2011
30 May Ched Evans is arrested on suspicion of sexual assault at a Premier Inn near Rhyl, north Wales
26 July Evans and fellow footballer Clayton McDonald are charged with rape
2012
20 April Evans is jailed for five years for rape and McDonald is acquitted. Evans maintains his innocence. Evans is released by Sheffield United at the end of the season
6 November Evans loses his appeal after his case is rejected by three judges at the court of appeal in London
2014
18 April An online petition is launched urging United not to re-sign Evans and gains over 165,000 signatures
17 October Evans leaves prison after serving half his sentence and a statement is released on his supporters’ website stating he will continue to fight to clear his name
22 October Evans releases a statement stating his desire to return to football
11 November Sheffield United confirm Evans will return to train with the club with immediate effect following a request from the Professional Footballers’ Association. Television presenter Charlie Webster announces that she has stood down as a patron of the club
12 November Sheffield Central MP, Paul Blomfield, urges United to change their decision, deputy prime minister, Nick Clegg, says the club must “think really long and hard” before deciding whether to allow Evans to play for them again
13 November Olympic champion and Blades fan Jessica Ennis-Hill issues a statement announcing that she has told United she would want her name removed from the Bramall Lane stand should Evans be offered a contract
14 November Police begin an investigation into rape threat tweets directed at Ennis-Hill after her statement over Evans
20 November United announce they have retracted the offer for Evans to train with the club
1 December Oldham deny offering Evans the chance to train with the club following reports linking him to the League One side
20 December Hartlepool manager, Ronnie Moore, announces he would like to sign Evans
22 December Hartlepool release a statement saying they will not be signing Evans
2015
3 January After apparently being offered a route back into football by Maltese side Hibernians, the Ministry of Justice steps in to prevent Evans resuming his football career overseas, stating that, as a convicted sex offender on licence, Evans is effectively barred from working abroad
4 January It is revealed Evans has been in fresh talks with Oldham about joining the League One club, sparking new protests
7 January Oldham sponsor Verlin Rainwater Solutions announces it is cutting ties with the club immediately, while another, ZenOffice, warns it will do so if the signing goes ahead. Oldham owner, Simon Corney, tells the Jewish Chronicle there is an “80%” chance of the club signing Evans. Shadow sports minister, Clive Efford, writes to Football Association chairman, Greg Dyke, to urge the FA to block the deal
8 January Evans’s proposed signing falls through due to the uproar surrounding it
