we doN’T just develop the player, we develop the PERSON.

UNDER 9’s & UNDER 12’s COACH

Qualification: FA level 2

Matt Bazell began his football career playing for FC Gurtesloh in Germany when he was 13 years old due to his father being in the Royal Air Force and embraced the way that he was taught and coached.

Matt went on to do a leisure management and sports science degree at Loughborough University and has coached from the age of 21.

After his football career finished Matt went on to complete the FA level one level two and completed all of his youth module awards as well as being qualified mentor.

He is the club's safeguarding officer and head of the foundation phase looking after approximately 100 children.

Matt has played for several clubs but enjoyed his time at Bath city and Westlands United and Blagdon.

UNDER 10’s COACH

Qualification: UEFA B

UNDER 11’s COACH

Qualification: FA Level 2

At 8 years old Nick joined Burnham school of excellence where he stayed until 16 years old and became the longest serving member.

He has played for and represented the district (4 years) the county (4 years) and the league representative teams, which include the Woodspring League team, the Hanham Minor League team and Avon Youth League team. He’s also had trials with Plymouth Argyle and Bristol City.

Away from football Nick enjoyed school, gaining GCSE’s which then led to A levels in sports science and a GNVQ advanced in leisure and recreation.

As Nick got older his playing days had stopped and his children came along, they showed an interest in football so they went and played grassroots, which is how he started coaching, “just to help out”.

11 years later he has FA level One and Two, and is still enjoying every second of coaching, now leading the under 11’s at Weston academy.

UNDER 13’s COACH

Qualification: UEFA B

Lewis McLean joined Weston-super-Mare AFC from the age of 11 playing in the academy, after years of attending the fun days hosted by the club. Having grown up in Weston, playing for Weston-super-Mare was a dream.

During Lewis’ progression through the academy he reached the U18’s. After an injury, Lewis pursued a career in coaching to stay in and around football. Lewis went on to complete his FA Level 1, Level 2 and UEFA B coaching badges working with the Weston Super Mare U13’s academy side and North Somerset’s county sides along the way.

After a few years away, Lewis returned to Weston Super Mare FC in 2021 and took charge of Weston’s U13 academy side.

UNDER 14’s COACH

Qualifications: FA Level 2

UNDER 15’s COACH

Qualification: UEFA B

UNDER 16’S COACH

Qualification: FA Level 2 + Training for UEFA B

Louis Dean is a UEFA B coach, he has always played and enjoyed football, playing local youth football before playing senior football for Burnham on sea in the Somerset Premier division.

Louis has completed a sports science degree before moving into the construction industry where he is now a Chartered Manager (CMgr MCMI)

Over the years Louis has needed various knee operations, which meant his football was cut short. Louis used this time to start his coaching badges and became the manager of Berrow FC senior team.

Within this 3 year period there were back to back promotions, which led Berrow into the Somerset Premier division for the first time in their history.

After this Louis decided to coach Weston Crusaders U7’s, which he has coached all the way through to the U16’s. During this period he joined WSM Academy, coaching within the development phase and now senior phase.

UNDER 16’s COACH

Qualification: FA Level 2

Lloyd is currently working towards his UEFA Coaching license and has a Masters Degree in Coaching. He’s got coaching experience with Hartpury College, Yeovil Town, Somerset Women’s, Bridgwater Town U18’s as well as Bridgwater College - where he was part of a coaching team that led the college to the national semi-finals.

As an ex-teacher and teach trainer, he brings the science of learning to his practices and tries to help the players understand the decisions they make on the pitch for exploration and questions. As a qualified Personal Trainer, with various Strength and Conditioning qualifications, he is passionate about the physical preparation of players and the benefits this bring in terms of output, confidence and injury prevention.

Outside of coaching, Lloyd is a Management Consultant and offers advice to global organisations on best practice approaches for learning, development and coaching.

UNDER 18’s COACH

Qualification: UEFA B License

As a player at youth level, Craig played for Westland Pumas which was based where the Optima Stadium is now located, moving into senior phase he played for Weston St John before a serious knee injury stopped him playing for 6 years.

He’s been coaching in the local area for 8 years working with all age ranges from u8 to u16.

He previously worked in Elite Development centres before moving to Weston Academy in 2018.

Football is his job and his passion, however away from football he loves spending quality time with the family and loads of mini adventures.

UNDER 19’s COACH

Qualification:

Derry born youngster Mark McKeever began his career at Norwich City before leaving to join Peterborough United. He made just 3 league appearances for the Posh before he transferred to Sheffield Wednesday with David Billington for £1million. Making his debut for Wednesday in a 0-0 draw with Chelsea, Mark had made 3 appearances for Wednesday before the end of the 98/99 season but had also spent time on loan with Bristol Rovers (7 appearances) and Reading (7 appearances, 2 goals). He made his 6th appearance for Wednesday in the FA Cup tie against Bristol City in December 1999. In the first round of Premier League fixtures of the new millennium, Mark suffered a career threatening injury in the 1-1 draw with Arsenal which kept him sidelined for a sustained period.

