EWES Football Club has signed the biggest sponsorship deal in its 129-year history.

Specsavers Lewes will continue to sponsor the club’s first team and will also feature on the away shirts and the club’s new under-21 squad – as well as sponsoring the Rooks’ Kids Go Free scheme which gives free entry to all matches for under-16s.

The Ryman League club are also forging ahead with a regeneration project which will involve the installation of a new 3G all-weather pitch on land adjacent to the Dripping Pan, a new clubhouse and a new building dedicated to young people’s creativity – the Sussex Youth Network Centre.

Planning has been approved for the first part of that project and the club are trying to raise £200,000 to go with £650,000 sourced through grants including the Football Foundation and Sport England.

Trish Lofting, Specsavers Lewes store director, said: “I am absolutely delighted to sponsor the club for the forthcoming season.

“Over the last few weeks I have been really impressed with the club’s ambition, notably with the regeneration project, and with some of the wonderful community projects that the club are planning going forward.”

As part of the deal the community-owned club’s 1,000 owners are entitled to a 25% discount at Specsavers Lewes.