GIS Board Members Lead Exciting Takeover of Belgian Club RAEC Mons

Global Institute of Sport is delighted to share that its Board members Peter Gould and Charlie Methven have become the majority shareholders of Belgian club RAEC Mons, opening up exclusive internship opportunities for GIS students.

The takeover, which involves acquiring a majority stake in the club that plays in Belgian Division 1- the third tier of Belgian football – comes amidst RAEC Mons’ Renaissance Project, which aims to bring them back to the Belgian Pro League, where they last competed in 2014.

Founded in 1910, the club enjoys a passionate local following. The takeover marks a new era in the club’s rich history, with its new owners seeing great potential to return Mons to its former glories.

“We looked at many clubs throughout Belgium,” Gould said. “Mons had the most potential from where we are today to where we want to take it in the future, so we are very happy.”

Methven has extensive experience in the leadership of Charlton Athletic, Sunderland AFC and Oxford United, and added: “As somebody with a long history of improving football clubs, I look forward to applying all of the lessons from the different places that I’ve worked as an executive in football to Mons, to help local people here grow this club into what it can be. We firmly believe in the potential of Mons and look forward to working with our partners, local stakeholders, and supporters to bring this historic club back to prominence.”

Opportunities for Global Institute of Sport students

Recently appointed to GIS’ Board, Methven’s belief in the industry-readiness of GIS students is another reason to feel positive about the club’s prospects at Mons.

“With GIS’ university courses, for the first time – in my view – there is a global institution that professionally prepares its students for getting a job in sport. Incorporating GIS student and graduate talent into the workforce at Mons will be immensely beneficial for both the club and the students.”

Under the new regime, Simon Van Kerckhoven takes on the role of Managing Director of the club. Former Chief Operating Officer of Lommel SK, a club within the City Football Group, Van Kerckhoven is a longstanding partner of GIS and played a pivotal role in the founding of the GIS Brussels campus at Anderlecht’s Lotto Park in 2024.

One of Van Kerckhoven’s first priorities as MD at Mons is to recruit talented GIS students for a series of internship roles for the 2025/26 season, including opportunities in social media management, content creation, event management, hospitality, ticketing, finance and more.

Van Kerckhoven said: “The internship opportunities at RAEC Mons will give GIS students exposure to an exciting football setting and a club in a unique position to excel. We want these interns to play a pivotal role in the club’s operations, allowing us to succeed on and off the pitch while ensuring students continue to build the skills and network needed for success in the sports industry.”

Building on a successful GIS Jamaica Live Lab

Peter and Amanda Gould are also founders of Mount Pleasant Football Academy, the Jamaican Premier League team and leading academy in the Caribbean. Mount Pleasant is home to GIS’s Jamaican Live Lab, a partnership that gives GIS students the opportunity to implement their university degree learnings in a professional setting at the club.

After a hugely successful Live Lab experience earlier this year, GIS students will once again be able to apply for Jamaica-based work placement opportunities this academic year. Following his internship assisting the Mount Pleasant coaching staff, Performance Analysis in Football student James Pugh labelled his time in Jamaica an “unforgettable experience,” adding, “I feel like we made an impact.”

This was felt by the club as well. “It is a tribute to the quality of the GIS courses they have studied on that our Technical Director had nothing but praise for the students’ output,” Peter Gould said.

“The impact of GIS students in Jamaica was felt throughout the academy, the business and our media channels. We can’t wait to welcome students back this year to Mount Pleasant as well as seeing them thrive in Belgium at Mons,” Amanda Gould added.

For more information on the internship opportunities, GIS students can expect email communication with further details.

Now with an even stronger global network, GIS students have the opportunity to study in locations all over the world. To discover how you can make your first step towards a career in the exciting, fast-paced sports industry, explore our course offerings.

Article by Zakaria Anani