HE'S won virtually every honour there is in amateur football, guided Miners FC to a record number of Hospital Cup victories and was even known as Gazza before the great man himself.

It is needless to say that Gary, Gazza to his mates, Evans is a well known figure in and around Burnley -- and long before a certain Paul Gasgoine breezed in to town.

The Burnley Wood boy has made football his business over the past 20 years having suffered a few set-backs and plenty of success in that time.

As a 16-year-old he was shown the door at Burnley in the John Bond era -- just before he was due to sign pre-Andy Payton YTS forms with the Turf Moor club.

"It just didn't work out," said the big man. "They told me I would make a very good amateur player but would not fit in at the club."

But Gazza bounced back and did go on to become a very good amateur player, winning a string of honours with Colne Legion and Bank Hall in the West Lancashire League.

The midfield play-maker went on to play in the North West Counties with Bank Hall -- the highest standard his undoubted skills have graced.

"I have been very fortunate to have won so many honours in amateur football. But I have had some very good teachers."

True words indeed as a young Evans was taught by former Burnley and England star John Connelly as a Towneley High School pupil.

Later he played under another Burnley star in Les Latcham at his second spell at Colne Legion.

"Without a doubt, I learnt a lot from both of them. And if I was to pass on any advice to the youngsters of today then it would be to listen to what people have to say. It certainly helped me."

Gazza has plenty of highlights to pick from his trophy winning career but he ranks his players player of the year awards while playing in the East Lancashire League as the highest accolade.

"You hear the professionals saying how much it means to them but it is true. To be picked by fellow players as the best is a great feeling. I was lucky enough to win it a few times."

However Gazza is not a man living on past memories.

For as well as his Hospital Cup glory -- an astonishing five wins in the last seven years -- he also has a new project in Burnley Wood Junior Football Club.

Formed after last summer's Burnley Wood riots, Gazza helped form the team to keep youngsters off the streets and out of trouble.

"It was never about winning," said Gazza about his under 15s team's early form in the Warburton's Youth League. "It was all about giving the lads something to do. Giving their life a bit of structure."

The club, which also has a girls netball team, has been well received in the community -- and Gazza has used his connections to obtain sponsorship for the youngsters.

"All we have received his praise for both the football and the netball teams. I would like to thank Ian Boggs and John Walker for their assistance. I would like think we have worked as father figures to the lads."

Thanks to sponsorship the team are now looking forward to a trip to Lytham to compete in the Blackpool 2002 competition while plans are already under way to form another team for next season.

"It's nice to put something back in to the community. I'm born and bred in Burnley Wood and feel very strongly about the place. I think lads of that age should be playing football. It was I did when I was a youngster."

Gazza has few regrets but he admits he would have loved to have had a crack at non league management.

"I think it is something I could do a good job at. But like many people like myself work commitments come first." For the future, Gazza would love to see Burnley Wood establish itself as a junior team in the town and make Miners the most successful team in the history of the Hospital Cup -- the oldest amateur football competition in the world. He said: "We've drawn with Burnley's record but now I want to go on and claim it for ourselves. I want to help the Miners to continue to win over the next years to make sure record is never beaten." And somehow you think that when Gazza puts his mind to something he usually gets what he wants!