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Steve Evans goes viral after joining Bristol Rovers fans in the stands and celebrates goal

Steve Evans goes viral across social media after joining Bristol Rovers fans in the stands and celebrates Shaq Forde’s goal.

Evans took himself out of his dugout to join home supporters in the stands and ended up in the Thatchers End, arriving to then watch his side score a fourth in the West Country derby, a 4-0 win against Cheltenham.

Many videos of those moment, which happened on the 85th minute, has since emerged online, and fair to say they’re truly superb…

He told the club media before the game: “If they start singing, I’m going in. I’m going to the Thatchers End, and I’m going to sing loud and proud, and if you’re near me, I apologise for my singing in advance. At any family karaoke, I’m not allowed anywhere near the mic, but I will be in the Thatchers end. I’d say probably around 84, 85 minutes, I’ll be in there.

“The game is important for us because it’s important that we create a record of eight wins in a row. It’s important for individuals who are still trying to convince themselves and us as well; they should be here next season and playing their part in what will be a wonderful season.

“But there’s also a time for us to enjoy a moment on Saturday and listen, if we’re losing the game and it’s really tight, I won’t be going in, I’ll be on the bench. If the game is in our control, then I’ll take the opportunity to be in with the real people, the fans.

“I’m part of them, I’ll want to watch the action. I’ll certainly try to shout to Paul Raynor, but I might start the chant. I’d love to do it, I’ve said I would do it, people have doubted it, most Bristol City fans, most Gasheads have doubted it when I’ve been in the town. I’m true to my word.”

He said after the game to the club media: “My reflection, as I discussed with the Chairman, is that there are special days in football, and I’ve been very lucky in my career to have a lot of really special days. Of course, that makes up for the lot of down days, but it was a special day today, a local derby. It was a full house. Some people couldn’t get a ticket, some lucked out, call it what you like.

“Obviously, in terms of the game, we got away to a tremendous start, and then I think the game was a bit scrappy; it’s a typical derby. There was not much in the game; we probably slightly got on top just before half-time, and got the second goal. Really, the half-time talk was about, you know, we’ve turned up, and we’re at 60, 70 per cent.

“We’re nowhere near where we can be, and then we go out in the second half, and you know, it’s a typical derby again. It’s a bit scrappy, but then we’ve got two or three good passages of play, and then of course Ellis scores his hat-trick. It’s a fantastic hat-trick, and it’s a natural hat-trick as well.

“It’s a brilliant strike, 35, 40 yards over the goalkeeper, and then I do my party piece in the Thatchers End. Thank you for my amazing day. Of course, it just happens that I’m in there when one of my sons in the team, Shaq Forde, scores a goal.

“I watched it back, it was brilliant, I couldn’t see it when I was in there. An amazing day, I’ve just been with the Chairman and the board, and I know my Chairman has got lots of money and that stuff, but he just said to me, ‘If I were Donald Trump, I’d extend the season’. Of course, we can’t, so we’ve got one to go.”

Three goals up, five minutes left and then you’re marching towards the Thatchers End as well. That must have been special.

“Amazing. I think it was the first time in football that a manager has gone into the Kop and joined in the singing and was treated with the utmost respect. Of course, I got pulled from pillar to post, and everything else, but they’re magical people.

“The atmosphere here today. I know it’s a derby, but we’ve got an end-of-the-season game. Neither team can do anything but lift a place in the league, and we’ve got people locked out who can’t get a ticket.

“The atmosphere was all afternoon, so a real, real credit to the Gas family, and I think after today, maybe they’ll realise I’m one of them.”

It was a perfect moment, really. As soon as you’re in there, Shaq scores!

“Yeah, he’s magic, isn’t he? He saw me and came and got me, and he jumped in, and we’re embracing, and then he realised two or three players followed him.

“I’m looking forward to seeing that footage because, you know, again, I’ve had special moments and special people scoring special goals. Wembley, all over England.

“But to see Shaq score and the build-up play, which I watched back, I didn’t see it at the time, and see Shaq identify him and come in shows you the chemistry we’ve got in the dressing room. It’s fantastic.”

On the fans: “They were amazing. I must admit, when we went to the bottom corner and the away end, and we started walking ourselves around, I looked up at the Thatchers End; it’s just packed. There were more people in it than during the game and all the way round to the dressing room.

“They had total appreciation for them to stay for the awards. As players and staff, we’re humble enough to know that these are just magical supporters.”

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