- Specsavers is looking for the next grassroots underdog to transform with the help of the biggest names in sport
- After guiding Essex’s Warley FC from the bottom of the table to a fourth-place finish, the hunt for the next grassroots club is back and it could be a local Aberdare side
4 June 2026: SPECSAVERS has launched its search for a new grassroots club to star in the next season of its YouTube series Specsavers’ Best Worst Team, and after a remarkable track record, they’re setting the bar even lower.
Season 5 saw Warley FC guided through a full season by Micah Richards, assistant manager and previous Premier League and FA Cup winner, alongside a roster of elite guests. Episodes entailed match fitness with Premier League record appearance holder, James Milner, kicking off against king of the Jungle and viral content creator Angry Ginge and his team, Winton Yanited, learning to cook with chef to footballers Jonny Marsh, and lining up alongside Ballon D’Or nominee Joe Cole – the results speak for themselves. After last season’s brutal campaign of 18 defeats and 81 goals conceded, Warley FC finished fourth in the league this season, winning 10 of their last 12 games.
Now, Specsavers is ready to do it all again – and it could be a team from Aberdare.With support from more of the biggest names in sport, the healthcare retailer is set to give the UK’s biggest underdog team a season to remember.
Having seen what’s possible when Specsavers gets behind a grassroots club, the winning team can expect a season of truly money-can’t-buy experiences, the kind that don’t just change results, but will give even the most bruised egos a serious boost.
Kim Bull, Brand Communications Lead at Specsavers, said:
“Best Worst Team has always been about celebrating those brilliantly human moments where our eyesight or hearing lets us down and there’s no better stage for that than grassroots football. From last-minute howlers to chances that should’ve been seen a mile off, these are the moments every player and football fans in general recognise.
But beyond the humour, what makes this campaign so powerful is the real impact it delivers for local clubs and their communities. Season 4 proved just how transformational that support can be when you shine a spotlight on a grassroots club and back it wholeheartedly, and we’re excited to find the next team ready to take that step with us.”
To apply or nominate a team to become Specsavers’ Best Worst Team visit www.specsavers.co.uk/best-worst-team
Once Specsavers’ Best Worst Team has been selected, the community opticians and hearing experts will be following and documenting the club’s journey throughout the 2026/27 footballing season.
You can follow the journey of the chosen ‘Best Worst Team’ and see if Specsavers can turn their luck around on the company’s social channels and dedicated YouTube channel.
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