18 to 1.1 thrashing of West Adelaide a week later. Against South in the next game he missed two good chances to goal in the third quarter, kicking out of bounds each time. Norwood led by two points at three-quarter time but lost 7.7 to 3.6 to its fast-finishing opponent. That was Fred’s swansong.
Born at Port Adelaide on 4 June 1882 to George and Hannah Evers, Fred had seven brothers and six sisters. Fred’s mother, whose maiden name was Cartwright, was born in Lincolnshire, England, and came to South Australia as a child with her family, among the first settlers in the Adelaide Hills. After her marriage she lived for many years at Moonta. She was a widow, 89, when she died at Brighton in 1931 and was survived by the following sons and daughters: Messrs G. E. Evers (Burnside), N. F. Evers (Port Lincoln), O. H. Evers (Tranmere), F. R. Evers (Brisbane), P. A. Evers (Brisbane), H. Evers (Brisbane) A. S. Evers (Toowoomba); Mesdames A. Vogt (Berri), C. H. Treloar (Tranmere), C. Trembath (Largs Bay); and Misses K. Evers and M. Evers (Brighton).
Fred, a commercial traveller, married Veta Williams at Unley in 1914 and they had a daughter, Patricia. The family lived at Lower Mitcham. Fred died on 30 May 1963 and is buried at Centennial Park Cemetery.
P Robins, D Cox January 2021