London (AFP) – British footballer Ched Evans will face a retrial starting on October 4 for allegedly raping a 19-year-old woman, a court ruled on Friday.

Judge Nicola Davies also said the retrial for the former Wales international would be held in Cardiff.

Evans was released from prison in October 2014 after serving half of a five-year sentence for raping the woman in a hotel room in Rhyl, north Wales in May 2011.

He has always protested his innocence and the conviction was overturned on appeal last month, although details of the grounds of appeal cannot be reported for legal reasons.

Evans’s case was referred to the Court of Appeal by the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC), which investigates possible miscarriages of justice, after it unearthed new evidence.

Following his release from prison, Evans attempted to resurrect his career with English third-tier club Oldham Athletic, but there was a public outcry and no deal was signed.

Evans came through the youth ranks at Manchester City and spent time on loan at Norwich City before joining Sheffield United in 2009.

He has made 13 appearances for Wales, scoring once.

He has not played professional football since his release.