About Us.

ACADEMY DIRECTOR

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 to play in Australia for Sydney City, where he was introduced 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.

FINANCE ADMINISTRATOR

I came to Weston-super-Mare AFC in 2013 in the finance office specifically, but since then I have become more involved in a broader spectrum of roles, including academy liaison, marketing and the corporate hospitality side of the main club.

Working closely with the senior and junior phases within the club, I have had the pleasure to see the academy section grow and flourish, and it is a joy to see players who joined us in the Foundation Phase, now moving up into the Senior Phase and hopefully the first team!

I thoroughly enjoy working with such wonderful and caring coaches who make it their mission to nurture and develop our academy members.

This really is a family club, which aspires to be the best it can.

HEAD OF COACHING & SENIOR PHASE

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)

HEAD OF DEVELOPMENT PHASE

As a player at youth level, Craig played for Westland Pumas who plaued 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.

HEAD OF FOUNDATION PHASE & WELFARE OFFICER

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. He 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 and level two courses. He has also completed all of his youth module awards as well as being a 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, Westlands United and Blagdon.

Parent Representative

I am married with two children (aged 13 & 15), originally from Bristol having been born and bred in South Bristol for 35, now living in Somerset for 10 years.

I have a passion for the beautiful game of football having played from a young age through to my mid- thirties, then having held various roles from Coach, Treasurer and Secretary at various football clubs in Bristol.

I am keen to put something back into football, so having my youngest of two sons play within the academy at WsM AFC, I am very keen and confident that I can be a voice of the parents within the academy.

My aim will be to carry myself in a professional manner in order that I represent the parents in the right way.

I am also a Business Owner running my own Finance Brokerage, and in any spare time (which isn’t a lot), I am a keen golfer.

Foundation Phase Parent Representative

My name is Gary Moore and I am the Foundation Phase Parent Liaison.

I have 2 boys who both play football for the academy so I spend half my life spectating training or matches and trying to share my time equally amongst the 2.

Weston-super-Mare AFC is a great club and one which offers the kids an excellent opportunity to enhance their skills and ability and hopefully one day they will pull on a shirt for the 1st team!

I try to keep my hand in with football by playing Saturdays for a local team (Hutton FC) however I am now critiqued by my own kids who tell me my distribution and commitment needs to improve!

I am also reliving my youth as I also played for Weston Academy in my younger years and enjoyed every moment of playing with some great players.

I also coach the Weston Rugby U11's which my youngest plays for so appreciate how difficult a role it is to accommodate children's requirements and also the parents and the sacrifices they make.

I hope to use some of this knowledge to support parents with any questions or concerns they may have which will enhance their child's experience whilst also allowing the coaches the time and space to focus on developing the skills of the children and fundamentally allowing them to enjoy playing sport.

In rugby, we teach the kids about teamwork, respect, discipline and most importantly sportsmanship which involves not only the children but also the parents as well.

Please reach out to me should you have any concerns you wish to raise.