A historic Staffordshire football team has received a helping hand with preparations for its 150th anniversary celebrations - thanks to a £2,000 donation from JCB.

Rocester FC, which marks the milestone next year, has been busy carrying out a series of general repairs and maintenance to get the club ready for the new season and the special anniversary year.

Work has been completed to reseed and turf the pitch with painting and repairing equipment, replacing goal nets and installing new corner flags also undertaken.

Club Chairman Dave Jackson said the whole team was grateful for how the community had come together to update the facilities ready for the new season and the 150th anniversary of the club. He said:

“It costs around £3,500 to reseed, turf and drill the pitch ready for the new season. We rely heavily on kind donations from supportive businesses like JCB to make it possible. Rocester FC has been at the heart of the community since the 1800s and we are proud of what we have achieved. As we prepare to celebrate next year’s major milestone, we plan to take time to carry out general upkeep and maintenance tasks and we couldn’t be more grateful for all the support we have received as the community comes together to celebrate.”

Rocester FC – nicknamed The Romans as the club is located on the site of a former Roman fort – was formed in 1876. Playing at Hillsfield, in Mill Street, Rocester, the club is currently in the Staffordshire County Senior League Premier Division.