Close to death in hospital, Chris Evans (pictured) decided if he survived he was going to make the most of his life.
He created a bucket list that included becoming a teacher, travelling the world and what turned out to be the toughest task of all… to become a Betfred Super League club mascot!
The transformation in former post office worker Chris’ life was 19 years ago, when he was involved in a freak accident near his home in Oldham whilst running home from a night out.
After falling onto a kerb, Chris needed an emergency operation at North Manchester General Hospital for traumatic pancreatitis.
But that wasn’t all, for complications set in when he contracted the MRSA ‘superbug’ and spent six weeks in the hospital high dependence unit, during which his parents were told it was touch and go whether he would survive.
It was then that Chris, now married with a young son and deputy head teacher at Silcoates School in Wakefield, decided he was going to make a go of his life.
The 42-year-old of Peaseland Road, Cleckheaton in Yorkshire, has since became a teacher, visited North Korea, been on a trip to Chernobyl, fired a machine gun, watched a world heavyweight title fight in Vegas, been skiing, attended a Wimbledon tennis final, played football at his beloved Bolton Wanderers’ home ground, swam with sharks and dolphins, walked with lions in Senegal, played darts with champion Ted Hanky, touched molten lava with a stick, visited the Mursi tribe in Ethiopia, appeared on ‘The Weakest Link,’ completed the Inca trail in Peru, cycled the most dangerous road in Bolivia, got a master’s degree, learned magic and visited Iceland.
But one of his toughest tasks, which has landed him a £1,000 prize from bookie Betfred, was to become the official mascot of a Betfred Super League club.
The problem was that all of the Rugby League clubs near his home – Wakefield, Batley, Castleford, Leeds, Dewsbury, Huddersfield and Bradford – already had their own wacky mascots with idiosyncrasies to match.
Chris said: “My mum was always into Rugby League, supporting Oldham Roughyeds. I was always more of a football fan, supporting Bolton Wanderers but occasionally going to Oldham Athletic games.
“I did enjoy watching and going to Rugby League finals though, and footballers are overpaid and all the rolling around on the floor after so called fouls was starting to annoy me so I switched to Rugby League.
“It was when I was on holiday with some pals that we were sat on a beach in Perpignan and decided to go and watch Catalans Dragons, who were playing St Helens. We chatted to some players and supporters afterwards and they basically became my team.
“When I was in hospital and making my bucket list I decided on one day becoming a Rugby League club mascot, which I thought would be a good laugh.
“I’d been pumped with antibiotics after the operation and I remember watching one junior doctor being told off by another for telling me what my parents had already been told – that things were not looking good and it was touch or go whether I’d survive.
“When I got out of the hospital I approached Catalans because I noticed they didn’t have a mascot when they played in the UK. I didn’t hear anything for a few months and then they said my offer had been accepted but I ended up having to get my own dragon costume.
“The most expensive quote I got in this country was £4,500, with the cheapest £900. I know the Wakefield gear, for instance, cost £3,000, which is pretty expensive. Catalans said they wouldn’t be able to pay that much for the furry costume but I wasn’t going to give up so advertised in China. You can’t just drag a dragon outfit off the shelf, it has to be authentic.”
“I posted a photograph of the home Catalans mascot on the Chinese version of EBay and asked if anybody could make the costume. After weeks of conversations I finally agreed with one company who did it for £250. It was all completed, foam dragon head and everything. It arrived at home here in Yorkshire in a huge box with big Chinese customs and excise stickers on it.”
Since then, Chris has been the Catalans’ away mascot for the last four seasons, going to matches for free with the proviso that he adds to the atmosphere. He follows the mascot code to the letter… not speaking, eating or drinking – and having lots of fun!
He’s now in with a chance of winning the £10,000 prize put up by league title sponsors Betfred, to be this season’s ‘Super Fan’.
Chris joins fellow competition winners so far this season – including the Wigan supporter whose wife gave birth yet he still went to a match, the Castleford fan who has put Santa out of business because he and his family all get each other gifts from the club shop – and the supporter from Oldham who dedicated his life to the grassroots Hollinwood team having overcome family tragedy.
Betfred boss Fred Done said: “It is extraordinary that Chris’ life has been totally transformed as he recuperated from his operation in hospital. We’re all passionate about Rugby League, and no more so than the club mascots whose antics always provoke a chuckle.”
For more news about the Catalans Dragons, and a report and photos from their game today at Leeds Rhinos, ensure you get hold of a copy of the new edition of League Express.
