SWANSEA football team Cwm Albion, which has been named Specsavers’ Best Worst Team, is hoping to boost their chances on the pitch after having their eyes tested at the local Kingsway store.
The team, who currently play in the Swansea Senior League and lost all 22 of their games last season with a staggering -191 goal difference, has been given a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity by Specsavers to turn their fortunes around following a nationwide search to find a club in desperate need of help.
They are being given invaluable support throughout the season, with the latest including a visit to Specsavers’ Swansea city centre store to get an eye test and pick out some new glasses.
They’re now hoping this can translate to success on the field, following the reveal in December 2023 that football legend and FA Cup winning manager, Harry Redknapp, has come out of retirement to help transform their future.
Now, in the latest episode of the YouTube series released yesterday [1 February 2024], the team’s journey continues with the help of Specsavers and Harry Redknapp. And the help is clearly working, as the team recorded its first win in three years and takes to the field for a six-pointer clash against Birchgrove Colts.
Speaking of his new job, Harry Redknapp says: ‘When I got the call up from Specsavers, I didn’t know what to expect. The team’s 191-goal difference certainly caught my eye, but after meeting the lads, you can’t doubt their determination. They’re a real close unit, and their hard work is already starting to pay off, with the lads securing their first win in three years in their latest match – 4-3 against Tennant Colts, fantastic result! With the right training and guidance, I’m hopeful that these victories will continue throughout the season.’
With a career that spanned over 25 years, Harry is used to working with players of Gareth Bale, Rio Ferdinand, and Frank Lampard’s calibre. But this new role will present a unique set of challenges as he swaps household names for a new cast of characters.
Among the star players, there’s 73-year-old John Rees, who has been with the club for over 50 years. Also available for selection are winger Shane Prior and his self-described ‘legs like Bambi’ and there’s also a strong family contingency in the form of father and son duos, Colin and Dan Gill.
Dan Gill, Cwm Albion Manager says: ‘Having Harry on board for the season is the biggest thing to have happened to our club since I joined when I was 16 years old,’ he says. ‘He’s a huge inspiration for myself and the lads and we can’t wait to start training with him.’
For decades, Specsavers has celebrated and made heroes of those who really ‘Should’ve gone to Specsavers’. This year, the opticians and audiologists wanted to take its commitment to celebrating human moments to the next level, by investing in an underfunded area of culture which relies heavily on excellent sight and hearing – grassroots football.
Lisa Hale, head of consumer comms at Specsavers says: ‘It’s clear how passionate the Cwm Albion team are about the game and their community, so we are really proud to be behind them and hopefully with our and Harry’s support we will continue to see improvements both on and off the pitch.’
Can Harry help the team shift up their league? Cwm Albion’s journey is being documented by Specsavers throughout the 2023/2024 footballing season in a series of episodes, narrated by Jill Scott, available to view on a dedicated YouTube channel. You can also follow the journey of the ‘Best Worst Team’ and watch all the action over on Specsavers’ social channels.
