Simon Beard, a former West Ham youth player, was on trial with Exeter City in the autumn of 1991. He subsequently appeared for clubs in Kent and Sussex over the next dozen or so years.

He is known to have played and scored for Exeter City's Devon and Exeter League side against Chelston in the Autumn of 1991 before heading back to Kent to play for Sittingbourne where he played for four seasons ahead of joining Hastings United.

A popular player wherever he went who won several player of the year awards at his various clubs, he thereafter appeared for Dover, Margate and Welling where he finished his career in 2004 after undergoing two foot operations.

After working in the banking industry, he was involved in the development of young players at Welling United some thirty years after his brief association with Exeter City.