Welsh Football player gets Jailed for 2 and a 1/2 yrs

Football club Barry Town United's vice-captain has been jailed for two and a half years for dealing cocaine. Evan Press, a 24-year-old midfielder, has played every game this season for the Cymru Premier side, who were "shocked" to learn of the case on Wednesday shortly after he was sentenced, WalesOnline can reveal.

Media Wales

22nd March 2025

Evan Press was also a big fan of his local club Cardiff City and in his younger days followed the Bluebirds everywhere when he was not playing football.

When we approached Barry Town about the case a club spokesman said: "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."

The Newport County academy product has featured for Barry in all three matches since the February 11 court appearance where he pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of Class A drug cocaine between February 2021 and November 2023 in Cardiff. He has captained the team in 19 of his 33 matches this season and most recently featured against Aberystwyth on March 11, leading the side to a 2-1 home win as he played the full 90 minutes.

The club spokesman said: "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."

The semi-professional footballer, of Railway Street in Splott, is valued at around £42,000 by Transfermarkt. He has played 187 matches and scored 11 goals for Barry since joining in 2018. His contract will expire at the end of this season and the club told us there are no financial implications to consider from Press' imprisonment as he is only paid when he plays.

Asked about the challenge of replacing Press the club spokesman said on Friday: "We are out of a transfer window. The boys are playing tomorrow [away to Flint Town United] 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."

When we asked about the timing of the blow they replied: "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."

Press was sentenced at Newport Crown Court to two years and six months in jail and ordered to pay a £190 victim services surcharge. An iPhone he used for drug-dealing will be destroyed. His only senior appearance outside his Barry Town career came for Newport County in 2017 when he played a full EFL Trophy match as the Exiles lost 2-1 to Cheltenham.

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I attended a drug awareness presentation while serving in the military. It was a real eye opener and the presenter, a SNCO, said he would have a job for life chasing these guys. He was right but the real scare here is we have not learnt from it all.

That was 40 years ago and the gangs that were chased then were low lifes going nowhere. Today it seems the business have attracted higher profiles or qualified individuals with a bit of noose about them. For me the only answer is to increase the punishment, lock them up like they have done to this guy. 2.5 years is not enough though.

I attended a drug awareness presentation while serving in the military. It was a real eye opener and the presenter, a SNCO, said he would have a job for life chasing these guys. He was right but the real scare here is we have not learnt from it all.

That was 40 years ago and the gangs that were chased then were low lifes going nowhere. Today it seems the business have attracted higher profiles or qualified individuals with a bit of noose about them. For me the only answer is to increase the punishment, lock them up like they have done to this guy. 2.5 years is not enough though.

40 years ago, suggests the war on drugs has been lost. Legalise and regulate is the way forward. As long as theirs demand, there’ll be supply.

I attended a drug awareness presentation while serving in the military. It was a real eye opener and the presenter, a SNCO, said he would have a job for life chasing these guys. He was right but the real scare here is we have not learnt from it all.

That was 40 years ago and the gangs that were chased then were low lifes going nowhere. Today it seems the business have attracted higher profiles or qualified individuals with a bit of noose about them. For me the only answer is to increase the punishment, lock them up like they have done to this guy. 2.5 years is not enough though.

40 years ago, suggests the war on drugs has been lost. Legalise and regulate is the way forward. As long as theirs demand, there’ll be supply.

I've been through that argument a number of times.

In comparison I have worked in a country where alcohol is banned. The result of this is very dangerous imitations of the stuff, a black market. Regulate it like here in the UK and the dangers are taken away. Some say it still kills people here but trust me its no where near the danger level of the illegal stuff.

I attended a drug awareness presentation while serving in the military. It was a real eye opener and the presenter, a SNCO, said he would have a job for life chasing these guys. He was right but the real scare here is we have not learnt from it all.

That was 40 years ago and the gangs that were chased then were low lifes going nowhere. Today it seems the business have attracted higher profiles or qualified individuals with a bit of noose about them. For me the only answer is to increase the punishment, lock them up like they have done to this guy. 2.5 years is not enough though.

