Football legend Gary Neville is on the lookout for Somerset teams that need to boost their pitch and facilities.

The ex-Manchester United and England defender has joined up with Specsavers to find a grassroots football team worthy of a big upgrade.

Specsavers have documented the journey of Tunley Athletic through their Best Worst Team campaign, which has seen the likes of Harry Redknapp, Luke Littler and Neville himself share their advice with the team.

Now, through their ‘Best Worst Pitch’ initiative, they are offering fifty clubs professional line-painting equipment and GPS pitch mapping, pitch maintenance equipment, and specialised training to help them maintain their pitches through the next season and beyond.

Clear and accurate line markings don’t just maintain structure and fairness in the game for Somerset teams, but also help players and officials navigate the pitch-enhancing visibility, spatial awareness, and overall safety throughout the game.

Gary Neville said: “Anyone who has played football at one point or another has played on a dodgy pitch. Grassroots football is the foundation of our sport and it’s great to be a part of the Best Worst Pitch initiative supporting the communities and volunteers who make it possible.”

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.

Craig Doughty, chairman of Tunley Athletic, 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.”

As well as providing equipment, Specsavers is also offering training and education to the selected clubs – hoping to tackle some of the long-term challenges faced by grassroots teams and the volunteers who maintain their pitches. The aim is to improve the quality and longevity of these pitches.

Kim Bull, PR and social lead at Specsavers, said: “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 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 at www.specsavers.co.uk/best-worst-pitch.