In December 2000, Mark was linked with a return to Bristol Rovers who had tabled a £100,000 bid . A permanent move didn't materialise but Mark joined Rovers on loan for two months at the start of February 2001. This was later made permanent as a free transfer the following month. Mark spent two seasons with Rovers before his contract expired in May 2003. He joined Weston-super-Mare in August 2003 and also took up a role with Weston super-Mare's Football Academy as a coach. Towards the end of the 2005/6 season, he joined Gloucester City on loan but then transferred to Bath City on 22nd May 2006, who he helped to win the Southern Premier League the following season.

Mark was loaned to Mangotsfield United in January 2008. He returned to Weston-super-Mare in March 2008 but retired from playing in 2009, continuing his coaching role with the Academy. In 2014/15 he took up the role as assistant to manager Ryan Northmore. After a spell away from Weston between October 2016 and May 2018, he is now Head of Coaching (as of March 2021) having previously been Youth Development Officer. He was also caretaker manager for the final nine games of the 2018/19 National League South season.

Mark has been capped by Ireland at Under-18 level (12 caps) and by their Under-21s (4 caps)

GOALKEEPER COACH

Qualification:

Steve Laker began his playing career at a grass roots team for most of his youth whilst attending the local Plymouth Argyle Academy for 4 years.

Steve moved to Bristol after studying at Strode College where football had to take a back step due to work commitments but made a return in later years to coach Bridgwater Town FC Reserves.

This is where his love for coaching started he progressed into the Bridgwater Town 1st team coaching staff where he started his path becoming the goalkeeping coach. In this spell he achieved his levels 1 and 2 football coaching awards and his Level 2 award in Goalkeeping.

He left Bridgwater and had spells at Bishop Sutton, Wells City and then returned to Bridgwater Town where it all started. Again this is where he went on to complete his Level 3 UEFA B award in football and developed his abilities as a coach within goalkeeping.

Moving to the present day he is currently running the goalkeeping program here at Weston Super Mare AFC for the senior first team goalkeepers and the academy.

GOALKEEPER COACH

SENIOR PHASE COACH

Qualification: FA Level 1

Ethan started playing football since he can remember, it was the classic could kick a ball before I could walk. When Ethan first properly started playing he used to play for Cleveland in the JPL, then once that folded then started to play for his local Woodspring team which was Nailsea Athletic.

Throughout his Nailsea days always trained as he would play, test himself and push himself to the best of his abilities. Then Ethan got the chance to play for North Somerset schools which at the time was run by Dan Jackson, once that ended Dan gave him the opportunity to join his Weston u15s team and that is how he joined Weston seagulls.

Years past and Ethan was still playing for Weston, under various managers, got a couple of chances with the first and still have. Then as he passed through school, he decided to go to Weston college which opened up the U19s which was run by Ash Nevins and Macca. Continued to play that getting to a semi cup final in Newcastle but unfortunately lost that game.

Within the U18s which was run by Mark Jenkins, he asked him to help assist with the u12s and that is how Ethan’s coaching started, helping them until U14s which is when I stopped as I now play for Cheddar FC which is Toolstation Prem. With help from Mark, Ethan was then offered by Matt B to help with the foundation stage which then allowed him to gain my level 1 coaching, going onto his level 2 in the near future.

Within my future he has also applied to a USA program which will allow him to play football in America for 2 years alongside doing his sporting degree in the states which is hopefully something that will give him more opportunities in the future playing wise.

HEAD OF ACADEMY

Simon Panes started his football career with his local junior team Olveston United and very quickly advanced up the non- league ladder with a move to Melksham Town. This is when his career took off as he was signed by Bristol City after turning down Swindon Town.

After leaving Bristol City a move to play in Australia for Sydney City and then Manly introduced him to coaching for the first time. Simon went on to represent Forest Green Rovers, Yeovil Town, Portway Bristol and more locally Clevedon Town.

On his return from Australia he set up his own Soccer Schools which developed into the highly successful Sports Academies at what was Filton College and is now SGS. Simon spent over 20 years at the college becoming Head of Football as well as Director of Sport. During this time he was to become National Manager and Coach for the England Colleges National Squads.

A vastly experienced UEFA coach who has worked with and for Bristol City, Bristol Rovers, Forest Green Rovers and most recently Newport County.

CHIEF SCOUT

Jerry White began his football coaching career in the local Woodspring Junior League managing successfully at Kewstoke JFC for 8 years. Whilst learning his trade he took FA Youth Module qualifications and trained as a FA Child Welfare Officer.

Jerry went on to manage North Somerset U16s for 3 years before being recruited by Cardiff City FC as their Bristol and Somerset scout. Jerry enjoyed his three seasons at Cardiff City, but due to changes in FA academy distance rules, he moved closer to home and was employed by his beloved Bristol City FC as one of their Somerset scouts.

As a born and bred 'Westonian', when the opportunity arose to help with the Weston-super-Mare FC U18s, he jumped at the chance and had a successful couple of seasons alongside Ryan Northmore, recruiting new players and winning league titles and cups along the way.

Jerry was then offered the manager's job at Clevedon Town FC U18s, which gave him the opportunity to not only improve his management skills , but to work with his son Alex. After three successful seasons Jerry then passed on the mantle to Alex.

Jerry was only too pleased to take on the role of Chief Scout at Weston-super-Mare FC. The role offers an opportunity to use his wealth of experience to build on his network of contacts, including the pro clubs he has previously worked with. He feels passionately that Weston offers the best pathway in the area for youth players and the Club needs to be the focal point for footballing ambition and progression.

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