An East Staffordshire football club is on target for an ambitious goal of launching three new youth teams next season thanks to support from digger giant JCB.

Rocester FC Juniors, which shares its home village with JCB World Headquarters, is blazing a trail for girls and mixed football and appealing for new players to join its ranks. After launching three new girls’ teams last year, the club is now aiming to grow its girls and mixed teams at under six, seven and eight age ranges ready for September.

The squads will join more than 250 young players who are proudly pulling on smart new Rocester Juniors shirts, after JCB supported the club’s rolling two-year kit replacement programme, totalling £5,000. It has seen all 14 teams from age six to 16 presented with ultra-modern design match kits.

Rocester Juniors has teams training weekly at Denstone College, Thomas Alleynes High School, Oldfields Hall Middle School, Abbotsholme and Picknalls First School, Uttoxeter. Home matches are played across the East Staffordshire area, including at the JCB Lakeside pitches, while girls teams play in the Derby league.

Club Chairman Russell Mason said:

“As a club we are passionate about making football accessible to all, which is why we are continually adding new teams and supporting youngsters to realise their dreams and create as many opportunities as possible.”

Russell added: “Having a kit the team are excited to wear is important and gives them a sense of pride in the club as they play each week. Every shirt is emblazoned with the JCB logo, which looks really powerful and we so are grateful for the support JCB has shown to make this happen. We believe in positive, supportive coaching and try to develop youngsters as footballers, team-players and as people. It doesn’t matter if you have never played before or have been playing for a while, we look to give everyone the same opportunity to thrive.”