Meet The Team
Across the Foundation
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Staff
All our staff involved in the daily delivery of our projects across Twerton and BaNES.
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Honorary President
Information on Ken Loach our Honorary Foundation President.
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Foundation Ambassador
Information on Foundation Ambassador - Amy Williams MBE
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Trustees
Information on each of the Charities Trustees
Geoff Stevens
CEO
Geoff has been working for the Foundation for 6 years, having been Project Manager and Operations Manager he now takes the role of CEO.
Geoff's positions within the Foundation have been possible thanks to funding for his role through St Johns Foundation. Geoff has 25 years of experience working in Foundations, helping to develop and deliver their community programmes.
In addition, Geoff has a degree in Sports Science through Exeter University, and has worked for the FA for over 15 years including as an FA Tutor. Geoff is currently a Coach Mentor and community champion for the FA.
Geoff developed a passion for helping to support and improve choices and lifestyles through the power of football. This has continued throughout his various roles and he believes that the work we do can make a huge impact on the communities we work in across all demographics.
Emily Stephens
Women & Girls Officer
Emily has been working with Bath as a community coach for three years and has recently taken on the role of Women’s and Girls Officer. In 2017 she completed a Foundation Degree in Community Coaching at Bristol City through USW alongside working for the club as a community coach since 2015. Emily has also worked for the Gloucester FA coaching girls in the Advanced Coaching Centre. In addition to this Emily is a qualified PT and is a qualified nutritionist.
Emily has said ‘I am excited to use my experience within Community Coaching to specialise in increasing girls football within the Bath area and see how much of a difference we can make’.
Kunjie Pan
University Placement
Kun-Jie, a University of Bath student, joined the Bath City Foundation in 2024 for his placement year. Since starting, he has completed his FA Playmaker qualification and is now progressing toward both his Level 1 FA Coaching Badge and FA Referee Course. Throughout the week, Kun-Jie actively supports our lead coaches in a range of sessions, including Walking Football, school programs, holiday camps, disability sessions, and Man V Fat. In addition to his role with us, Kun-Jie plays American Football at University and has previously competed in table tennis at the county level.
Sam Eyles
Community Coach
Steve Rogers
Head of Coaching
Steve has been working for the Foundation since 2021 on a variety of different projects. Steve said ‘I believe it is essential that everyone is given an equal opportunity to take part in sport to help with their health, wellbeing and social skills, as well as developing other important life skills. I love that we can help to provide these opportunities at the Foundation.’
Steve completed a BSc with Honours in Community Coaching & Administration in 2020. This was with the University of South Wales and he worked at Bristol City Robins Foundation alongside his studies where he gained experience working on a number of different projects. Steve also holds UEFA B qualifications in football coaching and also goalkeeping.
‘I am looking forward to continuing my journey with Bath City Foundation and doing all we can to make a difference in the local community’.
Paul Benjamin
Inclusion Officer
Paul started coaching with Fulham Football Club in the Early 2000s, however, due to a serious knee injury, had to stop after just six months of working in their community development office. On moving to Bath, he was introduced to Bath City Youth, a grassroots club, for which he started coaching (U6s). He started working for the Foundation in 2018 and over the last 4 years, he has been working on various projects, working from 5-6 year-olds in primary schools all the way up 79 year-olds in the Walking Football sessions. He is also now the Football Development Officer for Bath City Youth, and run a girls' U10s team and a boys' U11s team, which his daughter and son both play in.
George Rowe
Community Coach
George joined Bath City FC Foundation in June 2023. He previously completed his level 1,2 & 3 in Sports Coaching at college with Bristol City. George began volunteering with Bristol City Robins Foundation before becoming a paid coach. He has experience in working with those with disabilities and has worked on mental health and wellbeing projects. He has recently started studying Community Coaching with The University of South Wales. George has completed The FA’s Level 1 in Football Coaching and is completing the Level 2, along with the Introduction to First Aid in Football.
Sam Smith
Community Coach
Sam has been with the Foundation for 2 years working on disability sessions. He has previously worked for Bristol City Robins Foundation and is a big Bristol Rovers Fan. You will also find Sam playing cricket during the summer.
