Steve Bracknall to Become Public Face of Sheffield FC Following Brother John McClure’s Board Appointment

Comedian and podcaster Steve Bracknall is set to become the public face of Sheffield FC, the world’s oldest football club, after his brother John McClure was appointed to its board, SportsBoom can exclusively reveal. 

SportsBoom has been told that Bracknall, who has risen to fame portraying himself as the assistant manager of Sunday League side Royal Oak, could even be handed an honorary position on the NCEL Premier Division outfit in order to boost their profile.

Last week it was confirmed that McClure, lead singer in cult band Reverend and the Makers, had joined one of the game’s most famous institutions after they rejected a takeover attempt, backed by the Qatari royal family, orchestrated by businessman and tech entrepreneur Dave Richards. 

What has not been revealed however, until now, is the extent of the role McClure is set to play with suggestions he could even act as a ‘shadow’ to influential director Jeremy Levine. 

Privately, plans have also been drafted to hire McClure’s sibling Bracknall to help raise their profile and potentially attract investment from both home and overseas.

Senior figures at the Coach and Horses Stadium, where Sheffield FC currently play, believe his popularity can boost their presence in the media and, as a consequence, go some way towards compensating them for the loss of the £200m Richards and his associates had pledged to commit towards funding a major project on and off the pitch which included a brand new city centre stadium, dedicated museum and surrounding development. 

Qatari Backing

Together with the Qataris, Richards had envisaged replicating the success Abu Dhabi’s sovereign wealth fund has enjoyed in transforming the neighbouring areas around Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium.

Barring any unforeseen issues, McClure hopes to begin a PR exercise, based around promoting Sheffield FC’s history, next week with television and radio interviews being planned.

Founded in 1867, they were awarded the FIFA Order of Merit 22 years ago alongside Real Madrid. Sheffield FC are also members of the English Football Hall of Fame, with Levine’s predecessors travelling the globe to further enhance the team’s status and stature. Despite those efforts, Sheffield FC’s standing has so far yet to lure in any major investors.

Richards, who was previously linked with a move for Sheffield Wednesday, had hoped to change all that until his approach was surprisingly rebuffed.

Sheffield FC were relegated from the NPL last season, finishing bottom of the table following a difficult campaign.