Harry Redknapp makes return to football to help UK’s worst-performing team

Returning to the dugout for the first time in six years, Redknapp, who has managed clubs including West Ham, Tottenham, and Portsmouth, will take the reins at Cwm Albion

Harry Redknapp has come out of retirement for his toughest job yet - transforming the fortunes of the UK’s worst-performing football team.

Returning to the dugout for the first time in six years, Redknapp, who has managed clubs including West Ham, Tottenham, and Portsmouth, will take the reins at Cwm Albion.

Formed more than 100 years ago, Cwm Albion, who lost all 22 of their games last season with a staggering -191 goal difference, are being given a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to turn its fortunes around following a nationwide search to find a club in desperate need of help.

Specsavers’ Best Worst Team, Cwm Albion, currently play in the Swansea Senior League and will now receive money-can’t-buy experiences and face-to-face training from Redknapp.

“When I got the call up, I didn’t know what to expect,” he said.

“The team’s 191-goal difference certainly caught my eye but, after meeting the lads, you can’t doubt their determination.”

Redknapp’s magic is already wearing off, with Albion securing their first win in three years by beating Tennant Colts 4-3 last time out.

“They’re a real close unit, and their hard work is already starting to pay off,” Redknapp added.

“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, Redknapp has previously worked with star names like Gareth Bale, Rio Ferdinand, and Frank Lampard.

However, among his new players, there’s 73-year-old John Rees, who has been with the club for over 50 years, winger Shane Prior and his self-described ‘legs like Bambi’, and goalkeeper Jamie MacDonald, who hasn’t kept a clean sheet in his 10 years with the club.

Dan Gill, Cwm Albion manager, said: “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.”

Specsavers’ Lisa Hale added: “Almost 2,000 grassroots football teams across the country applied for the opportunity to be Specsavers’ Best Worst Team and we couldn’t have found a better team in Cwm Albion,”

Cwm Albion’s journey will be documented throughout the 2023/2024 footballing season in a series of episodes, narrated by Jill Scott, available to view on a dedicated YouTube channel.

Episodes 1 and 2, which features Harry’s introduction to the team, are available to watch now. Six further episodes will be released monthly until May 2024.