A South Challenge Cup Presentation for Oakley United

Some commissions begin with a detailed brief. Others begin with a phone call and a particular occasion.

Oakley United approached the studio ahead of their first round South Challenge Cup fixture against Newton Stewart, looking for a presentation piece to mark the meeting between the two clubs.

There was already a connection with Oakley United. Engraved Glass Design sponsors one of the club's players for the 2026/27 season, so this was also an opportunity to create something for a local club we already support.

Bringing two clubs together

The starting point was simple: both club crests needed to appear within a single piece, together with the competition, fixture date and a short message.

A clear glass shard was selected for its height and distinctive asymmetric form. With two circular crests and several lines of text to accommodate, the challenge was to create a composition that felt coherent across the whole piece.

The football itself provided the answer.

An abstract goal net was developed as part of the engraving, extending across the surfaces of the shard and creating a visual structure around the two club crests.

Seen directly from the front, the net forms a background to the presentation design. Viewed from an angle, the engraving travels through the changing planes of the glass, with reflections and refractions altering the pattern as the piece is turned.

Designing with the glass

The shape of a piece can become part of the design itself. Curves, facets, proportions and viewing angles all affect how engraved artwork is seen, particularly on clear glass where one engraved surface may be visible through another.

Here, the changing planes of the shard became part of the composition. As the piece is turned, the football net shifts through the glass while the two club crests remain the focal point of the presentation.

Original artwork - Club crests and match details supplied as the starting point for the commission.
Engraving design - Digital artwork showing the developed composition, with both club crests to the front and the football net extending across the reverse.
Finished presentation - The completed glass shard, sandblast engraved with the approved design for the South Challenge Cup fixture.

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Sporting and club commissions

Sporting and club commissions include individual awards, commemorative presentations, record plaques and coordinated sets.

Existing club crests, scorecards, historical material and other source artwork can all form the starting point for a commission, with each design developed specifically for the glass on which it will be engraved.