Chris Gannon
Head of Wellbeing & Communications (DSO)
Chris joined the Foundation in 2023 after he gained a first class BSc with honours in Community Coaching and Administration at the University of South Wales. Whilst completing his degree Chris also gained Level 2 counselling qualification and has completed Mental Health First Aider Training for youths and adults.
Chris gained the FA Disability football coaching qualification and level two coaching qualifications in both outfield and goalkeeping. In addition to this he is also a qualified FA referee.
During his degree Chris worked for Bristol City Robins Foundation, coached Bristol City Panthers and worked for both the men's and women's side of the club including goalkeeper coaching in the boy's Academy.
Chris is passionate about breaking the stigma around mental health and has successfully implemented two projects in recent years.
Apprentice
Leo Thompson
Leo began coaching in 2022 while volunteering to help with younger years school football teams. Alongside his studies, in July 2023 he completed his FA Playmaker and Level 1 (Introduction to Football Coaching).
Leo joined Bath City FC Foundation in September 2024 on a 2 year apprenticeship which accompanies a Level 4 Sports Coaching course. He coaches across a variety of sessions including; Walking football, Lunch and Afterschool Sessions, Premier League Primary Stars and Disability Sessions.
Leo plans to complete his FA Level 2 (UEFA C)and aims to become a qualified personal trainer in the future.
Community Coach
Maddie Hilbert
Kelly Newman
Reconnecting Twerton
Co-Ordinator
Martin Fawley
Community Coach
Martin qualified as a coach in 2004 and joined the Foundation in October 2019. After leaving Bath University, where he was Vice-Captain of the University Football Club, Martin played for Larkhall Athletic before setting up Sportzcoach United with a friend and player/managing them to victory in the Bath City Knock-Out Cup at Twerton Park in its centenary year. He is a coach with a passion for ensuring that Football is a sport for everyone with an emphasis on developing the fundamentals of the game and promoting teamwork and respect.
Luke Christian
Community Coach
Luke joined Bath City FC Foundation as a participant in the Bath Mind Football Sessions back in the summer of 2022. He began assisting in football sessions throughout the week. Luke has since completed his FA Playmaker and Level 1 (Introduction to Coaching Football). He is now coaching across various sessions every week including; Walking Football, Women’s Football, School sessions and Holiday Camps. He is a former football club captain and takes great pride in everything he does. He aims to help coach others to a level of football that they can be happy with and proud of. He plans to complete his Level 2 and further his coaching knowledge in the future.
Meet the Team
Honorary Foundation President
Ken Loach
Ken Loach was born in 1936 in Nuneaton. He attended King Edward VI Grammar School and went on to study law at St. Peter's Hall, Oxford. After a brief spell in the theatre, Ken was recruited by the BBC in 1963 as a television director. This launched a long career directing films for television and the cinema, from Cathy Come Home and Kes in the sixties to Land And Freedom, Sweet Sixteen, The Wind That Shakes The Barley (Palme d’Or, Cannes Film Festival 2006), Looking for Eric, The Angels’ Share and I, Daniel Blake (Palme d’Or, Cannes Film Festival 2016).
If he's not bothering people about their yawning or their chosen shade of off white paint, he's likely on the Twerton Park terraces yelling at his beloved Bath City Football Club.
““I am truly honoured to be the first ambassador for Bath City FC Foundation. As an Olympian, I understand first hand the incredible impact sport has on shaping lives, building communities, and inspiring change. Sport teaches resilience, teamwork, and discipline—values that extend far beyond the playing field. I’m thrilled to support an organization that shares my passion for empowering individuals through the power of sport.””
Foundation Ambassador
Amy Williams MBE
We are delighted to have Amy as our first ever Foundation Ambassador.
Amy is a Bath local having been educated at Beechen Cliff School, Hayesfield School and the University of Bath. Amy still lives in the area now and has two boys and the newest addition to the family, Monty a chaotic Vizla puppy.
Most people will associate Amy with the high adrenalin and extremely skilful winter sport of Skeleton. Amy made the transition from track athlete to the winter sport in 2002, after trying the sport at the University of Bath’s push start track.
Amy was unable to qualify for the 2006 Winter Olympics as Team GB were limited to a single skeleton athlete. Shelly Rudman won this place. Despite this Amy won silver at her first major event in the 2009 World Championships.
