Weston-super-Mare A.F.C.

History

Formation, reformation, and early history

Weston-super-Mare A.F.C. was formed in 1887. The team's first record of a competitive match being against near-neighbours Clevedon Town in a "Medal Competition" organised by the Somerset FA. In 1900, they joined Division two of the Western Football League but left after two years. In 1910, they rejoined this league and played there until World War I.

Between the wars, the club played in the local Bristol and District Football League and then the Somerset County League but the club disbanded upon the outbreak of hostilities in 1939. The club reformed in 1948 and immediately rejoined the Western League, initially in Division Two. At this time the team played at the Great Ground in Locking Road, where initially there was no cover for spectators and the players had to change in a marquee. A season after the club joined rejoined the Western League they made their debut in the FA Cup in the 1949–50 season losing to Gloucester City in the preliminary qualifying round. The team remained in the Second Division until the league consolidated to a single division in 1960. During this time they moved to the Langford Road Ground. In 1976, they were placed into the Western League Premier Division upon the creation of a second tier, meaning that by their centenary in 1987 they had never been promoted or relegated in their history.

Paul Bliss era

In early 1986, Paul Bliss was approached by Weston-super-Mare and he was named as the club's chairman roughly six months later. In 1989, John Ellener was appointed manager and led the club to the Western League championship in 1991–92 and with it promotion to the Southern League Midland Division. They remained at this level, playing successively in the Midland, Southern, Midland (again) and Western Divisions due to the Southern League's regular reorganisations, until 2002–03 when they finished in second place and were promoted to the Premier Division, clinching promotion with a win away to rivals Clevedon Town. In their first Premier Division season they finished in 10th place, enough to clinch a place in the newly formed Conference South.

The club's most successful FA Cup run came in the 2003–04 season, when the Seagulls reached the second round. After defeating Dorchester Town, Chesham United (via a replay) and Welling United in the qualifying rounds, Weston secured a 1–0 away win against Farnborough Town to progress from the first round. They were awarded an away tie against Third Division side, Northampton Town where they were eventually beaten 4–1. In the same season, Weston would equal their best performance in the FA Trophy, reaching the Fourth Round of the competition.

In the 2006–07 season of the Conference South, the club finished in 20th position and was set to be relegated. However, Farnborough Town were relegated due to going into liquidation and Hayes and Yeading merged to form Hayes & Yeading United, leaving the Conference South one team short, earning a reprieve for Weston. The 2007–08 season ended similarly for Weston. A 20th-place finish meant the club was eligible for relegation, only to be spared by the enforced demotion of Cambridge City, who failed a ground inspection. The 2009–10 campaign again saw the club finish in the relegation zone again when they finished 21st, however as before the club was saved by the FA, this time when Salisbury City were demoted twice to the Southern League.

The 2010–11 season saw the club win the Somerset Premier Cup for the first time when they defeated Yeovil Town in the final. The club retained the cup the following season (2011–12) when they beat local rivals Clevedon Town 2–1.

In 2012–13, the club finished the season with their highest-ever placing at the time in the Conference South in 7th place with 67 points and narrowly missing out on a place in the playoffs. The 2014–15 season brought a relatively successful cup campaign as the Seagulls won three qualifying matches in the FA Cup and reached the First Round Proper of the FA Cup, where they lost 4–1 at home to Doncaster Rovers in front of a record attendance of 2,949.

Ground

Weston-super-Mare have played their home games at the Woodspring Stadium (currently known as the Optima Stadium for sponsorship reasons) on Winterstoke Road since August 2004. They previously played at nearby Woodspring Park. The move marked the third time in 40 years that Weston-super-Mare had moved ground. The ground's capacity is 3,500, of which 350 are seated and 2,000 are under covered terrace.

Woodspring Park had been built almost entirely by supporters and features a £100,000 clubhouse. The Park had been the home of Weston-super-Mare since 1983 and had floodlights installed in 1986. The ground nearly had a greyhound track around the pitch, an idea that chairman Paul Bliss vetoed. Weston-super-Mare sold this ground to a residential home builder when it became apparent the club would move the short distance to the Woodspring Stadium. The last home fixture was played in April 2004.

The site of Woodspring Stadium was formerly a sporting complex owned by Westland Aircraft known as Westland Sports Ground. It was home to cricket and football in addition to social buildings. Difficult financial times forced Westland to reconsider its place in town and put the ground up for sale. The club purchased it for £270,000 in 2001. The Stadium opened on 14 August 2004, with its first match against Conference South opponents Hornchurch attended by 500 people.

In April 2021, the club announced plans to redevelop the stadium to include 750 additional seats and new terracing plus new club facilities and hospitality areas. The redevelopment would also allow the club the ability to increase capacity at the ground to 5,000 with 2,000 seats. This would allow the ground to host EFL League Two matches should the club ever be promoted to that level. Planning permission was granted for the redevelopment in November 2025 with an expected start date in early 2027.

The record attendance for this ground was 2,949, set during an FA Cup first round replay against Doncaster Rovers on 18 November 2014.

Current squad

Updated 12 September 2026

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

Out on loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

Non-playing staff

Board of Directors

Updated 9 November 2025.

First team staff

Updated 9 November 2025.

Records

Highest League Position: 6th in National League South 2025-26

FA Cup best performance: Third round, 2025–26

FA Trophy best performance: Fourth round, 1998–99, 2003–04, 2023–24

Highest Attendance: 2,949 vs Doncaster Rovers – 2014–15 (F.A. Cup)

Former players

Players that have played/managed at least 40 games in the football league or any foreign equivalent to this level (i.e. fully professional league).

Players with full international caps.

Players that have played/managed in another professional sport.

For those players that also played for the club but did not meet the criteria above:

Former coaches

Managers/Coaches that have played/managed in the football league or any foreign equivalent to this level (i.e. fully professional league).

Managers/Coaches with full international caps.

Tommy Rudkin

Honours

League

Southern League (level 7)

Champions: 2022–23

Southern League Western Division

Runners-up: 2002–03

Western League

Champions: 1991–92

Runners-up: 1976–77

Bristol & District League

Runners-up: 1922–23

Cup

Somerset Premier Cup

Winners: 2010–11, 2011–12, 2017–18, 2018–19, 2024—25

Runners-up: 1990–91, 2016–17

Clevedon and District Charity Cup

Winners: 1922–23

Western Senior Cup

Winners: 1971–72, 1972–73, 1973–74, 1974–75, 1975–76, 1977–78

Western League Challenge Cup

Winners: 1976–77

Western Merit Cup

Winners: 1976–77, 1977–78

Western League Subsidiary Cup

Runners-up: 1959–60

Somerset Senior Cup