Pitch Perfect: Specsavers partner with Scotland Internationals to launch Specsavers Best Worst Pitch

New Initiative to Breathe New Life into Underfunded Grassroots Football Pitches across Scotland

  • The Best Worst Pitch initiative will provide line painting and pitch maintenance equipment, as well as maintenance training to 50 grassroots clubs across the UK
  • The initiative addresses the lack of funding dedicated to pitch maintenance, which the brand has experienced during the Best Worst Team campaign
  • By helping make the pitch lines visible again, the initiative celebrates the volunteers who make grassroots football not only possible but playable—reinforcing Specsavers’ commitment to supporting the grassroots football community and the vital role clear vision plays both on and off the pitch.

Specsavers has partnered with Scottish international stars, Kirsty Smith and Erin Cuthbert to launch the Best Worst Pitch initiative.

Open to clubs across the UK, the initiative will provide 50 teams who are most in need with professional line painting equipment and GPS pitch mapping, pitch maintenance equipment, as well as maintenance training to help them maintain their pitches through the next season and beyond.

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.

Kirsty Smith added: “Grassroots football is the heart and soul of the game. It’s important that we back the communities and dedicated volunteers who keep it running.

“I remember how tough it was playing on a rough pitch, but it didn’t hold me back, it just made me realise how important these pitches are.

This is a campaign I’m really proud of – The Best Worst Pitch initiative will ensure that pitches are in the best condition possible so that everyone can enjoy using them.”

The announcement comes as UK football governing bodies have recently highlighted that maintaining grassroots pitches across the UK is one of the main issues facing the sport.

With councils stretched for funding, the responsibility for maintaining club pitches, often falls on dedicated members of the grassroots football community.

It’s a challenge Specsavers has seen up close, having renewed its’ sponsorship deal with the Scottish FA, to become the Official Eye and Ear Care Partner.

The deal will see the 24-year partnership continue for the rest of the season as Specsavers strives to support the growth of Scottish football in both the men’s and women’s game.

Erin Cuthbert added: “I called my papa “Net Man”. He’s no longer with us but he was always there, two hours early putting the nets up and sorting the pitch out.

“It’s little efforts like that that keep grassroots football alive. It’s absolutely vital that we get it right at this level so that young players can improve and have a better chance of succeeding in the sport.”

Specsavers have also documented the difficulties of grassroots teams through the Best Worst Team campaign—highlighting the real struggles faced at pitch level and further underlining the brand’s long-standing commitment to supporting the grassroots football community.

Speaking about the struggles of pitch maintenance, Chairman of current Specsavers Best Worst Team, Tunley Athletic, Craig Doughty said: “It’s a real slog sometimes – every week, rain or shine, I’m out there doing two full laps of the pitch just to get the lines marked.

“The equipment we’ve got is ancient—it clogs, it leaks, and it takes twice as long as it should. On dark evenings or when the wind’s howling, it feels like it takes forever. But I do it because I love this club—it means everything to the community.”

In addition to providing equipment, Specsavers is also offering training and education to the selected clubs—aiming to tackle some of the long-term challenges faced by grassroots teams and the volunteers who maintain their pitches.

The ultimate goal is to improve the quality and longevity of these pitches, ensuring local communities can continue to enjoy them for many matches to come.

Kim Bull, PR and Social Lead, commented: “Over the last two seasons 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.

“People like Craig, who quietly put in the hard work behind the scenes to keep pitches playable, is what grassroots football is all about.

“This initiative means we can support more clubs and communities, like Tunley.

“By making faded lines more visible, we’re helping players to see the beautiful game more clearly. And hopefully make fewer mistakes!”

To have a chance of being part of the Best Worst Pitch initiative and help improve the quality of your local club’s football pitch, apply online here.

Lothian’s grassroots football community secure EUFA EURO 2020 legacy packs

Lothian’s youth football community is set to benefit from UEFA EURO 2020 Club Legacy Packs which will pave the way for future generations to follow in the footsteps of local Scotland goalkeepers Craig Gordon and Jon McLaughlin.

To celebrate Glasgow’s role as one of the 11 host cities, the Scottish FA teamed up with Glasgow Life to release 50 individual UEFA EURO 2020 Glasgow Club Legacy Packs to enhance the provision of grassroots football activities in Scotland.

Following entries ranging from Banff to Helensburgh and Strathaven, the packs have now been awarded to 50 clubs which hold Scottish FA Quality Mark accreditation. With sides from each of Scotland’s four regions securing their packs, clubs across the nation are set to benefit from specialist equipment including balls, bibs and goals which will play a pivotal role in their provision of football activities and assist in the development of Scotland’s young generation of footballers. 

One of the clubs that has been awarded a legacy pack is Murieston United Community Football Club (above) which will use the UEFA EURO 2020 branded equipment to cater for more than 350 of their registered players.

The Livingston-based team pride themselves as the heart of their community and have been rewarded for providing an excellent player pathway, which has played a role in the development of international stars including Scott Arfield, Jenna Fife and Hayley Lauder.

Allan Salvona, Treasurer of Murieston United Community Football Club, said: “Scotland gaining qualification has given our members a real buzz again. It’s allowed coaches of our younger team to encourage some of the players to be like their heroes that qualified for the EUROs. Some of the younger players are now feeling inspired to be like Scotland internationals.”

Throughout the summer, Murieston aim to use their new equipment within intra-club tournaments and festivals which will showcase some of the nationalities represented within their organisation. Commenting on the UEFA EURO 2020 Club Legacy Packs, Allan added: “The equipment on offer will also allow us to continue hosting a range of exciting initiatives that we plan to hold over the coming weeks.”

Govan side Harmony Row, the youth team that nurtured a young Sir Alex Ferguson, were the first club to receive a pack in support of their excellent community links across Glasgow, spanning many decades. 

Commenting on the UEFA EURO 2020 Legacy Packs, Sir Alex Ferguson said: “Lockdown has been a difficult time for all of us but for kids especially. It’s fantastic to see my old boys club, Harmony Row, benefit along with other youth clubs and it’s an important part of qualifying from the Scottish FA and the city: to make sure that it has a direct benefit to young people.

“Harmony Row played a pivotal role in my development from a very young age, not only as a footballer, but as a person.”