In 2010 Amy qualified for the Winter Olympics and went on to achieve the incredible feat of winning Olympic Gold but that’s only part of the story. Amy broke the track record twice and won by over half a second which is a massive victory in this sport. In addition, Amy was the only medallist for Team GB at these games, the first Team GB solo Winter Olympic champion in 30 years and the first female Team GB Winter Olympian in 58 years to win an Individual Gold.
Amy has gone on to have a career in sports broadcasting and the media, presenting on TV including The Gadget Show, Ski Sunday, Eurosport and the Isle Of Man TT. Amy’s thirst for an adrenalin rush has continued; Amy qualified as an International rally co-driver, and competed in the Wales GB Rally in 2013 and 2016, and added her motorbike licence in 2018 too.
Amy was recognised for her services to sport in 2010, receiving an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours and was installed as an Honorary Freeman of the City of Bath in June 2010.
Amy has established her own business in the area as a Personal Trainer and Online Coaching helping others achieve their goals.
The Foundation is honoured and proud to have Amy as our first Ambassador, we hope this will help us reach members of the community that we have not engaged with before, extending awareness of the Foundation outside of the football community.
Amy’s enthusiasm and energy is infectious and her passion for a healthy and active community aligns with our aims making this a perfect fit for both. Being a bath girl and still local to the area, and someone that has reached the pinnacle of her sport, will hopefully inspire another generation of the Bath community to achieve their goals.
Rob Mullen
Chair Of Trustees
Rob is a career railwayman, having worked through a number of management positions up to Operations Director. He is a father of three, a keen sportsman and nothing gives Rob greater pleasure than watching his children playing sport. He has a real interest in mental health and its relationship with physical exercise.
Andy Ilse
Trustee
Andy works for local Bath charity Southside Family Project as a specialist team manager. He has previously worked in the social housing field in both the Bristol and Bath areas for nearly 30 years. Andy is a passionate advocate of empowering local people to make positive changes to their lives.
A keen fan of Bath City FC since 2015 , Andy is a member of the supporters club and is a regular on the terraces at Twerton Park. Describing himself as a goalkeeper of “dubious ability” Andy played for many years in local amateur football before retiring due to a serious injury.
Foundation Trustees
Matt Rusling
Trustee
Matt works for the University of Bath as Head of Postgraduate Careers and External Engagement in the School of Management and is responsible for the Foundation’s links with the University. A qualified UEFA B football coach, Matt enjoys helping deliver coaching activities for the Foundation as well as working with local adult and youth football teams in the South-West.
Lee Williams
Trustee
Lee is Chief Executive of Young Bristol, a leading Bristol based Youth Charity and was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant of the City and County of Bristol in 2020. Lee is passionate about the use of sport has a positive engagement and development tool for children and young people. Lee is currently in his second spell as the Football Clubs Sports Therapist.
Sarah Williment
Trustee
Sarah is an organisational development consultant, coach, and mentor who takes her enjoyment from helping people perform at their best. After a 25-year career in education, she became a consultant in 2022, and now runs her own business, while also working as an associate for three other consultancies. She is Programme Director for The Bath Future Talent Programme, a community-led leadership initiative run by Bath Bridge, where she is also a Director. Sarah mentors for the charity Mentoring Plus. Sarah has a passion for sport, especially football, rugby, and Formula 1.
David Cavaliero
Trustee
David is a solicitor specialising in corporate, commercial, information technology and intellectual property. He moved to Bath from a London law firm in 1995 and was Head of the Corporate team at Royds Withy King until his retirement in 2016. He is now a trustee of various charities and has a particular interest and expertise in good governance.
Jane Jones
Trustee
Jane has been a trustee since 2022. As the Community Director of Bath City FC, Jane takes on the Trustee position at the Foundation representing both organisations. This allows both the Club and Foundation to have a voice and understanding of what each other are doing. Janes position plays a vital role in helping deliver what is best for the community through both organisations collaborating.
Kate Abbey
Trustee
Kate has been involved with arts charity Bath Festivals for over six years and is now responsible for The Bath Festival and Bath Children’s Literature Festival literature programming – bringing established and new authors, illustrators and speakers to the city, as well as highlighting local Bath talent, to open up conversations and explore new ways of seeing the world. Kate is passionate about working with young people, loves the buzz of live events, and is always happy reading, dancing or exploring new places.
Trustee
Amye Lake
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