THE legendary band Squeeze are sponsoring non-league football side Lewes FC.

The 1970s pop-rock group have partnered with The Rooks – who play in the seventh tier of English football – and will have their name on the front of the kit.

Lead singer Chris Difford, 60, of Firle, wore the first new home shirt on the pitch at the club’s 3,000 capacity Dripping Pan stadium in Mountfield Road.

The Cool for Cats and Up the Junction singer was delighted to sponsor his new local club as they embark on another season in the Ryman Premier League.

He said: “Lewes is now my local football club and their manager Steve Brown was a legendary defender at Charlton in the 90s, so Glenn’s happy too.

“Add that to the fact that this really is a people’s club and we couldn’t be happier with the fit.”

Instead of the usual one-off sponsorship payment, the club will receive all the profits from replica shirt sales, which will help fund the club’s community projects.

Squeeze haven’t financially backed the club but the more shirts that are sold, the greater the benefit to the football club and its local community.

A tour T-shirt version of the replica football shirt will be available on Squeeze’s forthcoming tour of the UK and America, which kicks off on September 25.

The band are also releasing their first new studio album in 17 years called Cradle To The Grave later this year.

Kevin Miller, chief executive of Lewes Football Club said: “Pop music and football go hand in hand in this country’s popular culture.

“We loyally follow bands as much as we do our football clubs, so for Lewes Football Club to put the two together this season is truly exciting.

“And we would like to think that every Lewes FC and Squeeze shirt that gets sold is a thumbs up to fan ownership.

“We’d like to thank Tom Sinclair at Hummel for allowing us to develop the idea, and Chris Difford and Glenn Tilbrook, the band and their management for giving us the opportunity to break the mould in how football clubs are run.

“We hope that Squeeze fans around the world will adopt us as their favourite semi-professional, non-league, seventh-tier-of-English-football, 150-places-behind Manchester City, second club.”

Tom Sinclair, Hummel’s UK Sport Market Manager said: “We are extremely proud to be involved in such an exciting and innovative collaboration that combines two of the world’s most favourite pastimes, football and music.

The kit will be worn by the Lewes FC first team for the first time at the club’s Ryman Premier League game against Brentwood Town at the Dripping Pan on Saturday, September 19.

Lewes FC’s new shirt – which costs £40 for an adults and £25 for children – is available to buy from the club’s website.