Why over 300,000 people watched a fictional football match held at Sheffield FC on Easter Sunday

Branded as the biggest Sunday League game ever in the history of football, over 300,000 people watched a fictional football match on Easter Sunday.

The game was held at Sheffield FC, the world’s oldest football club, as Royal Oak FC faced off against their rivals Nags Head.

The quarter-final of the Sheffield Imperial Cup took place at The Home of Football Stadium, however, neither of the two teams were real.

What is Royal Oak FC?

Around 2,500 people paid to see the football game, selling out Sheffield FC’s stadium with its largest ever audience in attendance.

Royal Oak FC is a fictional football team managed by Paul Sampson, real name Jon McClure, and his brother Chris McClure, known to Royal Oak fans as the iconic Steve Bracknall.

The TikTok account @stevebracknall has nearly 750,000 followers and has received over 27 million likes across its many videos depicting the footballing antics of Royal Oak FC.

The club, described as being in the fifth tier of the Sheffield Sunday Imperial League, is a fictional team that has ‘captured the imagination of grassroot football fans across the globe’... according to its also fictional website.

Other hilarious descriptions of the team on its website include the club's promise of free sausages, chips and ale to its players, courtesy of landlord and landlady owners Terry and June, which has ‘since been revoked due to the cost-of-living crisis’.

Lifelong fans include Carpet Dave, MOT Mick and Firestick Dean, who often partake in the filling of a minibus en-route to Royal Oak’s away games.

The character of Steve Bracknall was created by Sheffield comedian Chris McClure, who is also famous for being the face of the Arctic Monkeys debut album ‘Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not’.

Similarly, Royal Oak FC manager Paul Sampson is the lead singer and frontman of Sheffield rock band Reverend and the Makers, best known for their hit song ‘Heavyweight Champion of the World’.

Now a viral hit, Bracknall’s ‘Game’s Gone’ podcast was picked up by BBC Sounds in 2025, but the comedian rarely talks to the camera or media out of character.

On one of the rare occasions that he has spoken as himself, McClure said in a 2022 YouTube video that ‘people see something in [Bracknall] that they love… whether it’s familiarity, or warmth, or charm, there’s millions of Steve’s across the country.’

Nags Head, arch-rivals of Royal Oak FC, are also a fictional football team created for the purpose of the match.

The side went on to secure a 2-1 victory over Royal Oak FC in a game filled with drama, and fans of these fictional teams will surely be waiting for the next clash involving either side.