40 years ago, suggests the war on drugs has been lost. Legalise and regulate is the way forward. As long as theirs demand, there’ll be supply.

Morning Jock,

Well, I nearly always agree totally with your posts.

You seem like an older gent, like myself and post sensible debates.

BUT, On this one I would strongly disagree withyou on legalising this shit.

I have seen first hand how these and all illegal drugs (even some legal ones, ie booze) can distroy lives, both of the individual, family and innocent people being ropped into it (drug/drink driving, violence, etc).

Some places around the world DO have a positive experience with legalising Drugs But many more do not. Plus if we did legalise can you imagine the "slippery slope" for our children, grandchildren, etc future generations.

For me, stiffer punishments for drug lords, pushers and users is the answer.

No offence Jock, keep up the great posts fellow Bluebird

It’s an interesting debate, the legality and regulation topic.

Whilst I can see that Legalising Cannabis for example may be in the best interest, I strongly feel that legalising any ‘harder drugs’ would just open the door for people who are growing up and/or those who abide by the law and do not dabble in such substances.

It’s a slippery slope and unfortunately as one dealer is caught, another steps into their place.

The war on drugs is one that we as a nation have been losing for a long time and will continue to do so unless there is serious punishments even for being in possession of.

I attended a drug awareness presentation while serving in the military. It was a real eye opener and the presenter, a SNCO, said he would have a job for life chasing these guys. He was right but the real scare here is we have not learnt from it all.

That was 40 years ago and the gangs that were chased then were low lifes going nowhere. Today it seems the business have attracted higher profiles or qualified individuals with a bit of noose about them. For me the only answer is to increase the punishment, lock them up like they have done to this guy. 2.5 years is not enough though.

40 years ago, suggests the war on drugs has been lost. Legalise and regulate is the way forward. As long as theirs demand, there’ll be supply.

Morning Jock,

Well, I nearly always agree totally with your posts.

You seem like an older gent, like myself and post sensible debates.

BUT, On this one I would strongly disagree withyou on legalising this shit.

I have seen first hand how these and all illegal drugs (even some legal ones, ie booze) can distroy lives, both of the individual, family and innocent people being ropped into it (drug/drink driving, violence, etc).

Some places around the world DO have a positive experience with legalising Drugs But many more do not. Plus if we did legalise can you imagine the "slippery slope" for our children, grandchildren, etc future generations.

For me, stiffer punishments for drug lords, pushers and users is the answer.

No offence Jock, keep up the great posts fellow Bluebird

Read Good Cop Bad War and Drug Wars, by Neil Woods mate. Not saying it will change your view but they’re real eye opening books.
I’ve got Grandkids and like most of us, worry what kind of society they’re going to inherit. But prohibition never works.

It’s an interesting debate, the legality and regulation topic.

Whilst I can see that Legalising Cannabis for example may be in the best interest, I strongly feel that legalising any ‘harder drugs’ would just open the door for people who are growing up and/or those who abide by the law and do not dabble in such substances.

It’s a slippery slope and unfortunately as one dealer is caught, another steps into their place.

The war on drugs is one that we as a nation have been losing for a long time and will continue to do so unless there is serious punishments even for being in possession of.

Serious punishments will just increase the cost to end users and the consequences of that are more shoplifting and violence.

I attended a drug awareness presentation while serving in the military. It was a real eye opener and the presenter, a SNCO, said he would have a job for life chasing these guys. He was right but the real scare here is we have not learnt from it all.

That was 40 years ago and the gangs that were chased then were low lifes going nowhere. Today it seems the business have attracted higher profiles or qualified individuals with a bit of noose about them. For me the only answer is to increase the punishment, lock them up like they have done to this guy. 2.5 years is not enough though.

40 years ago, suggests the war on drugs has been lost. Legalise and regulate is the way forward. As long as theirs demand, there’ll be supply.

I've been through that argument a number of times.

In comparison I have worked in a country where alcohol is banned. The result of this is very dangerous imitations of the stuff, a black market. Regulate it like here in the UK and the dangers are taken away. Some say it still kills people here but trust me its no where near the danger level of the illegal stuff.

Whatever we do, we can’t go on as we’ve been doing.