Brackley football club scores big in national competition

Thanks to Specsavers’ Best Worst Pitch initiative, which is backed by Gary Neville, the club has now received professional line-marking equipment, GPS pitch mapping technology and expert maintenance training to make their playing facilities visible once again.

Brackley Athletic FC, also known as the ‘Jaffas’, impressed Specsavers with its unwavering commitment and community spirit. With 18 teams playing across three locations, the club faces significant challenges in maintaining pitch quality across their multiple sites, but despite this the club is dedicated to giving young people a chance to play.

As a result, Brackley Athletic FC, along with 49 other clubs from across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, will now benefit from the campaign which aims to tackle one of the most pressing issues facing grassroots football in the UK – poor pitch conditions.

With local councils stretched for funding, the responsibility for maintaining club pitches increasingly falls on dedicated volunteers from the grassroots football community, often using outdated or inadequate equipment.

Steve Fothergill, club vice chairman and U15s coach, said: ‘We’re thrilled to be selected as one of 50 clubs from across the entire UK to receive this amazing support. The new equipment is already making a huge difference and when I used it recently, it was so much easier than using our old and tired kit. It’s going to make a huge difference to our club, especially during the winter months when pitch maintenance is even more challenging, and make the pitches look so much better for all the kids who play with us.’

Nimish Desai, store director at Specsavers Banbury, said: ‘We’re delighted that a local football club has been given this new equipment. Grassroots football is such a staple in many communities, helping to bring people together and provide the physical as well as mental health benefits of playing a team sport. We hope that everyone at Brackley Athletic FC will benefit from having clearer pitch markings.’

The Best Worst Pitch initiative was launched by Specsavers in partnership with Manchester United and England legend Gary Neville. It builds on the brand's long-standing commitment to grassroots football through its Best Worst Team campaign.

Over the past four seasons, Specsavers has documented the journeys of struggling grassroots teams like Somerset's Tunley Athletic and Brentwood's Warley FC, highlighting real challenges faced in local footballing communities while providing elite-level support including coaching from football legends and expert eye and hearing care.

Neil Liddle, brand partnerships and sponsorships lead at Specsavers, said: ‘Since we have been supporting clubs that need a bit of help with their eyes and ears, as well as their game, we've noticed the effort that goes into keeping grassroots clubs running. Clubs like Brackley Athletic FC, who quietly put in the hard work behind the scenes to keep pitches playable, embody what grassroots football is all about. This initiative means we can support more clubs and communities across the UK. By making faded lines more visible, we're helping players see the beautiful game more clearly.’

Clear and accurate line markings are vital not just for ensuring structure and fairness in the game, but also for helping players and officials navigate the pitch, enhancing visibility, spatial awareness, and overall safety throughout play.

For Brackley Athletic FC, whose 18 teams start from under 5s all the way up to 16+, the improved pitch markings will provide a significant boost to match-day experiences for players, coaches, and officials alike.

To learn more about the Best Worst Pitch initiative, head over to Specsavers’ social pages.